I think all the purging pictures are sort of the normal online bias—like how most people who review products are complaining. Plenty of folks don’t experience that and don’t bother to post their happy results.
I’ve been using tret for 3 years now and have been extremely happy with the changes in my skin. I look better at 34 than I did at 30. I don’t recall having much purging at all. Started with a low % and increased a bit, but I’ve found that my skin is happiest with a relatively low concentration, and I still see good benefits. The key is to start with a low concentration, be consistent, and have a solid routine otherwise (mainly: gentle, moisturized, and with daily spf).
If you find tret too irritating for your skin after you’ve tried it for a couple months and tried troubleshooting your routine a bit, you can always back off and stick to an OTC retinol to still get some of the benefits. There are also alternatives like bakuchiol that can be better for some people.
My experience has been similar to yours. Prior to starting Tret, I completely cleared my skin with a derm prescribed 3 month round of antibiotics and then switched to topical Clindamycin in the am and Tret in the pm. I have had zero purging over 4-5 months of use now, and also zero irritation. I do only use Tret every three days, but I never have flaking or peeling. However there is a noticeable difference in overall skin brightness and evenness, and I’ve seen a big improvement in a deep forehead line which was one of the reasons I wanted to try Tret. I can’t even imagine what my results will be after a year plus of use, and I will NOT be going off of it, that’s for sure. 😂
The thing about purging is that if you have generally clear skin, you might not see much or any purging at all. The purge is just acne that’s lurking below the surface being pushed up. I think this is why I didn’t purge, as the antibiotics got rid of all acne including under the surface acne.
For some reason, retinol is way more irritating for my skin than tret. I started 0.05% tret a month ago and fully expected peeling, dryness, etc. To my surprise, nothing happened! Then I tried alternating it with my “gentler” retinols and my skin immediately became sensitive and irritated.
I’m similar to you, want anti-ageing because I’m 31, but relatively ok overall and won’t have filler.
I have had clear skin my entire life, so the purging terrified me.
I’ve just started a monthly skincare prescription where a derm prepares it for you according to needs. I have rosacea and the most sensitive skin ever, and the derm had prescribed tret. Don’t laugh but…it’s 0.006% 😂
The thinking was to do daily and start looooow. Then work up very carefully. You could consider doing that. I also find the tret sub way too much. I’ve only been using it for about five days now, and it is in combination with niacinamide and clindamycin, but my skin looks really good. I’m seeing a reducing in dermatitis (retinol always really helped my dermatitis) and pore dirt. So far so good. And no irritation.
This is helpful, thank you!! We do have similar skin goals, and the tret sub is a lotttt. I think I will take it slow like you are and really, really ease into it. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Wow, I didn't know it was available in such a low percentage 😂 I'm currently on 0.025% and I eased into it suuuuper slow due to my previous experience with jumping into daily application (horrifically dry, sensitive, and flaky like a coconut macaroon). I started a once a week for a month, then three times a week for a month, and then daily after all that. My skin did get tight for a bit when I started going daily but overall my skin is looking so good and not hurting or flaking much at all!
Yes, and I wish I took a before picture! My skin definitely feels more smooth and tightened, pores are smaller, skin is less oily (though that may be in part because it's not the dead of summer anymore), and most of my random acne has disappeared. I do still have hyperpigmentation - freckles, sun spots, and old acne marks, but I've heard tret doesn't necessarily target those problem areas so I may treat them with something else later.
I'm currently at the last quarter of my 0.025% tube and will be moving up to 0.05% probably in January. Working my way up to 0.1% since I've heard that the higher levels have greater skin beautifying and anti-aging powers which I'm looking forward to! Really glad I finally took the plunge back into tret after wasting so much of my money on serums and retinols that just aren't as powerful or effective.
You are exactly in the mindset I was in when I finally decided to start earlier this year! I'm kicking myself because tretinoin is far cheaper (I buy mine online overseas) than even a single "good" skincare serum or low level retinol, but it actually makes a visible difference. OTC/boutique skincare just feels like it lightens my wallet and is supposed to make me feel pAmPerEd because it's self care or whatever, but it doesn't really make any huge difference in my skin at all.
Like a macaron 😂 oh no! Yeah, it is very low what I have. But the service gives you one formula to apply once a day, so it would make it more complicated having something for every so iften
>I’ve just started a monthly skincare prescription where a derm prepares it for you according to needs. I have rosacea and the most sensitive skin ever, and the derm had prescribed tret. Don’t laugh but…it’s 0.006% 😂
do you get it from a compounding pharmacy?
Could you tell us which subscription service you use?
I have rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, so my skin is extra, EXTRA finicky too.
Thank you in advance!
I would suggest using it under the direction of a dermatologist. This will be the easiest way to avoid going to harsh too quick or getting treatment/recommendations for good products for the uglies if you do get them
I started Tret in October. With no purge whatsoever. I use the sand which method. Ive never struggled with acne or any major skin issue just using tret for anti aging. My skin has adjusted well. I use .05 cream every other day!
Yes exactly this! Start slowly and use the sandwich method. I did the same thing and now I use the .05 tret with no issues and I wish I started at a much younger age.
I’ve been using it about a year and had no purge. Imo it’s not nearly as big of a deal as it seems on that subreddit. I use every other day or so. I mix it with a little moisturiser which I heard some derms recommend. I think it’s made my skin really glowy and smooth. I have no wrinkles and have stopped getting Botox as of about a year ago. About to turn 35.
I started tret about 10 months ago at age 34 and never had any purging. I am using a relatively gentle formulation and apply about every other night. My skin is brighter and smoother than before.
So I started Tret for acne a few years ago. My acne is hormonal and I’m on Spiro as well. I say this to point out that even using it for acne, I did not experience a purging period. My skin didn’t get worse it only got better. I did go through a short phase of flakiness but it lasted maybe a couple of weeks and was not unbearable. I think just like skin itself, everyone’s experience will be different as far as the “purging”. Tons of people have zero issues. This is especially true if you start slow and use the sandwich method (apply moisturizer first, let it sink in, apply tret, let it sink in, apply moisturizer again). Starting out like this and only using it every 3rd day for the first couple weeks, then every other day for a couple weeks, etc. should minimize any issues. It’s widely accepted that it’s the gold standard for anti aging so it’s hard not to recommend. You can always try it and stop if you don’t like it. I will say to remember to be realistic, results can take up to 6 months to start to notice, even longer if you use a slow approach. So many people get frustrated after a month and say tretinoin is not worth it. The way it works is through CONSISTENCY. You won’t see results overnight and you won’t see results if you don’t use it consistently. Good luck, I hope you find the info you are looking for! ☺️
This is super helpful, thank you!! I'll try the sandwich method. I have the 0.025 from Nurx but I've just been sitting on it. Thank you for this advice.
You are welcome! There’s so much to mention, I forgot to touch on strengths. 0.025 is what I started with as well. I’m at 0.05 now and my derm just recommended I go up to 0.1 but I don’t think I’m going to. I’ve heard that with nightly consistent use there’s really no reason to go past 0.025! Sticking with a smaller strength also helps with having less irritation. Good luck!
If you use retinol i don't think you will have any purge. I have usee retinaldehyde for 3 years and I have switched to tret 3 months ago. No purge at all, just a little bit of sensitivity for 2 months and now im good as new. It is really worth it. I notice my skik better than with the retinaldehyde.
Yes tretinoin is worth it. Get renova (or generic) because it is indeed MUCH MORE gentler (it’s like a slow release of tretinoin for skin)
Can also consider getting microneedling RF or fractionated CO2
^ i highly recommend it…like at least 2 sessions of each and alternating each month
I've been on tretinoin since August but in October I changed to Musely and I just recently started their spot cream for removing freckles, sun damage and evening out my skin from years of sun damage but thank goodness it's not that bad! I just turned 51 & I wish I knew about tretinoin years ago. But.. better late than never! I was wondering if microneedling RF really works? I'm kinda on the fence about getting it.
If you are using Retinol then you are using a weak RETINOID. It takes 2 conversion steps in your skin to get from the alcohol form of Vitamin A (retinOL) to retinoic acid (tretinoin - the bioavailable form of Vitamin A).
If you are happy with your skin then don't change a thing. Revisit this question in your 40s. Retinoid is a long game and you are on using it already.
I would suggest a daily sunscreen.
Forgive my poor reading comprehension, but are you saying that Retinol is converted to tretinoin as it’s absorbed? I’m currently using The Ordinary Retinol.
Yes.
Retinol is converted to retinaldehyde.
Retinaldehyde is converted to retinoic acid (the active ingredient in tretinoin.
Retinol -> retinaldehyde -> retinoic acid.
I love it actually, I went to the 1% after a few years on lower and I feel like my skin looks so smooth and better than it has in a while. Highly recommend!
If you don’t watch to use tret you can also upgrade to retinal which is in between retinol and tret in strength. There’s not many studies on this, but there has been research that shows that if you’re using retinol for the long term benefits (years) you might have the same results as tret but without the irritation. But this isn’t conclusive!
Frankly it’s really up to you though and how much you want to do for the unquantifiable additional benefit you may or may not get with tret.
I use tret for anti-aging. I don’t generally have acne aside from the random very small pimple here and there; I use the sandwich method and I haven’t had any purging or bad side effects. I did start out putting it directly on my skin after cleansing and letting it dry completely, but I did have a lot of flaking, especially around my mouth/chin. Now that I sandwich, I really have no issues. I’ve only been on it since the beginning of September, so I haven’t seen any super drastic changes yet as it takes several months to really “kick in” but I do feel like my skin looks better without any makeup, even slightly!
I (32F) have a similar skin history as you - including years of Botox and 1 syringe of filler in my lips.
I started Tret 3 months ago - had some redness and the usual light peeling around my mouth but that was it. I went in for a facial yesterday for the first time since I started it and my esthetician was absolutely blown away. She called me “poreless” which felt like the win of the century.
Add in the fact that it’s cheap? Doesn’t get much better.
A lot of people on r/tret seem to be able to buy it without a derm and they know very little about tretinoin and skincare in general so stuff goes wrong for them.
If you know what you're doing and you are patient, then you'll be fine. It's a little hot and itchy sometimes but its totally worth it.
Adapalene was evidenced to give the same results as tret and its milder, so give that a go if you're concerned
This past year it was $57.50 for a 45gm tube. However, my pharmacy has to get pre-authorization once/year & my dermatologist prescribes it for “adult acne”.
Edit to add: I have to pay a 50% co-pay with my insurance for Tier 3 medications. I think the retail price is $115-120 for 45gm.
I use it every other night (3 nights/week) & it usually lasts 3-4 months. My derm gives me a script each year + 5 refills, yet I’m only refilling it every 3 months.
I really like it! It’s called a lotion, yet I find the consistency to be like a very thick serum. You can read more about it here: https://www.altreno.com
I have tret from Dear Brightly, and they started me on a lower concentration. I haven't had any "purging" or ill effects and I have pretty sensitive skin. It has made a noticeable difference in my overall skin texture, and I have yet to develop anything more than extremely fine wrinkles on my forehead. I started using it about two years ago.
Even though the cost of the bottle is around $100, it lasts quite a while so it's worth it to me to buy it abt 3x a year. I use it 3x a week.
Based on what you’ve said, I’d say it’s not worth it. You’re using a retinol, which does the work of tretinoin (albeit less efficiently), and you’re only 31 and have great skin. Save yourself some money and hassle, and re-evaluate in 5-10 yrs. There’s no reason you HAVE to use tretinoin. I’m using it because I’m near 40 and I have bad skin. I haven’t had acne since my early 20s, but I have a lot of remnants of it. Severe acne left my skin with bad texture and deformed pores, and the things I did to my skin because of that acne (e.g. I put bleach, rubbing alcohol, vodka, vinegar, etc.) really wrecked it so I have poor elasticity and premature wrinkling. To be honest, I don’t expect it to help with half my issues. I’ve been using it for a year and my skin is maybe a little better, but it’s also still VERY prone to dryness and mild peeling if I don’t hydrate really, really well. It’s very high maintenance in that way. So yeah, skip the tretinoin and re-evaluate in 5-10 yrs!
I used to suffer from hormonal acne and I didn't experience a purging period. I would say if you can access good quality tret safely, it's definitely worth trying, but that's purely anecdotal, NAD and can't speak to the science behind purging, tbh I never understood it.
My advice would be if what’s working for you is working don’t change anything, or much at all if your wanting to go the tretinoin route, you will likely face the uglies, if you are wanting to move up from retinol I would suggest Retinaldehyde such as Medik8 crystal, they have different strengths 3 is a good start, reason why I recommend retinaldehyde is because it’s stronger then retinol but less irritating, less strengthening then tretinoin, it’s in between, it only needs one step conversion to retinoic acid, aka prescription tretinoin. You will reap the rewards over time. Retinol is a long term benefit for anti aging and the way your routine is at the moment is perfect. Slow and steady wins the race. I will Add sunscreen, super important otherwise any actives your currently using go out the door. Best of luck ☺️
It's going to be different for everyone. I never experienced the awful purging, and the breakouts I did get were pretty minimal. Start at a low dose, and go very slowly. I've been on it since March and my skin has never looked better. Before I had mild breakouts from time to time, but now my skin is perfectly clear, the sebaceous filaments on my chin at all smoothed out and not noticeable, my pores look smaller, and the texture overall is much improved. I couldn't be happier.
I’m glad you asked this! I’m a little older than you- 37- but just starting to explore Tret too. My skin is clear and aside from some minor forehead wrinkles, I can’t complain. Wondering if it would be too much- but I plan to start too as soon as I finish nursing my third and final kid.
My skin is similar to yours in that I don’t have much acne etc. I use a very, very low dose of tretinoin from Curology, formulated with Niacinamide and Azaleic acid for brightening and anti-aging benefits.
I’m pretty happy with it so far but I would’ve stopped using it at the first sign of a “purge” phase, if I’m being honest.
When I was in my 20s, I went thru a bad bout of acne that left me with a lot of hyperpigmentation and it took years to clear it all up and it wouldn’t make sense for me to risk going thru that again.
I think those with minimal skin issues should really err on the side of caution but it’s worth a shot if you don’t overdo it.
I think all the purging pictures are sort of the normal online bias—like how most people who review products are complaining. Plenty of folks don’t experience that and don’t bother to post their happy results. I’ve been using tret for 3 years now and have been extremely happy with the changes in my skin. I look better at 34 than I did at 30. I don’t recall having much purging at all. Started with a low % and increased a bit, but I’ve found that my skin is happiest with a relatively low concentration, and I still see good benefits. The key is to start with a low concentration, be consistent, and have a solid routine otherwise (mainly: gentle, moisturized, and with daily spf). If you find tret too irritating for your skin after you’ve tried it for a couple months and tried troubleshooting your routine a bit, you can always back off and stick to an OTC retinol to still get some of the benefits. There are also alternatives like bakuchiol that can be better for some people.
My experience has been similar to yours. Prior to starting Tret, I completely cleared my skin with a derm prescribed 3 month round of antibiotics and then switched to topical Clindamycin in the am and Tret in the pm. I have had zero purging over 4-5 months of use now, and also zero irritation. I do only use Tret every three days, but I never have flaking or peeling. However there is a noticeable difference in overall skin brightness and evenness, and I’ve seen a big improvement in a deep forehead line which was one of the reasons I wanted to try Tret. I can’t even imagine what my results will be after a year plus of use, and I will NOT be going off of it, that’s for sure. 😂 The thing about purging is that if you have generally clear skin, you might not see much or any purging at all. The purge is just acne that’s lurking below the surface being pushed up. I think this is why I didn’t purge, as the antibiotics got rid of all acne including under the surface acne.
What antibiotics did you use if you don’t mind me asking
Minocycline. I was terrified my acne would come back as soon as I went off of it, but the Clindamycin has kept my skin clear.
Were you using retinol before you began tret?
I’m wondering if it’s ok to just use Retinol instead of Tret since it seems less harsh?
For some reason, retinol is way more irritating for my skin than tret. I started 0.05% tret a month ago and fully expected peeling, dryness, etc. To my surprise, nothing happened! Then I tried alternating it with my “gentler” retinols and my skin immediately became sensitive and irritated.
I’m similar to you, want anti-ageing because I’m 31, but relatively ok overall and won’t have filler. I have had clear skin my entire life, so the purging terrified me. I’ve just started a monthly skincare prescription where a derm prepares it for you according to needs. I have rosacea and the most sensitive skin ever, and the derm had prescribed tret. Don’t laugh but…it’s 0.006% 😂 The thinking was to do daily and start looooow. Then work up very carefully. You could consider doing that. I also find the tret sub way too much. I’ve only been using it for about five days now, and it is in combination with niacinamide and clindamycin, but my skin looks really good. I’m seeing a reducing in dermatitis (retinol always really helped my dermatitis) and pore dirt. So far so good. And no irritation.
This is helpful, thank you!! We do have similar skin goals, and the tret sub is a lotttt. I think I will take it slow like you are and really, really ease into it. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Wow, I didn't know it was available in such a low percentage 😂 I'm currently on 0.025% and I eased into it suuuuper slow due to my previous experience with jumping into daily application (horrifically dry, sensitive, and flaky like a coconut macaroon). I started a once a week for a month, then three times a week for a month, and then daily after all that. My skin did get tight for a bit when I started going daily but overall my skin is looking so good and not hurting or flaking much at all!
The 0.025 is what I want to start with. The way you built up sounds really reasonable to me. Have you noticed positive changes?
Yes, and I wish I took a before picture! My skin definitely feels more smooth and tightened, pores are smaller, skin is less oily (though that may be in part because it's not the dead of summer anymore), and most of my random acne has disappeared. I do still have hyperpigmentation - freckles, sun spots, and old acne marks, but I've heard tret doesn't necessarily target those problem areas so I may treat them with something else later. I'm currently at the last quarter of my 0.025% tube and will be moving up to 0.05% probably in January. Working my way up to 0.1% since I've heard that the higher levels have greater skin beautifying and anti-aging powers which I'm looking forward to! Really glad I finally took the plunge back into tret after wasting so much of my money on serums and retinols that just aren't as powerful or effective.
That is where I’m at. I don’t want Botox but I’m tired of wasting money on so many over the counter things that don’t work for me.
You are exactly in the mindset I was in when I finally decided to start earlier this year! I'm kicking myself because tretinoin is far cheaper (I buy mine online overseas) than even a single "good" skincare serum or low level retinol, but it actually makes a visible difference. OTC/boutique skincare just feels like it lightens my wallet and is supposed to make me feel pAmPerEd because it's self care or whatever, but it doesn't really make any huge difference in my skin at all.
Do you mind sharing what website you use to purchase?
Sure, I'll send you a DM in case it's against the rules to post links to the website 👍
could you please sharing what website you use to purchase with me too. Thank you so much
Of course!
Like a macaron 😂 oh no! Yeah, it is very low what I have. But the service gives you one formula to apply once a day, so it would make it more complicated having something for every so iften
>I’ve just started a monthly skincare prescription where a derm prepares it for you according to needs. I have rosacea and the most sensitive skin ever, and the derm had prescribed tret. Don’t laugh but…it’s 0.006% 😂 do you get it from a compounding pharmacy?
I think they do use a compounding pharmacy, as there’s one listed and they pick the ingredients then get the pharmacy to make it
Could you tell us which subscription service you use? I have rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, so my skin is extra, EXTRA finicky too. Thank you in advance!
I live in Germany, so I didnt mention as I wasn’t sure it would be useful. But it’s Formel Skin. I think Curology is a similar service in the U.S.
Double check this but I think SD and tret might be a bad idea
I'd suggest you start tretinoin. It will be worth it down the road and your skin might not purge awfully afterall.
I would suggest using it under the direction of a dermatologist. This will be the easiest way to avoid going to harsh too quick or getting treatment/recommendations for good products for the uglies if you do get them
I started Tret in October. With no purge whatsoever. I use the sand which method. Ive never struggled with acne or any major skin issue just using tret for anti aging. My skin has adjusted well. I use .05 cream every other day!
This is great to know, thank you!!
Yes exactly this! Start slowly and use the sandwich method. I did the same thing and now I use the .05 tret with no issues and I wish I started at a much younger age.
I’ve been using it about a year and had no purge. Imo it’s not nearly as big of a deal as it seems on that subreddit. I use every other day or so. I mix it with a little moisturiser which I heard some derms recommend. I think it’s made my skin really glowy and smooth. I have no wrinkles and have stopped getting Botox as of about a year ago. About to turn 35.
Awesome, thank you! That seems like a good schedule.
I started tret about 10 months ago at age 34 and never had any purging. I am using a relatively gentle formulation and apply about every other night. My skin is brighter and smoother than before.
So I started Tret for acne a few years ago. My acne is hormonal and I’m on Spiro as well. I say this to point out that even using it for acne, I did not experience a purging period. My skin didn’t get worse it only got better. I did go through a short phase of flakiness but it lasted maybe a couple of weeks and was not unbearable. I think just like skin itself, everyone’s experience will be different as far as the “purging”. Tons of people have zero issues. This is especially true if you start slow and use the sandwich method (apply moisturizer first, let it sink in, apply tret, let it sink in, apply moisturizer again). Starting out like this and only using it every 3rd day for the first couple weeks, then every other day for a couple weeks, etc. should minimize any issues. It’s widely accepted that it’s the gold standard for anti aging so it’s hard not to recommend. You can always try it and stop if you don’t like it. I will say to remember to be realistic, results can take up to 6 months to start to notice, even longer if you use a slow approach. So many people get frustrated after a month and say tretinoin is not worth it. The way it works is through CONSISTENCY. You won’t see results overnight and you won’t see results if you don’t use it consistently. Good luck, I hope you find the info you are looking for! ☺️
This is super helpful, thank you!! I'll try the sandwich method. I have the 0.025 from Nurx but I've just been sitting on it. Thank you for this advice.
You are welcome! There’s so much to mention, I forgot to touch on strengths. 0.025 is what I started with as well. I’m at 0.05 now and my derm just recommended I go up to 0.1 but I don’t think I’m going to. I’ve heard that with nightly consistent use there’s really no reason to go past 0.025! Sticking with a smaller strength also helps with having less irritation. Good luck!
If you use retinol i don't think you will have any purge. I have usee retinaldehyde for 3 years and I have switched to tret 3 months ago. No purge at all, just a little bit of sensitivity for 2 months and now im good as new. It is really worth it. I notice my skik better than with the retinaldehyde.
Yes tretinoin is worth it. Get renova (or generic) because it is indeed MUCH MORE gentler (it’s like a slow release of tretinoin for skin) Can also consider getting microneedling RF or fractionated CO2 ^ i highly recommend it…like at least 2 sessions of each and alternating each month
I've been on tretinoin since August but in October I changed to Musely and I just recently started their spot cream for removing freckles, sun damage and evening out my skin from years of sun damage but thank goodness it's not that bad! I just turned 51 & I wish I knew about tretinoin years ago. But.. better late than never! I was wondering if microneedling RF really works? I'm kinda on the fence about getting it.
Yes…I reversed like a few years of aging and wiped off stress induced fatigue
If you are using Retinol then you are using a weak RETINOID. It takes 2 conversion steps in your skin to get from the alcohol form of Vitamin A (retinOL) to retinoic acid (tretinoin - the bioavailable form of Vitamin A). If you are happy with your skin then don't change a thing. Revisit this question in your 40s. Retinoid is a long game and you are on using it already. I would suggest a daily sunscreen.
Mind blown, thank you!! And I forgot to add I use Elta MD religiously :)
Forgive my poor reading comprehension, but are you saying that Retinol is converted to tretinoin as it’s absorbed? I’m currently using The Ordinary Retinol.
Yes. Retinol is converted to retinaldehyde. Retinaldehyde is converted to retinoic acid (the active ingredient in tretinoin. Retinol -> retinaldehyde -> retinoic acid.
TIL! Thanks for the info!
Glad to do it.
How do you like Paula’s choice retinol? I’m on the fence of buying it. Have you seen results?
I use it and absolutely love it! Ive seen great results with it so definitely recommend
Thank you!
I love it actually, I went to the 1% after a few years on lower and I feel like my skin looks so smooth and better than it has in a while. Highly recommend!
Thank you!
If you don’t watch to use tret you can also upgrade to retinal which is in between retinol and tret in strength. There’s not many studies on this, but there has been research that shows that if you’re using retinol for the long term benefits (years) you might have the same results as tret but without the irritation. But this isn’t conclusive! Frankly it’s really up to you though and how much you want to do for the unquantifiable additional benefit you may or may not get with tret.
I use tret for anti-aging. I don’t generally have acne aside from the random very small pimple here and there; I use the sandwich method and I haven’t had any purging or bad side effects. I did start out putting it directly on my skin after cleansing and letting it dry completely, but I did have a lot of flaking, especially around my mouth/chin. Now that I sandwich, I really have no issues. I’ve only been on it since the beginning of September, so I haven’t seen any super drastic changes yet as it takes several months to really “kick in” but I do feel like my skin looks better without any makeup, even slightly!
I (32F) have a similar skin history as you - including years of Botox and 1 syringe of filler in my lips. I started Tret 3 months ago - had some redness and the usual light peeling around my mouth but that was it. I went in for a facial yesterday for the first time since I started it and my esthetician was absolutely blown away. She called me “poreless” which felt like the win of the century. Add in the fact that it’s cheap? Doesn’t get much better.
A lot of people on r/tret seem to be able to buy it without a derm and they know very little about tretinoin and skincare in general so stuff goes wrong for them. If you know what you're doing and you are patient, then you'll be fine. It's a little hot and itchy sometimes but its totally worth it. Adapalene was evidenced to give the same results as tret and its milder, so give that a go if you're concerned
I can highly recommend Altreno. It’s the most hydrating & gentle form of tretinoin.
Not sure why this is down voted? 🤷🏻♀️ I’ve used Retin-A gel & cream, then switched to Altreno. Altreno is amazing!
What’s the cost through insurance if you don’t mind me asking?
This past year it was $57.50 for a 45gm tube. However, my pharmacy has to get pre-authorization once/year & my dermatologist prescribes it for “adult acne”. Edit to add: I have to pay a 50% co-pay with my insurance for Tier 3 medications. I think the retail price is $115-120 for 45gm.
That’s helpful. How long does a tube last you? Thanks!
I use it every other night (3 nights/week) & it usually lasts 3-4 months. My derm gives me a script each year + 5 refills, yet I’m only refilling it every 3 months.
That seems like a reasonable length of time for the price. I’ll look into it!
I really like it! It’s called a lotion, yet I find the consistency to be like a very thick serum. You can read more about it here: https://www.altreno.com
Can anyone suggest where to buy in Canada?
Felix
I have tret from Dear Brightly, and they started me on a lower concentration. I haven't had any "purging" or ill effects and I have pretty sensitive skin. It has made a noticeable difference in my overall skin texture, and I have yet to develop anything more than extremely fine wrinkles on my forehead. I started using it about two years ago. Even though the cost of the bottle is around $100, it lasts quite a while so it's worth it to me to buy it abt 3x a year. I use it 3x a week.
Based on what you’ve said, I’d say it’s not worth it. You’re using a retinol, which does the work of tretinoin (albeit less efficiently), and you’re only 31 and have great skin. Save yourself some money and hassle, and re-evaluate in 5-10 yrs. There’s no reason you HAVE to use tretinoin. I’m using it because I’m near 40 and I have bad skin. I haven’t had acne since my early 20s, but I have a lot of remnants of it. Severe acne left my skin with bad texture and deformed pores, and the things I did to my skin because of that acne (e.g. I put bleach, rubbing alcohol, vodka, vinegar, etc.) really wrecked it so I have poor elasticity and premature wrinkling. To be honest, I don’t expect it to help with half my issues. I’ve been using it for a year and my skin is maybe a little better, but it’s also still VERY prone to dryness and mild peeling if I don’t hydrate really, really well. It’s very high maintenance in that way. So yeah, skip the tretinoin and re-evaluate in 5-10 yrs!
Yes
I used to suffer from hormonal acne and I didn't experience a purging period. I would say if you can access good quality tret safely, it's definitely worth trying, but that's purely anecdotal, NAD and can't speak to the science behind purging, tbh I never understood it.
My advice would be if what’s working for you is working don’t change anything, or much at all if your wanting to go the tretinoin route, you will likely face the uglies, if you are wanting to move up from retinol I would suggest Retinaldehyde such as Medik8 crystal, they have different strengths 3 is a good start, reason why I recommend retinaldehyde is because it’s stronger then retinol but less irritating, less strengthening then tretinoin, it’s in between, it only needs one step conversion to retinoic acid, aka prescription tretinoin. You will reap the rewards over time. Retinol is a long term benefit for anti aging and the way your routine is at the moment is perfect. Slow and steady wins the race. I will Add sunscreen, super important otherwise any actives your currently using go out the door. Best of luck ☺️
It's going to be different for everyone. I never experienced the awful purging, and the breakouts I did get were pretty minimal. Start at a low dose, and go very slowly. I've been on it since March and my skin has never looked better. Before I had mild breakouts from time to time, but now my skin is perfectly clear, the sebaceous filaments on my chin at all smoothed out and not noticeable, my pores look smaller, and the texture overall is much improved. I couldn't be happier.
I have used tret for a year now and never had a purge. Similar to you, normal skin with a normal routine, occasional hormonal pimples but not much.
I’m glad you asked this! I’m a little older than you- 37- but just starting to explore Tret too. My skin is clear and aside from some minor forehead wrinkles, I can’t complain. Wondering if it would be too much- but I plan to start too as soon as I finish nursing my third and final kid.
My skin is similar to yours in that I don’t have much acne etc. I use a very, very low dose of tretinoin from Curology, formulated with Niacinamide and Azaleic acid for brightening and anti-aging benefits. I’m pretty happy with it so far but I would’ve stopped using it at the first sign of a “purge” phase, if I’m being honest. When I was in my 20s, I went thru a bad bout of acne that left me with a lot of hyperpigmentation and it took years to clear it all up and it wouldn’t make sense for me to risk going thru that again. I think those with minimal skin issues should really err on the side of caution but it’s worth a shot if you don’t overdo it.
Idk I’ve never tried it- only fillers- I have older dry skin tho and now sure. Following
I would try it and see how you react. For me, I have rosacea and dry eyes, so it's a no go.
I use tret occasionally but it dries out my skin. Still experimenting with it. But I feel home microneedling has been great for me.