xp- the use of Retin-A / Tretinoin

[sunshineandpinot]

I finally filed my script from my derm in an anti-aging effort. I'm reading mixed advice on how to apply. I know I only need a pea sized amount. And I know my face needs to be completely dry. One site says I need to wait 20 min after I wash my face. I hope that's not true bc I usually fall asleep right after I wash my face. Plus I hate the feeling of washing my skin and not following immediately with lotion. 

Do you apply after washing face but BEFORE serum/lotion/eye cream? Do you apply to your neck and chest too? Do I need to wash my hands or is it okay to sink in on my fingertips? Avoid eye area or do eye area last? I know my derm said something about that but I don't remember. 

Thanks! I'm kind of kicking myself on not starting this sooner but am excited about the potential results. 

(btw- I am religious about sunscreen and wear it daily.) 

[mrsukyankee]

I apply after washing and then wait at least 15-30 minutes before any other serum/lotion/eye cream. I apply around my eyes but not too close and I also put it on my neck and chest, then use what's left on my hands on the back of my hands.

[bluestreet]

Ditto mrsusyankee. If you get irritated, you can apply with your moisturizer (so-called buffering). But in the long run it's better to space them apart.

[bugandbibs]

If you use a low ph face wash or a ph adjusting toner you don't need to wait the 20 minutes for your skin to stabilize after washing. Apply your tret and then wait 20 minutes to finish your skin care routine.

Start slow, like every 3 days until your skin adjusts and then work up to every other day or daily application. Don't forget to wear sunscreen everyday!

[bluestreet]

Feb 21, 2017 1:05:49 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

If you use a low ph face wash or a ph adjusting toner you don't need to wait the 20 minutes for your skin to stabilize after washing. Apply your tret and then wait 20 minutes to finish your skin care routine.

Start slow, like every 3 days until your skin adjusts and then work up to every other day or daily application. Don't forget to wear sunscreen everyday!

I thought that was true for AHA and BHA, but that it's a different issue for tret. My understanding is that you want tret to work on the topmost layer of skin, but when it's just been washed, the tret goes deeper and is more likely to cause irritation.

I'd be happy to be wrong about that. Because I do not wait. I'm too lazy. And I use a low ph cleanser and haven't had problems.

[saz]

Ditto what was said here. I use a low PH cleanser then pat my face dry on a towel, then apply my tret and wait 15-20 min before applying the rest of my nighttime routine. I do this before I put on PJs or brush teeth so I can do all of that as I wait for it to soak in. I also do sheet masks at night which adds another 20 or so minutes and what I do after I put on my sheet mask is get in bed, and I have my eye cream and heavy moisturizer on my bedside table so I don't have to get out of bed. I always read a bit before bed, so it works really well. You could do this too - Put on the tret, brush teeth, get in bed, read or look at phone for 10-15 mins then put on your serums/moisturizers or whatever you're using.

[bugandbibs]

Feb 21, 2017 9:20:26 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

Feb 21, 2017 1:05:49 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

If you use a low ph face wash or a ph adjusting toner you don't need to wait the 20 minutes for your skin to stabilize after washing. Apply your tret and then wait 20 minutes to finish your skin care routine.

Start slow, like every 3 days until your skin adjusts and then work up to every other day or daily application. Don't forget to wear sunscreen everyday!

I thought that was true for AHA and BHA, but that it's a different issue for tret. My understanding is that you want tret to work on the topmost layer of skin, but when it's just been washed, the tret goes deeper and is more likely to cause irritation.

I'd be happy to be wrong about that. Because I do not wait. I'm too lazy. And I use a low ph cleanser and haven't had problems.

I thought the issue with tret is the compromised moister barrier that can happen when people use higher ph cleansers.  This makes the skin thin/weak?  Which causes tret to be too harsh?

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 22, 2017 17:56:25 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Feb 21, 2017 9:20:26 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

I thought that was true for AHA and BHA, but that it's a different issue for tret. My understanding is that you want tret to work on the topmost layer of skin, but when it's just been washed, the tret goes deeper and is more likely to cause irritation.

I'd be happy to be wrong about that. Because I do not wait. I'm too lazy. And I use a low ph cleanser and haven't had problems.

I thought the issue with tret is the compromised moister barrier that can happen when people use higher ph cleansers.  This makes the skin thin/weak?  Which causes tret to be too harsh?

I wish I knew!  I've googled and can't get a clear answer.  I'm going on month four and I STILL have a ton of flakiness.  I even added an AHA one or two mornings a week, but I didn't see any difference (although my acids might have gone bad in the last four months....)

I did have a revelation last night that I don't think I'm applying it evenly.  I've been putting two pumps in my palms, rubbing them together and applying it that way.  I suddenly realized I'm getting more on the lower half of my face, which is where I'm peeling.  Like, DUH!!!  

[mrsukyankee]

MrsAxilla, it might also be the AHA which is causing the peeling.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 23, 2017 7:45:59 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

MrsAxilla, it might also be the AHA which is causing the peeling.

Nah, I JUST started adding the aha back in because I couldn't stand the flakes.

[bluestreet]

Feb 22, 2017 22:26:40 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Feb 22, 2017 17:56:25 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I thought the issue with tret is the compromised moister barrier that can happen when people use higher ph cleansers.  This makes the skin thin/weak?  Which causes tret to be too harsh?

I wish I knew!  I've googled and can't get a clear answer.  I'm going on month four and I STILL have a ton of flakiness.  I even added an AHA one or two mornings a week, but I didn't see any difference (although my acids might have gone bad in the last four months....)

I did have a revelation last night that I don't think I'm applying it evenly.  I've been putting two pumps in my palms, rubbing them together and applying it that way.  I suddenly realized I'm getting more on the lower half of my face, which is where I'm peeling.  Like, DUH!!!  

I now only apply my tret to my cheeks and forehead. I can't apply it to my chin or neck or I peel. On those areas and under my eyes I use PC Resist retinol serum, which is like 1/10-1/20 the strength of my tret.

Also, I used the PC retinol serum for a couple of weeks before using the tret. And even then I buffered with moisturizer.

[bluestreet]

Feb 22, 2017 17:56:25 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Feb 21, 2017 9:20:26 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

I thought that was true for AHA and BHA, but that it's a different issue for tret. My understanding is that you want tret to work on the topmost layer of skin, but when it's just been washed, the tret goes deeper and is more likely to cause irritation.

I'd be happy to be wrong about that. Because I do not wait. I'm too lazy. And I use a low ph cleanser and haven't had problems.

I thought the issue with tret is the compromised moister barrier that can happen when people use higher ph cleansers.  This makes the skin thin/weak?  Which causes tret to be too harsh?

I have now read a bajillion conflicting things! Even on sites with dermatologists.

[bugandbibs]

Feb 23, 2017 9:43:24 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

Feb 22, 2017 17:56:25 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I thought the issue with tret is the compromised moister barrier that can happen when people use higher ph cleansers.  This makes the skin thin/weak?  Which causes tret to be too harsh?

I have now read a bajillion conflicting things! Even on sites with dermatologists.

At least I'm not totally out of left field. I think the safest bet is low ph cleanser and lots of sheets masks.