Skin Care Regimen While on Tretinoin

Treating your acne with Tretinoin cream/gel is not as simple as it may seem. Tretinoin can make you skin very sensitive to certain products, which can cause drying and irritation. Tretinoin can also be deactivated by certain acne products. Therefore, it is very important to have skin care regimen that can help maximize the results of Tretinoin. I started Tretinoin therapy about a month ago and I can tell you from experience that it is extremely important to use the right products.

Before starting Tretinoin Therapy you need to make sure that you have the right products. A general guideline is to use a gentle face wash and to avoid face wash that contains any acne medication, such as salicylic acid or benzoyle peroxide. It is also a good idea to stop using any harsh acne treatments on your entire face while on Tretinoin.

Although every skin is different, I would like to recommend a few products that I am currently using while treating my acne with Tretinoin cream 0.025%.

Face Wash: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

When treating your skin with Tretinoin, it becomes very sensitive. A gentle cleanser can be very beneficial because it doesn't irritate your skin any further and helps maintain your face moisturized. Plus this cleanser from Cetaphil is actually recommended very often by dermatologists. 

Cleansing Tool: Precision Pore Cleansing Pad

 

Given the fact that the Cetaphil cleanser is so gentle it may feel like it might not be removing all of the oil from your face. For that reason I decided to use this pore cleanser and it has definitely made a huge difference. I dispense the cleanser onto the pad and spread it over my wet face. Being gentle is key and I have found that scrubbing in circular motions works very well to remove any excess oil or makeup. 

Toner: Kate Somerville Clarifying Toner

This toner is super gentle. It doesn't contain any alcohol and doesn't cause any dryness. Before Starting Tretinoin I would use it every day, but since starting Tretinoin I only use it once in a while. I probably use this toner like once a week, when my skin is experiencing peeling or extra dryness because it helps to exfoliate and remove all the dead skin. It claims to also help with post acne dark spots.

Moisturizer: Simple Light Protecting Moisturizer 

This moisturizer is very light and oil free. It also contains SPF 15, which is a plus since you have to use sunscreen everyday while on Tretinoin. As far as moisturizing though it is not too moisturizing. If you have dry skin this moisturizer will definitely not work for you. I find that for me it works very well because although my skin is not oily I use a foundation that is very moisturizing itself, so pairing the two creates the perfect balance. Overall though this moisturizer has not caused me any breakouts or irritation so I would definitely recommend it. Another moisturizer that is good, especially if you have very dry skin, is Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer. It is very rich and creamy and will not clog your pores or cause any acne.

Spot Treatment: Clean and Clear Persa Gel 10

This spot treatment contains Benzoyl Peroxide 10% and it is very effective at reducing pimple size. It is very important though that you do not wear this at the same time with Tretinoin because it deactivates Tretinoin. Also, I would not recommend using this on your entire face because it is very strong and could cause some serious irritation. I use this just as a spot treatment and only on very big pimples. I usually put this on in the morning or afternoon while at home and make sure to remove every trace of it before applying the Tretinoin cream.