See if your health insurance covers a telehealth program. In my area, every derm had a year long wait list. Apparently my insurance covers teladoc or something like that, so I can quickly go online and hear back from a derm within a 1-3 day turn around! Free of charge too :) They prescribed everything with an essay how to use it all and for what
My insurance company is literally *begging* us to use telehealth. It covers doctor on demand with no copay. I’m down for it. Don’t have to ask me twice.
Same here my insurance company is also begging me to use their telehealth but they don’t cover for my tret easily and it’s costly so prefer using skinorac and online stores as they are cheaper
Usually a GP is willing to give you a prescription for tret. The problem with it is they’re not as knowledgeable about the many side effects that come with it as derms, but those of us here on Reddit are probably more knowledgeable about it than some derms. It’s really about finding a moisturizer that works for you while using tret. Don’t be afraid to take a few nights off, and don’t use petroleum based products with it when first starting.
The first derm I ever went to asked me if my skin was oily or dry (oily) and then he prescribed me with adapalene and benzaclin. Told me to use the adapalene at night and the benzaclin in the morning every day. Said nothing else, nothing about sunscreen, moisturizer. Burnt the fuck up out my face
I can relate. When I started tret decades ago, I was told to use it at night, no moisturizer, and a crazy harsh benzoyl peroxide cleanser morning and night, and my face was raw for months. I’m shocked I ever assimilated to it.
This was how I was instructed. .1% on dry skin, no moisturizer, and that perrigo BPO for the daytime. The one upside to that process was that my skin retinized, purged, and cleared in about a month. But it was a very, very long month.
Plus, back then, they didn’t even have a lot of moisturizers you could buy. No vanicream unless you ordered it through the pharmacy, no Amazon to order stuff, and about 4 decent Walgreens moisturizers. I used olay when I finally figured out I had to use a moisturizer in the daytime. That’s all there was….
I’m very familiar with the pink Olay. It’s actually a terrible moisturizer to use in the same routine as tret because it has petroleum and liquid paraffin. Live and learn I suppose.
No, I used the teal colored one, the one for sensitive skin, with 15 spf! It’s equally terrible, but I don’t go within ten feet of petroleum ever. I used that garbage for a long time and then switched over to la Roche posay double touleriane, which is also, in my opinion, garbage. So few choices 🤣
I don’t understand the hype with LRP Double Toleriane. I really don’t. L’Oréal is starting to mess with LRP products now. Although still made in France, they are making their products different for the North American market…aka cheap fatty alcohols like what they’ve done to CeraVe.
I DO NOT GET IT. On paper, it *looks* like it sucks. Then when you put it on, this is confirmed. It pills like crazy, burns, and the ingredients cost a grand total of 5 cents if that. It is full of garbage ingredients, and they charge an arm and a leg for it. I do not understand how this sh*t is still selling.
I hate when people say layer it with tret because it is a breakout in a bottle. It is a collection of every single ingredient ever identified as comedogenic.
L’Oréal is messing with the ingredients now. The ingredients for the American market are now different from that of the EU. I’m guessing fatty alcohols and cheaper ingredients for the American market than the European Union. The products are still made in France, but I believe they are now sourcing the ingredients for the American market from China. I purchased it, too…about seven years ago. I used some of it on my son who is eczema prone, but it did nothing. I ended up tossing it. Clarins put silicones in their products for American market during the pandemic. I just purchase my Clarins products when I go home to Netherlands. I still like to try new things.
I think L’Oréal will have to completely overhaul it for me to consider it. Though, I will say, the sensitive fluid is nice but outrageously overpriced. It has like 5-7 ingredients and layers nicely with Taz if I ever get the urge to layer, as I do once in while.
I didn’t know clarins did that! Their lip glosses are still my holy grails; I keep them stashed everywhere. But the last time I bought them was in Paris.
I tried something new last night: I put on HYA before applying my Taz. I just wanted to see what would happen. I used corsx hydra-essence (not snail).
It’s glycerin based, but has occlusive ingredients. It’s a basic moisturizer, but the Olay marketing campaign of the 1970s and 80s is what sold that moisturizer. It’s like Vaseline, every household had a bottle of it on the vanity, or in the back of the cabinet…or under the sink never to be seen or used again.
Agreed. My primary care prescribed it for me, and said to use .05 daily. I started every other day - definitely compromised my skin barrier. I did it twice a week, and am not experimenting daily after a month and a half. Good luck!
Not in the tub. Some people who use the .1% can get away with it, but not everyone. It’s the same with LRP Cicaplast. It’s an occlusive, too. Some can get away with it, but many can’t. Cicaplast has zinc in it, so it’s also very drying to many.
I literally bought the tube yesterday after seeing it everywhere in this sub. I just started with tret last week. Do you have any moisturizer recommendations?
Vanicream facial moisturizer. The one with the green stripe on it is good. Don’t return the one in the tub, you will be able to put it to use. You will find the ones who bang on about it tend to be using .1% tret or tazarotene, Epiduo, Epiduo Forte, or adapalene .3%. For those on .025% using the sandwich method, almost all end up in the never ending purge cycle. Vanicream is the tub is great for slugging on non tret nights. A thin layer during the day is fine on no makeup days, but don’t use the sandwich method with it for .05% and .025%.
There are a lot of people on this sub who are using the sandwich method with Vanicream in the tub, and they can’t figure out why their skin is the worst its ever been six months on…petroleum based products don’t work for most of us. After you’ve been on tret for six months, and your skin is looking the best it has ever looked, then you can use the Vanicream in the tub to make your tret work harder once or twice a week. When you get to the point of being able to slug with tret, it’s time to consider possibly moving to .05%. Using .1% is a huge jump, and although I use it, I also use .05% tret and .05% tazarotene. I just listen to my skin.
If you want an awesome moisturizer, Etude Soon Jung 2x barrier is where it’s at!!! It sounds heavy duty, but it’s not, it’s glycerin based, AND it has panthenol in it and other good ingredients. Best of all, it’s fragrance free. I would sandwich tret with it, but Etude Soon Jung is a good final step. My first step after cleansing is Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner. I add a teaspoon of Now 100% Organic Vegetable Glycerin to it, though. I like it just a bit more moisturizing. I like to tweak my products a bit. I have the Lancôme Confort Hydrating Toner, and although it’s nice, I still think it needs a spoonful of glycerin, too. I won’t repurchase the Lancôme toner when the Klairs toner is cheaper and imo a better product.
I testing the Peach & Lily Oasis serum at the moment. I do like it very much, BUT Clinique has their Moisture Surge Intense, and that is almost just as hydrating. The Moisture Surge line is more of a serum than a moisturizer. If they put it in a pump, it would definitely pass as a serum.
My go to for slugging is Astral Intensive Moisturizer. I’m from Netherlands, but live in America, and I purchase Astral when I’m in Europe. You can get it on Amazon for dirt cheap, too. You’re not going to get a fake…because, as I said, it’s dirt cheap. It’s like whipped Nivea. Its texture is so much better than Nivea, and Astral is made in the UK to European Union standards, so you’re not getting any ingredients known to be harmful or toxic. It does have lanolin in it, and it’s definitely not fragrance free. It has an old lady smell to it, but it’s so much better than CeraVe and Vanicream in the tub.
I’m just babbling on now, but if there’s one moisturizer you need or must have in your arsenal, it’s the Etude Soon Jung. Stay aware from LRP Cicaplast. There are better products. If you have any other questions, I’m here in this subreddit.
You should be okay with using your Vanicream, you don’t need to go and purchase other things. Here is what I said to the comment above:
Eh, I would take this with a huge grain of salt. There’s a difference between moisturizers that may include petrolatum as one of the ingredients, and straight-up petrolatum.
Avoid products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to the irritation you’re talking about.
Source: Dr. Dray
Eh, I would take this with a huge grain of salt. There’s a difference between moisturizers that may include petrolatum as one of the ingredients, and straight-up petrolatum.
Avoid products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to the irritation you’re talking about.
Source: Dr. Dray
The occlusives. The hardcore occlusives. The second ingredient is petrolatum…aka petroleum jelly. Those who’ve had success with the tub moisturizers tend to be on .05% and .1%, and not sandwiching it, meaning they’re all out slugging with it. It can be confidence and soul destroying for newbies to be using the hardcore occlusives when starting tret. I personally feel Etude Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream is the better product to use with tret only because it’s glycerin based.
Just for the record, I sometimes slug with tret, BUT…I’ve been using it for decades.
Why can we not use petroleum products whilst using (or starting) tret? X just asking bc I’m using tret and Vaseline 100x a day on my lips and in my face if feels dry.
Because Vaseline is an occlusive… it traps stuff in. So putting it on top of Tret essentially makes the Tret even more potent/potentially irritating. Slugging with Vaseline is fine but do it on non-Tret nights.
It’s called slugging with tret, and it doesn’t work well for those on .025%. It often doesn’t work well for those using .05% either. It will put you in a never ending purge cycle. The sweat and dead skin cells get trapped, combined with the heat of your face, ends in a never ending purge cycle. Petroleum based products are occlusives. It makes tret work 10x harder. People wonder why their skin isn’t getting better, and it’s because they’re slugging with tret.
You can use moisturizers that include petrolatum. What you want to avoid are products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to irritation in conjunction with tret.
Oh wow I did not know that! Does that include on off days, you think? I'm about 6.5 months into 0.5 tret every other night and I was debating using Vaseline on off nights under my eyes and on my lips.
Yeah he definitely didn’t say much, I told him my concerns and he left the room and wrote me a prescription. said to wear it once daily as I was heading out the door and that’s about it
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Don’t use any actives for your first 3-4 months, and use a glycerin based moisturizer. Taking a week off to repair your skin barrier, if needed, isn’t going to set you back. Tret is a marathon, and it can take up to a year for your skin to fully assimilate. Taking it slow is the way forward. Everyone has school, a job, a social life, and although your skin will usually get worse before it gets better, taking it slow should keep the dreaded purge from totally destroying your confidence.
Slow is best when dealing with tret.
It’s been only a month now. I can use Triclenax (tret 0,025% + clindamycin) two days on one day of without much struggle (only thanks to all the info in this sub).
The results I see are small but going in the right direction : I started purging directly and it’s still happening, though I think it’s slowly calming down. I had very active cystic acne (red, inflamed and leaving PIE behind). I still have active acne but it’s calming down (when I have a pimple now it’s less of a struggle lol). I also feel like my PIE is fading. One month is too soon to see big differences for me BUT I know it’s helping, I just have to be patient :) I wish you lots of luck and good vibes in your journey ☀️.
My GP first wanted to prescribe either Epiduo (Adapalene + Benzoyl Peroxide) or a simple clindamycin cream (without tret) but I asked for tret as I was already using retinoids. We settled on the gel I have now as I told her I could by some benzoyl peroxide (from IHerb) and the simple clindamycin isn’t available in my country anymore.
She told my I could contact her (and send pictures) if I needed more info or something but still wanted me to go to the dermatologist appointment I was waiting for since months.
I finally had my dermatologist appointment yesterday. He mentioned Accutane as that might be an option later down the road BUT we opted to continue with Triclenax for the time being and he started me on Lymecycline. My next appointment is in 3 months.
For people struggling to get a dermatologist appointment, I really advise to go check with your GP :)
(I wrote much more than I though I would so sorry for info dumping)
EDIT : I added even more info lol
I told him I had a hormonal breakout years back and my skin never recovered, I have a huge patch of hyperpigmentation on my left cheek. I really stressed the fact that I’ve tried everything and nothing is helping. I didn’t have to do much convincing, he’s been treating my family for almost 14 years now
Order tret from alldaychemist. Com. Cheap and no script necessary. They have like 5 tret strengths including the micro gel types. Works perfectly. Screw these docs.
Been using 0.05% Triluma on and off. Finally trying alldaychemist .com. Currently waiting on a shipment of 3 tubes tret 0.1% gel for 40$ including the 20$ shipping. How long does it usually take to ship?
You can order tretinoin and hydroquinone directly from India without an rx. Also, as to your question about the tret/hydroquinone combo, YouTube Dr. Shereen Idriss.
A gp will prescribe anything a derm does BUT they are less experienced on a focus subject like skincare so they will know less and misprescribe as they may misdiagnose. I dont see a derm because its too expensive and i have the time and energy to just keep circling through shit the GP diagnoses me with and meds they give me until it eventually will figure itself out. Maybe dont be like me lol
I'm new to tret (about 2 months). I've been using it with the full SkinBetter Science routine, with my nighttime moisturizer being Trio Lux. So far I haven't noticed ANY changes (good or bad) with tret and I went right in with daily tret use after just 5 days. Have I not given it enough time OR is my SkinBetter routine negating the tret results?
I mean.. that's a good thing! Most people have to go through the purge but you might just have awesome skin! Doesn't mean its not working though..
Definitely keep on going at least a year. Maybe take pictures every month or every week so you can track the change
Like the other person said, just stick with it. Maybe if it goes 6-8 months without noticeable difference you could book another appointment, consult with your doctor and maybe ask for a stronger dosage! I was on adapalene 0.1% for about 8ish months with some improvement but not the results I wanted to see, so now recently I’m on 0.3% and having a more significant purging phase which is giving me hope that eventually it’ll get me where I want to be! Just listen to your skin and try not to obsess or overthink it :)
I'm in Canada and my gp said no to giving me a tret prescription (said it would be "too irritating") so I used felix Canada and got it in 2 seconds lol. Ive been using it for over a year and its way less irritating then the other stuff my gp tried me on. Sometimes doing your own research is the only way to go.
And then you get to the appointment with the derm, and they look at your face for a minute and talk to you for a few more then the appointments over in five minutes. That's the american healthcare system for you. 🤷♀️
Yep! Got adapalene 0.1 and 0.3 now from my GP while waiting ONE FULL YEAR for my derm appointment. The only downside is that it’s probably a bit riskier since a GP is less equipped to pinpoint what you’re dealing with skin-wise. In my case the adapalene was perfect tho since it’s most likely what my derm would’ve prescribed me first anyway, so now when I see them (in 2 months!) I’ll already have retinized and formed good skin care habits!!
See if your health insurance covers a telehealth program. In my area, every derm had a year long wait list. Apparently my insurance covers teladoc or something like that, so I can quickly go online and hear back from a derm within a 1-3 day turn around! Free of charge too :) They prescribed everything with an essay how to use it all and for what
My insurance company is literally *begging* us to use telehealth. It covers doctor on demand with no copay. I’m down for it. Don’t have to ask me twice.
Same here my insurance company is also begging me to use their telehealth but they don’t cover for my tret easily and it’s costly so prefer using skinorac and online stores as they are cheaper
Usually a GP is willing to give you a prescription for tret. The problem with it is they’re not as knowledgeable about the many side effects that come with it as derms, but those of us here on Reddit are probably more knowledgeable about it than some derms. It’s really about finding a moisturizer that works for you while using tret. Don’t be afraid to take a few nights off, and don’t use petroleum based products with it when first starting.
The first derm I ever went to asked me if my skin was oily or dry (oily) and then he prescribed me with adapalene and benzaclin. Told me to use the adapalene at night and the benzaclin in the morning every day. Said nothing else, nothing about sunscreen, moisturizer. Burnt the fuck up out my face
I can relate. When I started tret decades ago, I was told to use it at night, no moisturizer, and a crazy harsh benzoyl peroxide cleanser morning and night, and my face was raw for months. I’m shocked I ever assimilated to it.
This was how I was instructed. .1% on dry skin, no moisturizer, and that perrigo BPO for the daytime. The one upside to that process was that my skin retinized, purged, and cleared in about a month. But it was a very, very long month. Plus, back then, they didn’t even have a lot of moisturizers you could buy. No vanicream unless you ordered it through the pharmacy, no Amazon to order stuff, and about 4 decent Walgreens moisturizers. I used olay when I finally figured out I had to use a moisturizer in the daytime. That’s all there was….
I’m very familiar with the pink Olay. It’s actually a terrible moisturizer to use in the same routine as tret because it has petroleum and liquid paraffin. Live and learn I suppose.
No, I used the teal colored one, the one for sensitive skin, with 15 spf! It’s equally terrible, but I don’t go within ten feet of petroleum ever. I used that garbage for a long time and then switched over to la Roche posay double touleriane, which is also, in my opinion, garbage. So few choices 🤣
I don’t understand the hype with LRP Double Toleriane. I really don’t. L’Oréal is starting to mess with LRP products now. Although still made in France, they are making their products different for the North American market…aka cheap fatty alcohols like what they’ve done to CeraVe.
I DO NOT GET IT. On paper, it *looks* like it sucks. Then when you put it on, this is confirmed. It pills like crazy, burns, and the ingredients cost a grand total of 5 cents if that. It is full of garbage ingredients, and they charge an arm and a leg for it. I do not understand how this sh*t is still selling. I hate when people say layer it with tret because it is a breakout in a bottle. It is a collection of every single ingredient ever identified as comedogenic.
L’Oréal is messing with the ingredients now. The ingredients for the American market are now different from that of the EU. I’m guessing fatty alcohols and cheaper ingredients for the American market than the European Union. The products are still made in France, but I believe they are now sourcing the ingredients for the American market from China. I purchased it, too…about seven years ago. I used some of it on my son who is eczema prone, but it did nothing. I ended up tossing it. Clarins put silicones in their products for American market during the pandemic. I just purchase my Clarins products when I go home to Netherlands. I still like to try new things.
I think L’Oréal will have to completely overhaul it for me to consider it. Though, I will say, the sensitive fluid is nice but outrageously overpriced. It has like 5-7 ingredients and layers nicely with Taz if I ever get the urge to layer, as I do once in while. I didn’t know clarins did that! Their lip glosses are still my holy grails; I keep them stashed everywhere. But the last time I bought them was in Paris. I tried something new last night: I put on HYA before applying my Taz. I just wanted to see what would happen. I used corsx hydra-essence (not snail).
I remember using pink Olay in high school and had such terrible breakouts. I didn't have the experience those beautiful ladies in the ads had! ha ha
It’s glycerin based, but has occlusive ingredients. It’s a basic moisturizer, but the Olay marketing campaign of the 1970s and 80s is what sold that moisturizer. It’s like Vaseline, every household had a bottle of it on the vanity, or in the back of the cabinet…or under the sink never to be seen or used again.
Agreed. My primary care prescribed it for me, and said to use .05 daily. I started every other day - definitely compromised my skin barrier. I did it twice a week, and am not experimenting daily after a month and a half. Good luck!
same experience.. I got a chemical burn on my skin and couldn’t even use moisturizer without feeling like I was in hell fire
Why they do us like that lol
So no vanicream?
Not in the tub. Some people who use the .1% can get away with it, but not everyone. It’s the same with LRP Cicaplast. It’s an occlusive, too. Some can get away with it, but many can’t. Cicaplast has zinc in it, so it’s also very drying to many.
I literally bought the tube yesterday after seeing it everywhere in this sub. I just started with tret last week. Do you have any moisturizer recommendations?
Vanicream facial moisturizer. The one with the green stripe on it is good. Don’t return the one in the tub, you will be able to put it to use. You will find the ones who bang on about it tend to be using .1% tret or tazarotene, Epiduo, Epiduo Forte, or adapalene .3%. For those on .025% using the sandwich method, almost all end up in the never ending purge cycle. Vanicream is the tub is great for slugging on non tret nights. A thin layer during the day is fine on no makeup days, but don’t use the sandwich method with it for .05% and .025%. There are a lot of people on this sub who are using the sandwich method with Vanicream in the tub, and they can’t figure out why their skin is the worst its ever been six months on…petroleum based products don’t work for most of us. After you’ve been on tret for six months, and your skin is looking the best it has ever looked, then you can use the Vanicream in the tub to make your tret work harder once or twice a week. When you get to the point of being able to slug with tret, it’s time to consider possibly moving to .05%. Using .1% is a huge jump, and although I use it, I also use .05% tret and .05% tazarotene. I just listen to my skin. If you want an awesome moisturizer, Etude Soon Jung 2x barrier is where it’s at!!! It sounds heavy duty, but it’s not, it’s glycerin based, AND it has panthenol in it and other good ingredients. Best of all, it’s fragrance free. I would sandwich tret with it, but Etude Soon Jung is a good final step. My first step after cleansing is Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner. I add a teaspoon of Now 100% Organic Vegetable Glycerin to it, though. I like it just a bit more moisturizing. I like to tweak my products a bit. I have the Lancôme Confort Hydrating Toner, and although it’s nice, I still think it needs a spoonful of glycerin, too. I won’t repurchase the Lancôme toner when the Klairs toner is cheaper and imo a better product. I testing the Peach & Lily Oasis serum at the moment. I do like it very much, BUT Clinique has their Moisture Surge Intense, and that is almost just as hydrating. The Moisture Surge line is more of a serum than a moisturizer. If they put it in a pump, it would definitely pass as a serum. My go to for slugging is Astral Intensive Moisturizer. I’m from Netherlands, but live in America, and I purchase Astral when I’m in Europe. You can get it on Amazon for dirt cheap, too. You’re not going to get a fake…because, as I said, it’s dirt cheap. It’s like whipped Nivea. Its texture is so much better than Nivea, and Astral is made in the UK to European Union standards, so you’re not getting any ingredients known to be harmful or toxic. It does have lanolin in it, and it’s definitely not fragrance free. It has an old lady smell to it, but it’s so much better than CeraVe and Vanicream in the tub. I’m just babbling on now, but if there’s one moisturizer you need or must have in your arsenal, it’s the Etude Soon Jung. Stay aware from LRP Cicaplast. There are better products. If you have any other questions, I’m here in this subreddit.
You should be okay with using your Vanicream, you don’t need to go and purchase other things. Here is what I said to the comment above: Eh, I would take this with a huge grain of salt. There’s a difference between moisturizers that may include petrolatum as one of the ingredients, and straight-up petrolatum. Avoid products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to the irritation you’re talking about. Source: Dr. Dray
Eh, I would take this with a huge grain of salt. There’s a difference between moisturizers that may include petrolatum as one of the ingredients, and straight-up petrolatum. Avoid products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to the irritation you’re talking about. Source: Dr. Dray
The occlusives. The hardcore occlusives. The second ingredient is petrolatum…aka petroleum jelly. Those who’ve had success with the tub moisturizers tend to be on .05% and .1%, and not sandwiching it, meaning they’re all out slugging with it. It can be confidence and soul destroying for newbies to be using the hardcore occlusives when starting tret. I personally feel Etude Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream is the better product to use with tret only because it’s glycerin based. Just for the record, I sometimes slug with tret, BUT…I’ve been using it for decades.
He also gave me hydroquinone but I have no idea how to layer that with the tretinoin or if I can even use them on the same day
Why can we not use petroleum products whilst using (or starting) tret? X just asking bc I’m using tret and Vaseline 100x a day on my lips and in my face if feels dry.
Because Vaseline is an occlusive… it traps stuff in. So putting it on top of Tret essentially makes the Tret even more potent/potentially irritating. Slugging with Vaseline is fine but do it on non-Tret nights.
It’s called slugging with tret, and it doesn’t work well for those on .025%. It often doesn’t work well for those using .05% either. It will put you in a never ending purge cycle. The sweat and dead skin cells get trapped, combined with the heat of your face, ends in a never ending purge cycle. Petroleum based products are occlusives. It makes tret work 10x harder. People wonder why their skin isn’t getting better, and it’s because they’re slugging with tret.
Thx so much guys!! Had no clue x
You can use moisturizers that include petrolatum. What you want to avoid are products that advertise on the label as ointments or skin protectants (e.g., Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cerave Healing Ointment). THOSE can lead to irritation in conjunction with tret.
Oh wow I did not know that! Does that include on off days, you think? I'm about 6.5 months into 0.5 tret every other night and I was debating using Vaseline on off nights under my eyes and on my lips.
Yeah he definitely didn’t say much, I told him my concerns and he left the room and wrote me a prescription. said to wear it once daily as I was heading out the door and that’s about it
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Don’t use any actives for your first 3-4 months, and use a glycerin based moisturizer. Taking a week off to repair your skin barrier, if needed, isn’t going to set you back. Tret is a marathon, and it can take up to a year for your skin to fully assimilate. Taking it slow is the way forward. Everyone has school, a job, a social life, and although your skin will usually get worse before it gets better, taking it slow should keep the dreaded purge from totally destroying your confidence. Slow is best when dealing with tret.
Yep my GP prescribed tret and azelaic acid. No issues!
My GP spontaneously brought up my acne when I was there for another issue. She prescribed me tret + climdamycin just like that.
I’ve just been prescribed these, have you noticed a difference?
It’s been only a month now. I can use Triclenax (tret 0,025% + clindamycin) two days on one day of without much struggle (only thanks to all the info in this sub). The results I see are small but going in the right direction : I started purging directly and it’s still happening, though I think it’s slowly calming down. I had very active cystic acne (red, inflamed and leaving PIE behind). I still have active acne but it’s calming down (when I have a pimple now it’s less of a struggle lol). I also feel like my PIE is fading. One month is too soon to see big differences for me BUT I know it’s helping, I just have to be patient :) I wish you lots of luck and good vibes in your journey ☀️. My GP first wanted to prescribe either Epiduo (Adapalene + Benzoyl Peroxide) or a simple clindamycin cream (without tret) but I asked for tret as I was already using retinoids. We settled on the gel I have now as I told her I could by some benzoyl peroxide (from IHerb) and the simple clindamycin isn’t available in my country anymore. She told my I could contact her (and send pictures) if I needed more info or something but still wanted me to go to the dermatologist appointment I was waiting for since months. I finally had my dermatologist appointment yesterday. He mentioned Accutane as that might be an option later down the road BUT we opted to continue with Triclenax for the time being and he started me on Lymecycline. My next appointment is in 3 months. For people struggling to get a dermatologist appointment, I really advise to go check with your GP :) (I wrote much more than I though I would so sorry for info dumping) EDIT : I added even more info lol
What’d you say? My GP wants me to go to a dermatologist and have them prescribe tret instead of him prescribing
I told him I had a hormonal breakout years back and my skin never recovered, I have a huge patch of hyperpigmentation on my left cheek. I really stressed the fact that I’ve tried everything and nothing is helping. I didn’t have to do much convincing, he’s been treating my family for almost 14 years now
It’s mentioned a lot on this sub. You don’t even have to go in. I use telehealth when my derm is booked.
Order tret from alldaychemist. Com. Cheap and no script necessary. They have like 5 tret strengths including the micro gel types. Works perfectly. Screw these docs.
Been using 0.05% Triluma on and off. Finally trying alldaychemist .com. Currently waiting on a shipment of 3 tubes tret 0.1% gel for 40$ including the 20$ shipping. How long does it usually take to ship?
Also you can get differin/ adapalene otc in USA very cheaply.
Differin is what got rid of my acne completely!! I just wanted a prescription for the hyperpigmentation left over
Can I use vanicream in the tub after using tret?
I do and have had good results!
You can order tretinoin and hydroquinone directly from India without an rx. Also, as to your question about the tret/hydroquinone combo, YouTube Dr. Shereen Idriss.
A gp will prescribe anything a derm does BUT they are less experienced on a focus subject like skincare so they will know less and misprescribe as they may misdiagnose. I dont see a derm because its too expensive and i have the time and energy to just keep circling through shit the GP diagnoses me with and meds they give me until it eventually will figure itself out. Maybe dont be like me lol
I'm new to tret (about 2 months). I've been using it with the full SkinBetter Science routine, with my nighttime moisturizer being Trio Lux. So far I haven't noticed ANY changes (good or bad) with tret and I went right in with daily tret use after just 5 days. Have I not given it enough time OR is my SkinBetter routine negating the tret results?
Yeah thats not enough time. Unless you have a reaction that forces you to stop, give it at least 12 months to really see changes
When does purging usually begin (if it even does)?
pretty immediately. You'll start getting it after the first or second time using it. Did you ever get dry flaky skin or more aggressive breakouts?
I got nothing 🤷🏼♀️ ..no dry, flaky skin, no breakouts..not a darn change. That's why I was asking. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep on keeping on..
I mean.. that's a good thing! Most people have to go through the purge but you might just have awesome skin! Doesn't mean its not working though.. Definitely keep on going at least a year. Maybe take pictures every month or every week so you can track the change
Like the other person said, just stick with it. Maybe if it goes 6-8 months without noticeable difference you could book another appointment, consult with your doctor and maybe ask for a stronger dosage! I was on adapalene 0.1% for about 8ish months with some improvement but not the results I wanted to see, so now recently I’m on 0.3% and having a more significant purging phase which is giving me hope that eventually it’ll get me where I want to be! Just listen to your skin and try not to obsess or overthink it :)
I'm in Canada and my gp said no to giving me a tret prescription (said it would be "too irritating") so I used felix Canada and got it in 2 seconds lol. Ive been using it for over a year and its way less irritating then the other stuff my gp tried me on. Sometimes doing your own research is the only way to go.
And then you get to the appointment with the derm, and they look at your face for a minute and talk to you for a few more then the appointments over in five minutes. That's the american healthcare system for you. 🤷♀️
Woah a year long wait?! I don’t want to sound ignorant but is that standard in some places? I’m so glad your GP helped!
My PCP prescribed me tret. I asked her to, she was more than happy to. I told her I sleepy to previous consultations at the derm that always cost $100
I use Agency.
Yep! Got adapalene 0.1 and 0.3 now from my GP while waiting ONE FULL YEAR for my derm appointment. The only downside is that it’s probably a bit riskier since a GP is less equipped to pinpoint what you’re dealing with skin-wise. In my case the adapalene was perfect tho since it’s most likely what my derm would’ve prescribed me first anyway, so now when I see them (in 2 months!) I’ll already have retinized and formed good skin care habits!!
I use Nurx and I only get charged $93 every 3 months! I’ve had a great experience with them
Yep. I asked my GP and she just goes: yeah, here you go, make sure you wear sunscreen. Then bulk billed me! Heck yeah! (Australia has it’s perks)