After years of doing zero skincare routine whatsoever I was convinced to try retinol and now my entire face is molting like a lizard. Please if you’ve used retinol— how long does this last??
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use only at night. also, you can try putting a layer of snail mucin on damp first before the retinol. yes, it's snail slime. yes, it helps to keep moisture in.
I layer mine over my nighttime moisturizer. I’ve also heard people only leave it on for a certain amount of time before washing it off (like 30-1 hr) in the beginning.
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Hi licensed skin therapist here. Everyone is different I have a saying “ it’s get ugly before it gets amazing”. However you may need a lower dose. Keep your skin as hydrated as possible.
It can be up to a month sometimes if you’re on a higher dose. If using tret cream you should use only a pea-sized amount for your entire face, start with a lower dose if it stays that way for too long. I like using Roche Posay Lipikar AP+M to moisturize after applying (only apply tret at night)
Also if you don’t use sunscreen religiously you risk your skin darkening unevenly so always apply and avoid unnecessary sun exposure ESPECIALLY during the “peeling” phase
Start very slow- once or twice a week and only use a pea sized amount for your whole face. Apply moisturizer afterward. It works great for some and you can also try a retinoid which is gentler.
two things! first, instead of retinol, you should get a prescription for tretinoin from a dermatologist. tret is the clinical version of retinol. also, products that contain retinol can have a billion other things, so it's possible one of those is irritating your skin. (cont)
second though, dryness is common with tret/retinol, so I moisturize religiously! one thing I do is called "slugging" which is where you put on a layer of moisturizer, then a layer of Aquaphor or Vaseline. If I'm home for the night I'll just let that marinate on my face for like four or five hours.
Gotta start with something more gentle. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil is a good entry level one. Also, if you have eczema or other skin conditions, it might be a no go completely. Repair your skin barrier before trying again.
Now you need to use it for the rest of your life, every day... Joking, but:
You also need to do a mask every week, scrubs, and creams every day. I am a non-gay man btw and have received many compliments of young looking skin. Enjoy!
Moisturize first so your skin absorbs less of it. And now you'll always need sun block while you use it because it makes your skin more sunsensitive and that adds to the peeling. Finally, a question I know the answer to.
You are using it too much! Please stop and let your skin heal. When starting a retinol routine. You should do it 2 times a week to see how your skin reacts to it. After a couple weeks increase it to 3 times and so on. Also use a low dose retinol.
You might be on too high of a dose. I was on .5 for my acne and my face never got used to it (despite doing every other day, over top of my moisturizer, etc). I had to go down to .25 and it’s been amazing since.
Accept your new lizard life. Aquire a heat lamp and basking rock. Get a nice little water dish beside your bed with calcium supplements. The age of the mammal is gone. I crave the certainty of reptiles
Less is more and you need to follow with something occlusive. I use Aquafor. It gets better. Make sure you’re using spf daily as well. Hope this helps.
My retinol dry phase was about 2-3 months. I then used it for about a year & moved up to Differin.
I’ve also used 3 layers of moisturizer for the past year: jojoba oil, snail mucin, & Vanicream moisturizing cream. If you're naturally oily, u might not need that much.
it took me about 4 weeks to get used to the lowest strength tretinoin, using it every other day and then every day after that time. i increased my percentage a couple times without much issue/reaction
How often are you using it and what strength? I use .1% every other day, because Hot And Flashy (YouTuber) had found clinical evidence that that was as effective. It lowered the incidents of peeling for me for sure.
Use it every couple days, until, you notice no “molting.” Then use every other day again until no skin is peeling, then bump it up to every day. Obviously at night and make sure you wash face before running out in the morning. Also during the day use a Vitamin C serum under sunblock moisturizer.
Good luck. Maybe a week or so? Definitely go slow & low skip a day or 2, sandwich with moisturizer & heavy on sunscreen. Also no waxing (I forgot & scarred so badly with that one -😫). Try La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Balm. Very soothing.
Maybe dial it back a little? I had to trouble with going from 2x/week to 3x/week so I just kept it at 2x for a couple months and then tried upping it slowly again. Also make sure you use SPF daily and moisturize after retinol at night. You also only need the tiniest bit.
Oh and if that doesn’t help, try the sandwich method which means you apply a layer of moisturizer before the retinol so it’s not as harsh, and then some more moisturizer on top as well
My derm recommended the “low and slow” method where you only apply a pea-sized amount of every other day until the dryness and peeling stops. Then you can go up to every day. Make sure you use a thick moisturizer too!
Aesthetician here, you can avoid this by slowing introducing the product, once or twice a week for a few weeks, slowly increasing to every other day. Also a moisture sandwich can help, and apply it to dry skin, not damp.
Apply it with a really good moisturizer. You’re permitted to put them on together, which makes the peeling much less annoying, but it takes a few weeks to get used to it and don’t use it every night!!
You should start much slower and "sandwich" your skincare. Use a moisturizer under and over any retinoid/retinol/tretnoin until your skin gets used to it. Do NOT use it every night. Watch Dr. "dre" (Andrea) on YouTube!
A week maybe? I do it every other day bc every day is too much for my skin. Also be careful to wash your face and let it dry completely (like 10 min) before applying retinol. Apparently water intensifies the effects.
A few weeks at least. I would recommend only applying retinol at night until you stop pealing, and prioritizing SPF in the morning. Otherwise you will increase the chances of getting a sunburn.
A couple weeks, make sure to apply moisturizer before retinol and only use a couple times a week at first. If face isn’t adapting try a weaker retinol serum.
Toss the retinol. You don’t need it. Most important thing for your skin is moisture. Hyaluronic acid, a thick moisturizer, and a toner is all you need trust me girl. Go to Costco and get some Korean skincare products
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no molting lizard face
If I may offer a suggestion, as someone who also turned into a lizard when using retinols, try this stair step offering: https://us.medik8.com/products/crystal-retinal?variant=36716424528023
I started with sensitive and have very slowly worked my way up with no skin barrier damage.
You also need to do a mask every week, scrubs, and creams every day. I am a non-gay man btw and have received many compliments of young looking skin. Enjoy!
Start with a 0.1% retinol once a week, and then increase the frequency as you're able to without molting. Then increase the percentage.
I’ve also used 3 layers of moisturizer for the past year: jojoba oil, snail mucin, & Vanicream moisturizing cream. If you're naturally oily, u might not need that much.
Also, welcome to the club! 😎
When it comes to retinoid use be a tortoise, not the hare.
Discontinue use until your barrier repairs- no tightness, redness or irritation. Then reintroduce.
head over to Marie Veronique (woman owned skincare company) to read about retinol, etc.
I don't work for them - but recommend