Updated with a photo and more info. I use prescribed Retinol 0.1% every 2nd or 3rd night. Very often I have extreme redness , itchiness and some slight swelling in patches on my face which goes away after a day or 2 and I cover these patches with Aquaphor. I am determined to soldier on until my skin becomes accustomed to Retinol. My question is, is the Retinol still effective even if irritation is present? Will the red marks left behind eventually be replaced with good skin?