Tretinoin .025 vs .05 strength for anti aging benefits?

Question

I have been using .05 tretinoin daily for about five years, but I likely have rosacea and my skin is often red and irritated. If I switch to .025 strength, will I retain the benefits?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your experience and concerns—it really helps to understand your skin history. Using tretinoin 0.05% daily for five years has likely given you excellent anti-aging benefits, including collagen stimulation, improved skin texture, and reduction in fine lines.

Because you mention rosacea and frequent irritation/redness, dropping to 0.025% can help reduce flares, irritation, and redness while still providing meaningful anti-aging effects. While the lower strength is less potent than 0.05%, you will still retain significant benefits, especially if used consistently over time. Sometimes, less is actually more if it allows you to use it regularly without irritation, because consistency matters more than the strength for long-term results.

Other strategies that can help:

Slower build-up: Start every other night or every third night with 0.025% if redness flares.

Buffering: Apply a gentle moisturizer before or after tretinoin to reduce irritation.

Sun protection: Daily SPF remains essential to protect your skin and enhance anti-aging effects.

In short, switching to 0.025% is reasonable and will allow you to continue your anti-aging regimen safely. You may see slightly slower results compared to 0.05%, but your skin will likely tolerate it better and maintain long-term improvements.

Tretinoin .025 vs .05 strength for anti aging benefits?

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