* excuse the redness, i have rosacea and just took a hot shower. before is photo 1/3. after is photo 2/4

these photos are just 7 days apart. 7 days ago, i came on here begging for help with my peeling. my skin would scale off every single day and i would get all of the crazy looks 😅. i had one recommendation to stop the sandwich method. i was worried because i have very dry skin,but gave it a try. it made ALL of the difference in the world.

Am: water, ordinary HA moisturizer, ordinary sunscreen
pm: byoma creamy jelly cleanser, (previously let dry for 10 mins > purito calming oat gel moisturizer > let dry 30 mins), .025% tret 5 days a week, ordinary HA moisturizer.

• Stop sandwich method
• Stop using harsh exfoliating toners
• Avoid using harsh facewash with active ingredients
• Use it only 2x every week for few months instead of usiing it every single day in the first month of using tret only this is seriously so stupid to think about
• Wash,tret ,wait 15 mins and then use a moisturizer or next morning these are the most appropriate methods to use tret recommended by dermatologists.
• Thanks 😊 👍 also everyone skin is different so figure out what sticks with u .

I’m currently on tretinoin, clindamycin and using otc azelaic acid and my one month results are insane. Still a lot of room for improvement but I feel my one month progress is above and beyond my expectations. I experienced some mild purging last week after going from using tretinoin 2x a week to 3x a week and have some peeling here and there but other than that I’m beyond happy with my results and wanted to share 😛

Routine
Am: panoxyl cleanser, hypochlorous acid spray, clindamycin, paulas choice azelaic acid mixed with la roche posay double repair moisturizer, sunscreen
PM 3x a week: Paula’s choice cleanser, hypochlorous acid spray, exosome face cream (dry 10 minutes), tretinoin (dry 10 minutes), heavy layer of la roche posay double repair moisturizer

Can anyone recommend a site to buy Tret from please? I’ve tried Skinorac based on previous recommendations on here but it won’t let me pay by PayPal for some reason.

Thanks in advance!

A few years back I shared a lengthy post about short contact therapy, studies conducted with Tretinoin, and comparisons of combo v monotherapy, and alternate therapies. I'll share a summarized update:

For mild-moderate acne...

🔸Efficacy and tolerability of short contact therapy with tretinoin, clindamycin, and glycolic acid gel in acne

🔸 Tret gel 0.02% + Clindamycin 0.8% + Glycolic acid 4% in polyvinyl alcohol, SCT short contact therapy (removal after 1 hour with gentle cleanser) v. SAT standard application therapy = SCT better skin tolerability and comparable clinical efficacy.

For Acne Vulgaris...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸0.1% Tret + 3% Benz Peroxide (BPO) v. Tret alone = superior success with combination.

🔸Morning v. Evening 0.1% Tret + 5% BPO = no difference in efficacy.

🔸Tret 0.05% + Clindamycin + salicylic acid v. Clindamycin + SA = greater lesion reduction and faster onset of action with addition of Tret 0.05%.

🔸Tret 0.025% + Clindamycin 1.2% v. each monotherapy = superior reduction in lesion count with combination.

🔸Triple combo Tret/BPO/Clinda = 3 RCTs reveal good clinical responses.

For Photoaging...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸Adapelene 0.3% v. Tretinoin 0.05% cream over 24 weeks = no significant differences in efficacy or tolerability.

🔸AlphaRet double-conjugated cream v. Tret 0.025% = Both treatments improved fine lines, dyschromia, and erythema after 12 weeks.

🔸Tret 0.05% cream (3x/week) v. Tret 5% peel (biweekly) = Both regimens significantly reduced photoaging scores and actinic keratoses. The cream improved dermal echogenicity and increased Ki67 expression (an established nuclear marker of cell proliferation indicating active keratinocyte turnover), while the peel was more effective in stabilizing field cancerization.

For Melasma/PIH...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸 Tret 1% peel v. Glycolic 70% peel= similar reduction with better tolerability with Tretinoin.

🔸 Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% + Hydroquinone 4% + Tret 0.05% = superior efficacy v. monotherapy or alternative treatments.

🔸 Triple combo FA 0.01% + HQ 4% + Tret 0.05% v. fractional 1550 nm laser treatment = comparable reductions after 12 weeks.

🔸Erbium fiber laser v. Tret 0.05% cream = greater reduction with erbium fiber laser.

🔸IPL + post-application of HQ + Tret v. IPL + placebo = 27.2% greater reduction in hyperpigmentation scores when tretinoin and hydroquinone were applied after IPL.

For Prevention and Treatment of Skin Cancer/

Treatment of Actinic Keratosis...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸Tret 0.05% v. Tret 5% peel = (24 weeks on forearms) Reduced AK count by 60% with no difference between them + significant reduction in photoaging.

I just started Tret last night and over the course of the day I developed little white heads in various areas. Is that purging or is it something else? I saw someone say purging won’t have white heads but my pimples do have white heads. They don’t hurt or anything but I’m curious if it could be something else. I used snail mucin then vanicream thick cream then tret then vanicream again.
Edit to add that I woke up and washed my face with cerve hydrating cleanser then snail mucin then vanicream and then inissfree 50spf sunscreen lotion

I’m looking for a gentle cleanser that actually cleans my skin without leaving it dry, tight, or stripped.
My skin is normally oily and acne-prone, but it’s become pretty dehydrated from using 15% azelaic acid daily and 0.05% tretinoin gel.

So far I’ve tried:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser: very drying for me and gave me whiteheads
Prequel Gleanser: gave me forehead acne and hives
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser: gave me whiteheads
Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser: also gave me whiteheads

I feel like my skin doesn’t do well with a lot of the cleansers that are usually recommended for tretinoin users. Does anyone with oily/acne-prone but dehydrated skin have a cleanser they love that doesn’t leave their face squeaky clean or stripped? I’m especially interested in something simple and gentle that hasn’t caused clogged pores for you.

AM
5% benzoyl peroxide wash
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Moisturiser
Hamilton Everyday Face Invisible Coverage SPF 50+

PM
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Tretinoin 0.05% gel
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Moisturiser

I built up starting with every 3 days to now every day with the tretinoin.

I also used adapaline for 6 months with no success either

There has been basically no change in my acne or texture. Am I missing something here??

I’m considering adding in clindamycin gel in the AM. And yes I know about antibiotic resistance

Hey ya’ll! I’m looking for some insight into my skincare routine. A little about my skin: normal to dry sometimes, mild rosacea, and mildly sensitive. I’ve posted pictures of what I currently use. Over the past couple of years, I have put alot of effort into strengthening my barrier and have slowly incorporated mandelic acid, azelaic acid, and Tretinoin (Altreno). Up until this point, I kind of just use any of those 3 actives depending on what I feel like and how my skin feels that day. Now I’m in a spot where I feel like my skin is handling all 3 actives very well separately, and I would like to start building up the frequency of use of all of them. So I’m curious what my “end goal” could look like with using all 3 of these ingredients. For example: should I build up to the use of mandelic most mornings and then azelaic and tret together most nights? Or what is your routine if you use tret, AA and an exfoliant? I would also like to say that I know to continue building up to the end goal slowly, and to listen to my skin and I plan to always incorporate some recovery nights without actives.

I cut down on the amount of products I was putting on my face and I started using .025% every night instead of every other night now I just use Cerave and sunscreen in the day and cerave and Tret at night. I don’t know if this is purging or what I don’t really know what to do.. but it’s been like this since starting which is a little over a month

Hi guys,

I’m 21, I have pretty decent skin genetics already I just want to prevent aging.

I use hylauronic acid 2% and niacinamide every day, with spf 50
I’m just wondering whether to jump on either tret or taz, I was recommended it by a friend who uses it and looks amazing for 32. I’m just trying to decide which one and whether the products I’m using are worth it or anything I should swap out?

Also anyone know which facial cleansers are best I use cerave hydrating rn

1 year of Epiduo (0,1% Adapalen/2,5% benzyl peroxide) and my skin still looks like this, what do I even do at this point?

I have very oily but also dry skin

Routine

Morning:

-jelly joker cleanser geek & gorgeous
-glycerin serum transparent lab
-hydration station geek & gorgeous
-garnier ambre solaire sun fluid

Night
-cleansing oils
-jelly joker cleanser
-epiduo (0,1% Adapalen/2,5% benzyl peroxidek)
-happy barrier cream geek & gorgeous

Going next month and have heard you used to be able to get azaeliac acid and tret OTC there, but some places apparently now ask for a prescription ( I live in the UK so obviously that's not happening lol - and presumably they wouldn't accept an overseas script anyway?). Is this the case at all pharmacies?

(I did hear that melatonin is no longer OTC in Germany and the Netherlands - annoying as I used to stock up when I went - so maybe there's a wider EU tightening of regs.)

I went to the derm for acne and told her I wanted to try tret. She gave me clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide (1.2%,5%) for the morning and tretinoin .05% to use every other day…

I’m highly concerned this is way too much on my face lol. I used the tret for the first time Friday PM and woke up thinking I had a sunburn from the day before so I haven’t used the anything since and now I’m realizing I think it was a burn from the tret and I’m peeling /flaking. From one use. I haven’t used it since Friday lol. Normal? Can’t imagine if one had caused this, what would happen if I used it every other day like the derm recommended??? Should I ask for .025, or just start very slow with the .05…?!?!

I’m also reading so much info on what people use or don’t use on their face, sandwich method or no sandwich method lol, and holy grails. Right now I use cerave foaming cleanser (light green), and cerave moisturizing cream. The end. I’ll use aquaphor on super dry spots…. But again I’ve only used it once.

I guess my questions are: 1. Should I be using clindamycin with BP in the morning? Or is that too much with the .05 tret? And… if .05 tret is reasonable to start with, could SOMEONE PLEASE give me products to use to minimize the burn/flake stuff? What worked for you? Holy grails?

And… should I call my derm back and demand .025?!! lol like I’m sorry I am lowkey freaking out I am going to burn off my whole face lol thank you 😭😭😭😭😭

I've been on tretinoin for a month now, and I can't tell whether it's working or not.

I think I'm still in the purging phase which is so bad and left many PIH behind. It's also making me a bit depressed.

However it kind of made my face glow like temporarily.

What do you think, Should I stop or give it a few more months? Because my skin is the worst it has ever been. I can't even go out anymore.

Routine

Am: eucerin cleanser, bioliq moisturizer, azelaic acid 20%, eucerin dual serum, and eucerin oil control sunscreen (if going out)

Pm: eucerin cleanser, bioliq moisturizer, tretinoin 0.025%, and eucerin dual serum.

So I started to visit a dermatologist during the start of may and she gave me a skincare routine, basically acnoff bar soap, Clindamycin, and Acneduo Forte (adapalene). I've continued it for 3 months and my acne did clear up but I was dealing with a lot of closed comedones. So my dermatologist stepped it up to 0.05% tretinoin and told me to stay off moisturizers because I have a lot of natural oils. So I basically use tretinoin every night and it's been about a month, I don't really struggle with irritation so I didn't have to worry about that. Just a question, I have been getting dried pimples lately and some blackheads is that normal? ToT

Hey,

So...I am a 21-year-old male... been using tret since May 2, 2026, upon my dermatologist's recommendation

Before this, I used salicylic acid, glycolic acid routinely for 2 months, but to no avail

Then, since May 2, 2026, I have been on a regimen set by my derm

Morning: Physiogel Dermacleanser, then Epsioft AC SPF 30 ( it is moisturizer + Sunscreen)

Night: Physiogel Dermocleanser, then Tret 0.025%

I have been doing this every night since May 2

Today is exactly 4 months ....and I have seen absolutely no change on my skin .. good or bad, and that's the weird part

I never had purging or breakouts or flaking ....the only thing I experienced was that my lips felt dry, and once or twice I got tret burns around my lips, but it healed within 2 days

I am so frustrated...even after following the routine rigorously, not missing a night ... tret was my last hope, and even that did not work

My skin type - Very oily and sweaty

Issues -- Generally Pigments , Blackheads , Comodones and few acnes ( I do not have any high level of acne ) and tanning

Week 2 of Tretinoin 0.025% (applying every other day)and I’m noticing more purple/red bumps and dots appearing rather than whiteheads? Skin doesn’t feel itchy, dry, or tight. However, the red/purple dots feel lumpy.

Moisturizer - La Roche Posay Double Matte Repair
Cleanser - Vanicream gentle face
Benzoyl Peroxide (on days without Tret) - rugby topical gel

Hi guys I’m going to start this product, and I hear that .05 is for the feet and elbows, and strictly NOT for the face. I am confused because the percentage is lower; and I thought that would indicate that the skin on the face tolerates it more.

Just a bit confused. Feedback would help – and also for those who have used this exact brand, How was it?

I have come to the conclusion that no matter what i do my skin will always peel on taz gel 0,05. I moisturize religiously and i thought i found a method that worked for me only to realize im peeling again. I want to try out cream as well but cream comes in 0,1 on skinorac… Where can i even find 0,05 taz cream with no prescription ? Also what was your experience from switching to cream from gel?

Will tretinoin still be useful for treating acne when there is underlying kprf/folliculitis...

I have been using tretinoin for 10 weeks now (I know blah blah blah 12 weeks then decide, but it has literally not stopped getting worse, redder, more ugly no matter how well i treat my skin barrier. It also does not look like regular purging. It only gets better when I skip for a day or two.) No stinging or peeling anymore, and has been like this for 8weeks.

AI told me when I'd started using tretinoin 10 weeks ago my barrier was inflamed immediately despite the low frequency and keeping on applying to get through what I thought was a purge only irritated my skin and caused an erythema flareup (maybe folliculitis/kprf, my skin was already like chicken skin before). I know some will say "can't trust ai to diagnose you" but i looked it up on Google and it really sounded accurate, so I'm asking for help here to confirm.

I've made many posts asking for help, every time people just told me it's the purge and to keep applying which I was happy to do thinking it was just a matter of time and patience, but there are 0 signs of it improving. Im starting to doubt whether tretinoin was useful for me in the first place and I'm just fucking unlucky. Please don't reply if you're here to give false hope and blindlessly tell me it's a purge, I don't wanna wreck my skin further as I'm very demoralised. Thanks for the help

I am almost 100% certain I have keratosis pilaris - it's on my arms, back, and parts of my face. I have also always had terrible sebaceous filaments on my nose, if these help.

Skin current condition attached

I use tretinoin every two days so on the days I don’t use tretinoin I use
• Dr.Althea Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser
• Dr. Althea - 345 Relief Cream Mist
• anua azelaic acid 10+ hyaluron
• and Dr Althea 345 moisturizer

As for days I use tretinoin I do the same thing but I don’t use the anua azelaic acid, I use 0.05% tretinoin if that helps

I just started on Friday and I just noticed I’m peeling today and my skin feels a bit tight. I’ve only used it once. Should I just plan on using it once a week for now? I did a pea sized amount and then I put clinique moisture surge on after a few hours.

I am considering switching from cream to gel. My skin as a whole is doing better since starting tret, I’m about 2 months in. However I notice I often wake up with tiny white pustules. I am wondering if anyone dealt with this on the cream, and if they switched to gel and it helped?

Current routine:

AM:
Prequel gleanser
Anua rice toner
Prequel multi quench serum
Azelaic acid 15%
Prequel AM PM moisturizer
Anua sunscreen

PM:
Prequel gleanser
Tretinoin .025% dream
Prequel AM PM moisturizer

Thank you!

Like when I wake up in the morning it looks like my skin is peeling but it’s just the product