Will Tri-Luma or Retin-A thin my skin? I had really bad acne.

Question

So I used retinA for the last 2 years now acne is very minimal and sporadic. started to use triluma combined with retin A .1 in Sept 2017 and heard that triluma is only supposed to be used for 2 months? i have been using about 5 nights/week for the last 4 months. My nose gets red if I pinch it im Black with relatively dark skin so im concerned this red nose thing is a sign of thinning skin I am not sure what the long term effects of either cream is so im a bit concerned

Mohamad H. Bazzi, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!  Yes, with prolonged use Triluma can thin the skin.  Triluma is a blend of Flocinolone Acetonide, Hydroquinone, and Tretinoin.  As a general rule I tell patients using Hydroquinone to use it on and off for 2 to 3 months.  This will help to prevent side effects like thinning of the skin and hypopigmentation.  Tretinoin on its own is perfectly safe to use year round as long as you are mindful about protecting your skin during the summer months from the sun.  I would not be concerned about using Triluma for four months.  I would however take a break from using your triluma at this point in time.

Will Tri-Luma or Retin-A thin my skin? I had really bad acne.

Answers (1)