Rayryan
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABIUT TRETINOIN
TRETINOIN MEGA GUIDE
Tretinoin is one of the strongest and most trusted skin treatments for acne, aging, scars, and dark spots. A lot of people call it the “gold standard” because it really works, but it also can be harsh in the beginning. This guide explains everything in a simple human way so you know what to expect and how to use it properly.
1. What is Tretinoin actually?
Tretinoin is a vitamin A cream/gel that helps your skin renew faster. It makes new healthy skin cells come up quicker and pushes the old ones out. That’s why sometimes you peel or get redness at the start.
People use it for:
It’s stronger than retinol, so you don’t need to mix both.
2. What strength to start with?
If this is your first time using tretinoin, please start low. Don’t rush. More strength doesn’t mean faster results, it just means more irritation.
Usually:
If your skin gets irritated easily, stick with 0.025% for 2–3 months before moving up.
3. How to properly apply it
Use it only at night. Tretinoin and sun do not like each other.
Basic steps:
This “sandwich method” helps reduce irritation, especially for beginners.
Avoid areas like the corners of nose, lips, and around eyes in the beginning. Later when your skin gets used to it, you can slowly go closer.
4. How often should you use it?
Start slow. Your skin needs to adjust.
Beginner plan:
If you feel burning or too much peeling, reduce the usage.
5. What happens after starting? (Be ready)
A lot of people think tretinoin works immediately, but the first few weeks can be very hard for some.
Week 1–3:
Dryness
Week 4–8:
Week 12+:
6 months – 1 year:
This is where you see the biggest change. Collagen increases, face looks younger, tighter, smoother.
Tretinoin is slow but very worth it.
6. Purging vs normal breakout
This is something people always confuse.
Purging (normal):
Breakout (not normal):
If it feels like a breakout, lower the frequency and moisturize more.
7. What NOT to mix with Tretinoin
If you mix the wrong stuff, your face will suffer.
Avoid mixing at the same time:
8. What you CAN mix safely
These help calm your skin and make tretinoin easier to handle:
9. Sunscreen is 100% required
Tretinoin makes your skin extra sensitive to the sun.
If you skip sunscreen, you will get
10. Who shouldn’t use tretinoin?
Avoid if you are:
If unsure, start slow and monitor your skin.
11. Good products to use with tretinoin
Gentle cleansers:
12. Tips to reduce peeling and irritation
13. Tretinoin for different goals
You can adjust how you use it depending on what you want.
Anti-aging:
Use 0.05% or 0.1%. Takes months to see change but very effective.
Acne:
Start 0.025%. Use benzoyl peroxide in the morning to help control acne.
Pigmentation:
Use tretinoin on some nights and azelaic acid or niacinamide on others.
Avoid irritation because irritation makes pigmentation darker.
14. Signs you should stop for a while
If you see any of these, take a break:
.
TRETINOIN MEGA GUIDE
Tretinoin is one of the strongest and most trusted skin treatments for acne, aging, scars, and dark spots. A lot of people call it the “gold standard” because it really works, but it also can be harsh in the beginning. This guide explains everything in a simple human way so you know what to expect and how to use it properly.
1. What is Tretinoin actually?
Tretinoin is a vitamin A cream/gel that helps your skin renew faster. It makes new healthy skin cells come up quicker and pushes the old ones out. That’s why sometimes you peel or get redness at the start.
People use it for:
- Acne
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dark spots
- Smoother skin
- Brighter, more even skin tone
- Collagen boost (long-term)
It’s stronger than retinol, so you don’t need to mix both.
2. What strength to start with?
If this is your first time using tretinoin, please start low. Don’t rush. More strength doesn’t mean faster results, it just means more irritation.
Usually:
- 0.025% → best for beginners
- 0.05% → normal skin, once you are stable
- 0.1% → only after long term use, very stronh
If your skin gets irritated easily, stick with 0.025% for 2–3 months before moving up.
3. How to properly apply it
Use it only at night. Tretinoin and sun do not like each other.
Basic steps:
- Wash your face
- Dry face completely (very important, wet skin = more irritation)
- Put moisturizer
- Add pea-sized amount of tretinoin
- Spread gently on your whole face
- Add moisturizer again if needed
This “sandwich method” helps reduce irritation, especially for beginners.
Avoid areas like the corners of nose, lips, and around eyes in the beginning. Later when your skin gets used to it, you can slowly go closer.
4. How often should you use it?
Start slow. Your skin needs to adjust.
Beginner plan:
- Week 1–2 : 2 times per week
- Week 3–4 : 3 times per week
- Week 5–6 : 4 times per week
- After week 6+: try every night if your skin is okay
If you feel burning or too much peeling, reduce the usage.
5. What happens after starting? (Be ready)
A lot of people think tretinoin works immediately, but the first few weeks can be very hard for some.
Week 1–3:
Dryness
- Redness
- Flaky skin
- Purging (pimples getting worse before better)l
Week 4–8:
- Skin starts calming down
- Acne reduces
- Texture becomes smoother
- Dark marks start to fade a bit
Week 12+:
- Clearer, healthier skin
- Wrinkles soften
- Overall glow improves
6 months – 1 year:
This is where you see the biggest change. Collagen increases, face looks younger, tighter, smoother.
Tretinoin is slow but very worth it.
6. Purging vs normal breakout
This is something people always confuse.
Purging (normal):
- Small pimples
- Happens on areas where you normally get acne
- Starts soon after using tretinoin
- Usually lasts 4–8 weeks
Breakout (not normal):
- Big painful cysts
- New acne on places you never get pimples
- Lasts more than 8 weeks
- Skin feels very irritated
If it feels like a breakout, lower the frequency and moisturize more.
7. What NOT to mix with Tretinoin
If you mix the wrong stuff, your face will suffer.
Avoid mixing at the same time:
- Vitamin C
- Benzoyl peroxide
- AHA/BHA exfoliating acids (glycolic, salicylic, lactic)
- Scrubs
- Anything hars
8. What you CAN mix safely
These help calm your skin and make tretinoin easier to handle:
- Moisturizer (very important)
- Hyaluronic acid
- Ceramides
- Niacinamide (helps with redness)
- Sunscreen (MUST
9. Sunscreen is 100% required
Tretinoin makes your skin extra sensitive to the sun.
If you skip sunscreen, you will get
- Darker pigmentation
- Red patches
- More irritation
- Worse results
10. Who shouldn’t use tretinoin?
Avoid if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have very sensitive or broken skin
- Severe eczema or skin barrier damage
If unsure, start slow and monitor your skin.
11. Good products to use with tretinoin
Gentle cleansers:
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- La Roche-Posay Hydrating Cleanser
- Vanicream
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane
- CeraVe PM
- Beauty of Joseon
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios
- Supergoop Unseen
12. Tips to reduce peeling and irritation
- Use the sandwich method
- Don’t apply on wet skin
- Don’t over-exfoliate
- Use more moisturizer
- Reduce frequency when needed
- Avoid rubbing your face with towel
- Use cooler water when washing
13. Tretinoin for different goals
You can adjust how you use it depending on what you want.
Anti-aging:
Use 0.05% or 0.1%. Takes months to see change but very effective.
Acne:
Start 0.025%. Use benzoyl peroxide in the morning to help control acne.
Pigmentation:
Use tretinoin on some nights and azelaic acid or niacinamide on others.
Avoid irritation because irritation makes pigmentation darker.
14. Signs you should stop for a while
If you see any of these, take a break:
- Strong burning
- Cracked skin
- Skin bleeding
- Swelling
- Allergic reaction
- Painful cystic breakout everywhere
.
