Tretinoin for ageing skin: worth the peeling, or not?
On Mumsnet's Style & Beauty board, someone who had just started prescription tretinoin at 0.05%, twice a week, asked whether it is really worth it. They were already peeling and stinging around the mouth, and the stream of horror stories online was making them nervous.
About two dozen people replied. The thread leaned positive, with some firm warnings:
-
Most long-term users said yes. Smoother texture, softer fine lines and a more even tone came up again and again, usually after six to twelve months rather than weeks.
-
Go slower, not harder. Several use it only two or three nights a week, or chose a lower strength, and felt their results were no worse for it.
-
Irritation at the start is common and was managed by cutting frequency and moisturising more.
-
Not everyone gets there. A few had reactions that needed a doctor, including one person who developed perioral dermatitis and rosacea flares, and some simply could not tolerate it.
-
Daily sunscreen and a gentle cleanser were treated as non-negotiable.
Desk note: DermNet lists tretinoin as a prescription retinoid and the most irritating of the common topical ones; redness, peeling and dryness are typical, and it can sting when applied close to the eyes or lips. Improvements in sun-damaged skin, such as wrinkles and freckling, are described with long-term use of more than six months. If irritation keeps building, the prescriber should adjust strength or frequency.
Did a retinoid work for you in the end, or did you give up? What made the difference?
Original thread: Mumsnet — Tretinoin: is it worth it? · Reference: DermNet — Topical retinoids
Retinoids and sunscreen come as a pair for a reason: DermNet notes that topical retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun and suggests a sunscreen or sunscreen-moisturiser during the day. In practice that means applying the retinoid at night only, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning, and reapplying if you are outdoors for long stretches. Starting in autumn or winter, when UV is lower in many places, can also make the adjustment weeks easier. DermNet — Topical retinoids