Retin-A (.1%) and Aczone Gel at Night?

Yes, it is a good idea to continue using the Retin-A at night.  To help prevent any over dryness, I would suggest using a non non-comedogenic moisturizer first then apply your Retin-A.  This will not lessen the effects of the Retin-A but only help maintain good compliance.  Also, in the morning, be sure to use the Aczone first on a freshly washed face then you may apply a moisturizer.  Do not forget the importance of a daily sunscreen!!!

Hope this helps.

 Dr. Grant Stevens       

Retin A and Aczone can be combined to treat acne, but Retin A should only be used at night, as tretinoin (the active ingredient of Retin A) undergoes some degradation when exposed to light.  That decreases the effectiveness of the medication.

It is OK to use a moisturizer in the morning with Aczone, but make sure the moisturizer is oil-free and non-comedogenic.  Otherwise, the moisturizer will contribute to acne breakouts and defeat the purpose of the treatment.

Retin A does make the skin more sun sensitive, so use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.  There are oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers with sunscreens in them SPF 50 or higher.

As many acne regimens can cause dry skin, moisturizers may need to be used to mitigate the redness and scaling. It is very important to choose a non-comedogenic moisturizer which does not clog pores and cause acne to worsen.  Neutrogena has an excellent line of moisturizers which are rather non-comedogenic.

If you are going to use both retin-a and aczone gel it would seem acceptable to me to use the retin-a at night and the aczone gel in the morning.  You might want to check with your dermatologist before making the switch.  Also, bear in mind that both retin-a and aczone can increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight, particularly when either medication is applied in the morning.