Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, scientist nor claim to have any medical knowledge.
Most of this research comes from the web, and many conversations with my doctors and aestheticians, along with my personal experience!
Please ask your doctor for info and advice prior to using any retinol.
Retinoids should also not be used while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
What is Tretinoin?
Tretinoin is a general name for medication used to treat acne and sun-damaged skin.
It works to help improve the look of surface wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and all the fun aging issues skin has! You can find Tretinoin sold under various different names.
Tretinoin strengths, in my opinion, are greater than Retinol.
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Difference Between Retinol and Tretinoin
| Retinol | Tretinoin |
|---|---|
| a natural form of vitamin A | a synthetic version of vitamin A |
| milder and less irritating to sensitive skin | stronger than retinol |
| available without a prescription | only available with a prescription |
| found in many over-the-counter cosmetics and skin care products | not as well tolerated by sensitive skin |
| Source: HealthLine |
My Skincare with Tretinoin
My skincare regime includes using Tretinoin cream. Check out my full morning skincare routine here.
I’ve worked up to using .1%, which is (when talking about Treninoin strengths) the highest strength available with a prescription, but this took many years.
I started slowly and with the smallest Tretinoin strength just like I’m recommending here.
It can be hard to know what strength of Tretinoin cream is best for wrinkles and for you. That’s why it’s important to start low and work your way up.
Tretinoin works by affecting the growth of skin cells and making them turnover faster so you get new skin cells faster. It’s a superpower exfoliant!
Tretinoin does not repair sun-damaged skin or reverse aging due to sun exposure, though it sure doesn’t hurt.
The question then comes, how often to use Tretinoin? I use this cream three-four times a week depending on how my skin is feeling to help with the inevitable aging!
Every time I see a woman with beautiful skin I ask her about her routine. Sometimes it’s genetics – lucky ducks!
But often time I’m told they use Tretinoin like products. They tell me to start now and never stop!
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What Strength of Tretinoin is Best for Wrinkles — Here’s My Recommendation
Many people start using Tretinoin and stop due to redness, peeling, flaking and increased acne.
Yes, all of this can and will happen. In fact, it should happen – that’s how you know it’s working! It’s de-gunking your skin and increasing the cell turnover!
Tretinoin is a superpower exfoliant. It’s getting rid of the dead cells faster and bringing in new cells. So you have to give your skin time to go through this initial process.
Do not stop. Suffer through those early weeks/months of not looking so hot. The beauty is on the other end!
Maybe your asking when to increase Tretinoin strength. The key is a slow and steady increase. This is my suggestion of what has worked for me.
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How Often Should You Use Tretinoin? My Weekly Recommendation for Beginners
This was a huge question I had when I first started, how often should I use Tretinoin? Here is my recommended schedule.
It worked really well for me and the results were well worth it!
MONTH ONE
Use Tretinoin once a week. 20-30 minutes after applying, top it off on a light moisturizer.
MONTH TWO
Use Tretinoin twice a week. Apply the moisturizer again 30 minutes.
MONTH THREE
Use Tretinoin once a week with no moisturizer.
MONTH FOUR
Use Tretinoin twice a week, but not two days in a row.
GOING FORWARD
Add days as your skin will tolerate. Continue as your skin dictates.
If your skin is still very dry, back off using it to one day a week but do not stop using it.
Note, I removed moisturizer. This is up to you.
I prefer to use the medication fully leaded, and not risk deluding it, but my skin is different than yours. There’s no right or wrong way.
Where to Apply Tretinoin?
- Forehead
- Temple for Crows Feet Lines
- Cheeks
- Forehead
- Bridge of nose
- Chin Area
- Temple for Crows Feet Lines
- Top of Hands
- Neck
- Chest/Decolatage
Important Things to Know When Using Tretinoin
Avoid delicate areas like nasal folds & eye area. Retinoids need to be applied at night. In candid honesty, I do apply the tiniest bit to my eye area just below my eyebrows, and under my eyes. I also put some just over the top of my lips below the nose, but again, I’ve built up a tolerance. Ask your doctor about this.
Apply at night. Do not wear during the day! The chemicals break down when exposed to the sun, so the impact will be greater if on the skin all night.
- Wash hands after using.
- Do not use if pregnant, or trying to become pregnant.
Something I need to emphasis is I am absolutely not a doctor nor am I a scientist. I don’t have any extensive medical knowledge, all the research I did was web based and I had lots of conversations with my doctors as I walked through my Tretinoin experience.
Make sure you ask your doctor for info and advice before you use any retinol. What works for me may not work for you.
Retinoids should not be used while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
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Tips I’ve Learned From My Experience:
Moisturize the heck out of your skin! Every morning, wash your skin with the softest cleanser possible. I use Cetaphil Skin Cleanser (not the face cleanser – I find the skin cleanser gentler on my skin.)
At night, wash your make-up off with a moisturizing cleanser. I love, love, adore, adore the Clinique Take the Day off cleanser. I use this and a warm washcloth. The washcloth gives a soft exfoliation and the cleanser removes makeup gently and leaves your skin supple and ready for the Tretinoin. Check out other cleansers I’d highly recommend.
Ditch your Clarisonic. Too abrasive. Your skin will catch on fire!
Go easy on any other exfoliants. Remember, Tretinoin is an exfoliant. So baby your skin. This is doing a ton of work so you don’t need more exfoliating!
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Where to Buy Tretinoin
I get my Treinoin from my dermatologist, but plastic surgeons have access to them. I use the Obaji brand.
You can also find high levels of the retinoid in products from Obaji. During Quarantine, you can call Dr. Kavali’s office and she’ll ship you some.
OTC Retinols I use (lower potency than Tretinoin)
Good luck! Let me know how it goes!
Hello, Would you recommend differin or the Ordinary? I am 24 with hormonal acne.
Hey! I would try both and maybe alternate. Try the Ordinary twice a week, and start with Differin (or equivalent) once a week!
Hi So I just bought Obagi Tretinion cream 0.1 but scared to start using it .I research everything and it states this can ruin your skins barrier. Starting to get forehead wrinkles and do not want botox.Had laser genesis done in her office and microdermabrasion bit wouldn’t this be to much with the treatment I just got.Purchased three and go back in 2 weeks for the same procedures.Should I start this she stated twice a week but it is an exfoliant and so is the microderm.Little confused and just do not trust people that just want to sell you items?? Any advice??
So Tretinoin works beautifully with everything you’re doing — I would just steer clear of using it a week before the laser, and the office will likely tell you to give your skin 2 full weeks to heel before you use it again. I use tretinoin in tandem with my skin treatments — I find that it purges pores *exceptionally* well and exfoliates and thickens my skin. I’ve had nearly every doctor verify that it is a fantastic product. So I think you’re good!!!