Is my skin going to be red and painful for a while after Retin-A for 3 days? (Photos)

Question

My face feels dry, chapped, tight, and scaly. My doctor prescribed Retin-A 0.05% for acne and scarring, and I’ve only been using it for 3 days. There’s been no new pimples or acne, but now my face feels as if it’s been sunburnt, or “wind burnt”, and is dry, peeling, itchy, and tight. any form of moisturizer (alcohol free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, sensitive skin), makes it burns even more. So I’ve been using raw Shea butter. I’m not sure if i should stop before it gets worse, or if it’s just gonna be like this for a little while?

Deborah M. Longwill, DO · Answer

Retin-A can dry the skin and even make it peel. In many cases we advise patients to start conservatively with a pea size amount twice a week. At this time if you are feeling too dry or have a burning sensation i recommend to discontinue  the Retin-A  and contact your dermatologist for further treatment options.

Emil A. Tanghetti, MD · Answer

It's quite common to experience some dryness and irritation when you first start using topical retinoid products such as Retin-A. Topical retinoids have great benefits for treating acne but getting over the initial irritation can often be difficult for patients. Proper education on the use of these products is critical to help with these side effects. For my patients, I recommend the following. Use a non-soap and non-irritating cleanser such as Cetaphil or Cerave and wash with luke warm or cold water. Use a good moisturizer in conjunction with the Retin-A. Given that you are acne prone, looking for a non-comedogenic moisturizer would be prudent.  You may also want to try using the Retin-A every other night and slowly build up to every night as your skin starts to tolerate the product better. These tips should help address the irritation you are experiencing.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and posting pictures.  When in doubt, always ask the prescribing physician's office.  In our office, we normally start our retinol patients using it 2 nights a week.  If it is well tolerated, we add a night each week.  Our goal is every night, but not every patient can tolerate it.  Best of luck.

Is my skin going to be red and painful for a while after Retin-A for 3 days? (Photos)

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Is my skin going to be red and painful for a while after Retin-A for 3 days? (Photos)

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Everything you need to know about Retin-A

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