Can I use retinol 0.5 ZO and still get exposed to sun & go the beach each weekend for the whole summer?

Question

I have very sensitive skin. Ive been using retinol for about 2 month and i stopped for a couple of weeks because i had severe retinol uglies and now im back on it once weekly using moisturizer before & after and it still causes me redness & irritation, so can i use it during the summer with extreme sunexposure ( sun tanning & salty sea) or should i stop for the summer? or incomplete process of retinol usage will cause more harm to my skin?

Jennifer Reichel, MD · Answer

I spend a lot of time educating my patients on the use of Retinols (over the counter) and Retinoids (prescription strength tretinoin 0.025, 0.05, 0.1% and tazorac. 
I think that consistent and continuous use of a retinoid is a MUST. The reason why - PORE SIZE! 
We have lots of devices to treat lines and wrinkles, but none of them adequately treat oversized pores. SO, you must treat to prevent increased pore size and the only thing I know that works, is a retinoid over many years of use. 
SO how do we use a product that is irritating to the skin? First, retinoids are inactivated by sunlight - so it is not the retinoid itself that makes you more sensitive to the sun, it is the exfoliating and resurfacing properties that make your skin more sensitive to the sun. 
I recommend that you DO NOT stop your retinoid when it is sunny. Because stopping and starting is not consistent and makes it all worse. 
Start by using the retinoid every other night. Use a very small amount. Put a lotion on first. Try not to back down from every other night because your skin needs consistency to get used to the product. 
Also, do what you are doing and start with a Retinol - no matter what % the retinol is, it is less aggressive than a prescription Retinoid. Graduate to a retinoid after a few months. 
Using it once a week will likely lead to continued irritation. Use it every other night. Decrease the strength by putting lotion on first. After a couple months, you might be able to put the retinol on first.

Can I use retinol 0.5 ZO and still get exposed to sun & go the beach each weekend for the whole summer?

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Can I use retinol 0.5 ZO and still get exposed to sun & go the beach each weekend for the whole summer?

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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.