Face flaking with retinol

[Anonymous]

I started retinol a couple weeks ago. I thought I was being conservative, never more than a pea size for my whole face and only applying a couple nights a week.

Now my whole face is flaking. The Internet says this could last 4-8 weeks. What can I do in the meantime? I've tried moisturizing a ton but that's not cutting it. My daily sunscreen is accentuating the flakes. Would a facial oil like argan help?

My fine lines, acne and discoloration spots were pretty bad, which was why my dermatologist prescribed it, but the flaking looks worse. Is it really worth continuing to use retinol? Any experience that this will really stop and things will even out?

[Anonymous]

You need to cut back on frequency. What strength are you using? It's best to start low, around 0.025 then slowly move up if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started retinol a couple weeks ago. I thought I was being conservative, never more than a pea size for my whole face and only applying a couple nights a week.

Now my whole face is flaking. The Internet says this could last 4-8 weeks. What can I do in the meantime? I've tried moisturizing a ton but that's not cutting it. My daily sunscreen is accentuating the flakes. Would a facial oil like argan help?

My fine lines, acne and discoloration spots were pretty bad, which was why my dermatologist prescribed it, but the flaking looks worse. Is it really worth continuing to use retinol? Any experience that this will really stop and things will even out?

FWIW that never happened to me with retinol. I use A313, which has the texture of Vaseline and is moisturizing plus retinol. My skin starting looking much smoother and healthier basically immediately.


I think the brand you are using is not working for you, and would switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to cut back on frequency. What strength are you using? It's best to start low, around 0.025 then slowly move up if needed.

That's the strength I was prescribed. I started twice a week for the first week and then did every 2-3 nights. If I use it once a week, will I still get the benefits or will it just prolong this phase?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started retinol a couple weeks ago. I thought I was being conservative, never more than a pea size for my whole face and only applying a couple nights a week.

Now my whole face is flaking. The Internet says this could last 4-8 weeks. What can I do in the meantime? I've tried moisturizing a ton but that's not cutting it. My daily sunscreen is accentuating the flakes. Would a facial oil like argan help?

My fine lines, acne and discoloration spots were pretty bad, which was why my dermatologist prescribed it, but the flaking looks worse. Is it really worth continuing to use retinol? Any experience that this will really stop and things will even out?

FWIW that never happened to me with retinol. I use A313, which has the texture of Vaseline and is moisturizing plus retinol. My skin starting looking much smoother and healthier basically immediately.


I think the brand you are using is not working for you, and would switch.

It's prescription Tretinoin, 0.025%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to cut back on frequency. What strength are you using? It's best to start low, around 0.025 then slowly move up if needed.

That's the strength I was prescribed. I started twice a week for the first week and then did every 2-3 nights. If I use it once a week, will I still get the benefits or will it just prolong this phase?

Once a week is fine for now. Make sure you do the layering technique: moisturize, wait a few minutes, retinol, wait a few minutes, moisturize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to cut back on frequency. What strength are you using? It's best to start low, around 0.025 then slowly move up if needed.

That's the strength I was prescribed. I started twice a week for the first week and then did every 2-3 nights. If I use it once a week, will I still get the benefits or will it just prolong this phase?

Once a week is fine for now. Make sure you do the layering technique: moisturize, wait a few minutes, retinol, wait a few minutes, moisturize.

Thanks. I was also doing the moisturizer. My doctor said wait a half hour after washing my face to make sure it was fully dry since there's a problem with water, maybe making your skin absorb it too much? I can't remember. But maybe my moisturizer is problematic now that I think of it.

I'm nervous that I have an important meeting on Friday and want to look like my face is not going to flake away in the middle of it.

[Anonymous]

Truth is it is working as intended. I'd power through. Ppl who are saying 1x week are prolonging the purge phase and honestly flaking means your cells are turning over and doing what it's supposed to do.

It's not pretty but unless it's really red or aggravated I would continue and GENTLY exfoliate the dead skin. Steam / shower and use soft face cloth to get the obvious flakies off and use a good oil or moisturizer. On days you don't have to wear makeup use heavy moisturizer throughout the day. I work from home a few days and on those days I use a heavy cream or aquaphor during day time and usually re-top again in the afternoon.

You're harder on yourself than anyone else - no one is going to notice a few dry spots or flakes in your meeting.

[Anonymous]

You need to power through. Try every 3rd night, allow your face to dry for 20-30 min before you apply. Put a heavy moisturizer on top of the tret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started retinol a couple weeks ago. I thought I was being conservative, never more than a pea size for my whole face and only applying a couple nights a week.

Now my whole face is flaking. The Internet says this could last 4-8 weeks. What can I do in the meantime? I've tried moisturizing a ton but that's not cutting it. My daily sunscreen is accentuating the flakes. Would a facial oil like argan help?

My fine lines, acne and discoloration spots were pretty bad, which was why my dermatologist prescribed it, but the flaking looks worse. Is it really worth continuing to use retinol? Any experience that this will really stop and things will even out?

THis is normal. You just have to power through it.

[Anonymous]

Get a hydra or a diamond glow facial.

[Anonymous]

I would start by sandwiching between moisturizer then as your skin becomes used to it you can just do one layer. So wash face, apply moisturizer, wait until face dried down, apply tret, wait about 20-30 minutes, apply moisturizer. I would highly recommend also using the La Roche Posay Ciciplast Balm and Cicaplast Gel B5 Skin Protectant.

[Anonymous]

I second the sandwiching strategy until your face is used to it. Also, don’t use retinol between now and your big meeting (obviously).

[Anonymous]

I do a weekly glycolic acid peel (drunk elephant) to exfoliate any flakiness from Tret. Works great. Critical thing for me though: directions say leave acid peel on for 20 minutes, but I do 5. Can’t handle 20. Anything more than 5 leads to some irritation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do a weekly glycolic acid peel (drunk elephant) to exfoliate any flakiness from Tret. Works great. Critical thing for me though: directions say leave acid peel on for 20 minutes, but I do 5. Can’t handle 20. Anything more than 5 leads to some irritation.

And no Tret the night I do glycolic acid.