The best Tretinoin routine for your sensitive skin

Tretinoin is one of the most popular topical exfoliants currently having it’s moment in the social media spotlight. But how do you build a tretinoin routine for your sensitive skin?

In this post you’ll learn the basics of building a tretinoin routine and how to adjust it to suit your sensitive skin.

This post is about how to build an effective tretinoin routine for sensitive skin.

Tackling tough conditions like hyperpigmentation or breakouts can be difficult for any skin type, but for sensitive skin it can be even harder as many prescription topical treatments feel out of reach.

But thanks to more awareness around the interest for access to these well researched ingredients, the industry has responded with new ways to make tretinoin more accessible.

Paired with the knowledge about how to being with and protect the foundational health of your skin, sensitive skin can now make use of this powerful ingredient.

So what exactly is Tretinoin?

Tretinoin is a topical medication that is a derivative of Vitamin A.

It is and has been used to treat acne, improve skin texture, lift hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It works by unclogging pores, promoting cell turnover, and stimulating collagen production.

Tretinoin has been approved for the treatment of acne since 1971 by the F.D.A (Federal Drug Administration) but had been used successfully since the late 1960s. Giving this ingredient over 4 decades of use, research and data to support it’s efficacy treatment.

Tretinoin is available in topical cream, gels and lotions. It is most often prescribed as a compound cream with the amount of Tretinoin determined as a percentage of the overall formula. This percentage is decided by the Dermatologist prescribing the medication.

Clinical trials have been performed at various concentration levels of Tretinoin, anywhere from 0.001% to 0.1% with most of the commonly used trial information hovering around 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%

How to know if Tretinoin might be a treatment for you?

As mentioned earlier Tretinoin is typically prescribed to treat conditions related to acne. Active breakouts, hormonal acne, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

You can only access Tretinoin through a certified Dermatologist, and so only they can make the final decision as to whether or not, it is an appropriate treatment option for you.

However, if you have a well establish skincare routine, have been incorporating over the counter exfoliants safe enough for home use, like Lactic, Glycolic or Salicylic Acid and are still not seeing significant results in your skincare routine. Tretinoin may be an option for you to look into.

Important contraindications for using Tretinoin.

Before considering beginning any exfoliation routine in your skincare, it’s truly best to consult a professional.

Whether that be a Licensed Esthetician, or your Dermatologist, it’s important to make sure you have a baseline understanding of your specific skin profile and condition to set you up for the success.

Tretinoin can cause skin irritation, redness, and peeling, especially in the first few weeks of use.

And should never be used if your skin barrier is impaired (active flare-up, broken skin, sun burned) or already over exfoliated.

You can tell your skin’s barrier function is impaired by the appearance of your skin.

If you notice a glassy, reflective quality to the skin when it is bare and without any product applied, your skin is not healthy enough to start Tretinoin or any other exfoliating routine.

If your skin is red, irritated or also appears hot to the touch, these are again signs of a compromised barrier and should not have any acids exfoliants or Tretinoin applied.

Focus on healing and restoring your skin to healthy levels first, and then come back to this article.

Looking for some skin restorative solutions? Try these.

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Additionally, Tretinoin should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as it can potentially be harmful due to the conversions in the Vitamin A pathway that eventually ends up in the blood stream.

And beware of using it with certain medications, such as antibiotics or corticosteroids, make sure to disclose all your medication to your healthcare professional first.

How do you get access to Tretinoin?

Access Tretinoin through your licensed Dermatologist or if you don’t have one you can sign up for a subscription to services like Curology or Nurx. Both offer virtual consultation with a board certified Dermatologist that will review your skin profile and prescribe the concentration of Tretinoin appropriate for you.

But I have Sensitive Skin! How you can still use Tretinoin

Now that you have the basics on Tretinoin, now you’re ready to build your Tretinoin routine for your Sensitive Skin.

As mentioned above it’s important to make sure your skin’s natural barrier function is healthy so that you have a strong foundation to work on.

Remember, Tretinoin acts by increasing cell turnover, or exfoliating your skin, so if your skin is damage or compromised in any way, using a topical exfoliant will simply cause more damage. DON’T DO IT.

Okay, with disclaimer out of the way, let’s talk about building a Tretinoin Routine

The Typical Tretinoin Routine

The typical Tretinoin Routine looks something like this:

• Always used in the PM only. Topical Exfoliants increase yours skins’ sensitivity to UV exposure. So never use topical exfoliants in your AM routine.
• Wash your skin to cleanse. Double cleanse starting with an Oil based cleanser first is best but not required.
• Apply a gentle hydrating toner to reset the PH balance of your Skin

And now wait. You actually want to wait at least 20-30mins before you apply your topical exfoliant.

• Dispense one pump of your topical and then apply to your face

Wait another 10-15 mins and then apply your nighttime moisturizer before you go to sleep.

How to Adjust your Tretinoin Routine for your Sensitive Skin

Tips for adjusting your Tretinoin Routine for your Sensitive Skin

• Start with the lowest concentration possible. You can now access Tretinoin at concentrations as low as 0.001%. And you should start there and work your way up at the guidance of your Doctor.
• Use your topical only on certain nights. Once a week, 2x a week or on alternating nights. When you hit the point where you start to see flaking, fall back to fewer times per week.
• Cut your Tretinoin. In your last step of your PM Skincare Routine mix your pump of Tretinoin with your nighttime moisturizer (free of any retinols or other exfoliants of course) before applying your Tretinoin to buffer the activity of your topical.
• Above all, watch you skin for adverse changes, prolonged redness or irritation, and stop use entirely if you experience this.

Balancing your Tretinoin Routine with restorative steps in your skincare routine

The key to anything is balance and the same goes for our Tretinoin Routine keep these tips in mind.

• protect your skin with ceramides, peptides, anti-oxidants
• Make sure you a using an SPF daily, a mineral based version is best.
• Boost your routine restorative serums
• Hydrating Cleansers
• Healing Moisturizers

Need some more balance in your routine? Check these out.

Advanced Users

For my advanced users that have been using Tretinoin and discovered their sweet spot but maybe want to kick it up a notch when it comes to conditions like stubborn hyperpigmentation or melasma.

• Layering your exfoliants to target from multiple fronts. Try to layer in a AHA exfoliating step once a week. Like a topical exfoliating pad.
• Add Peptides that help to reduce inflammation and promote healing in your skin, these can be in a mist, serum or cream.
• Consider adding a CBD product to help —–>[check out this post] <—–

Add some hydration to your cleansing step

Looking to build a professional routine?