When using Tretinoin gel, do I leave it on all night or do I wash it off after use?

Question

Emil A. Tanghetti, MD · Answer

When you are using your tretinoin gel at night, you should leave it on. Very rarely I will direct some patients to apply their retinoid and then wash it off after, which is called short contact therapy. However, I only recommend this for patients who are having a very hard time tolerating their topical retinoid. A little dryness and irritation is normal when using a topical retinoid, so unless you are having an abnormal degree of irritation with the product, you should leave it on after application.

Paul B. Johnson, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  You can rub in the tretinoin gel at night and wash it off with a gentle cleanser in the morning.  Tretinoin is very strong, so I usually recommend to my patients that they start using it twice a week, then increase up from there as long as there are no side effects.  An in-person consultation with board-certified oculoplastic surgeon would be able to provide more information.

When using Tretinoin gel, do I leave it on all night or do I wash it off after use?

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When using Tretinoin gel, do I leave it on all night or do I wash it off after use?

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Everything you need to know about Retin-A

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.