4 years later: why I switched to a lower strength retinoid (tretinoin)

[@frugalskin]

ugh sorry the comments were turned off! just turned them on. Not sure how that happened. I have more videos coming soon :)

[@danielpinojr.8312]

I just started 0.1 percent. First time using tretinoin. Been using Adapalene for years as well as Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide 10% and oil free moisturizers. Glad I watched this video. I'll update after a while with my progress. Thank you for your video and your experience. ♥️

[@mrphalange7015]

Happy to see you uploading again! Keep the videos coming.

[@frugalskin]

Thank you :)

[@eobrien1]

Been using retinoids for about a decade now. I started with adapalene even before it was Otc & bc I have rosacea, my derm at the time thought I would be gentler for me. It was and I tolerated it well & got amazing results repairing my sun damage. Then I had to stop birth control for health reasons & was no longer getting the acne control I needed from adapalene alone. My new derm (who is still mine) suggested I switch to tretinoin bc, in her practice, she actually said her patients (tho it shouldn’t be the case) tolerate tretinoin better than Differin typically. I switched to 0.025% tretinoin like 3 years ago and did end up liking it even better, tolerated it better too. I had great results just there from an aging & sun damage perspective. But then summer hit & i had to up my dosage to get acne control. Currently on 0.05% and love it. No side effects at all. Waiting to see in May if I will bump up to 0.1% if I need it w the hot weather.

[@frugalskin]

That's awesome and good to hear even adapalene provided some benefit. And the way you did it is definitely better than me jumping straight into the strongest haha.

[@eobrien1]

@@frugalskin oh yeah, adapalene is great! I got 90-95% of the way there with what I wanted for sun damage repair with it. Tretinoin just has that extra bit of perfection, but adapalene absolutely can reverse so much. My skin looked wayyy younger in photos when I was about 32 than I did at 16 after a few years of the Differin.

[@frugalskin]

@@eobrien1 right?! I can't believe how underrated retinoids are. People go through great lengths to try to look younger and it's actually kind of simple!

[@AnthonyJP91]

Woohoo! It's good to see you posting again! How have you been?

[@frugalskin]

Thanks so much! Not too bad :)

[@AnthonyJP91]

You'll have to let us know how your travels went ☺️

[@rayradiance666]

What do you think about using 0.025% Tret? I have a job where I travel a lot and am out in the sun, although I do use sunscreen and hats, I’ve been using that cerave retinol, but I am afraid it won’t have the same anti aging benefits as the gold standard.

[@frugalskin]

hey good to hear from you! Hmm I mean the literature does show lower strengths can be effective over time but everyone is different. Retinol I've only used one product and it actually made my skin peel despite using tretinoin for a year prior. That was kind of interesting!

[@Francys_pt]

I love your videos ❤ Comecei usar Tretinoina e Azelaico e graças a você minha pele está maravilhosa. Obrigado ❤

[@caleb.b.t]

I started with the 0.1% gel - prescribed by my primary care physician. Never had issues with irritation/peeling, thankfully. I still use it to this day (almost 7 years later - started it when I was 17 and about to turn 24!)

[@frugalskin]

interesting and wow you were so young!! good to know I wasn't the only one starting at the highest.

[@briterry4961]

I'm in Texas, lowkey wanna make a trip to Mexico just to get some Tret lol I've been using Agency, the online prescription service but kinda wanna just try the one ingredient stuff for a while.

[@kimpettynickiminaj]

I get my tretinoin from AllDayChemist. They’re cheap and I’ve never had any issues with them, it just takes a long time to ship, but I highly recommend it

[@MichelleRobson-w7g]

Hi, I started .05% tretinoin about 4 weeks ago after being on retinol and retinal for 4 years. I have had minimal irritation on my face and neck. In Australia it’s prescription and cost $80 AUD. I have had no problem with actives which are mornings, and tret at night followed by cicaplast cream

[@frugalskin]

Oh nice! Glad it's going well :)

[@AzuraLaz]

Hi, I get prescribed 0.025% tretinoin and 20% azelaic acid from my doctor last Thursday. It's my first time using tret and aza, and I'm also using 5% niacinamide moisturizer. I know I should'e ask this to my doctor but my next appointment is still next month. I was wondering if it's okay to combine niacinamide, azelaic acid, and tretinoin at the same time. Cuz I foget to tell my doctor about me using niacinamide moisturizer right now. And then i find your video about it.

[@NA-ub1kv]

I use adaplene and not tretnoin because it’s less irritating and I use retinol on the neck and chest and get great anti aging results

[@chris5897]

Do you apply Tretinoin around your eyes? No dry eye symptoms?

[@ScoobyDoosMom]

Hope you’re enjoying your new(er?) digs. I’d also like to know about whether you still use under eye. I saw the video you made out of the shower using it under your eyes a few years ago, I think? I had no idea you were on the highest %age then. I’ve been on 0.25 for 5 months every other night & have yet to notice any anti aging benefits but I’m 52 & Dr Dray & other derms has said it can take 6 mos+ to see results (esp at my age!) I was initially worried that maybe the lack of results was due to degradation of product since I watch tv in dark for hours after applying it (insomnia) but I’ve been told by a few skin care experts that is almost impossible. If you’ve heard different, lmk? I’m about to increase to .05 and will hopefully start to see more benefit but will keep the .025 to use under eye. (I don’t want to risk tell my online derm about using it under the eye & have them potentially refuse to prescribe it.) that!) Currently dab a few tiny dots under eyes a few times a week to try to build up, after first applying CeraVe pm light moisturizer. moisturizer) I keep it off the lids; I’m just too worried about developing permanent dry eye from Tret. which ophthalmologists keep warning about. I was shocked to hear how much Retin-A is in MX; I live in Los Angeles but I’d always heard Mexican pharmacies were so much cheaper. I guess not with .1% Tret! 😢 I’m glad you’ve done well with the .50. Hope to hear from you. Take care!

[@sankalpakharel5755]

I bought a 1 percent tret from a chedraui in mexico last year, cost me about $40 usd

[@frugalskin]

Oh nice. I like that store! Will have to try

[@stephm4047]

I use a 0.05% concentration because I live in France and it is the highest authorized here even on prescription. You're lucky to pay such a low price since, here, even the generic costs 14 euros.

[@frugalskin]

Oh wow good perspective. Well luckily that strength seems to work well for a lot of people

[@Francys_pt]

Eu sou brasileiro mas vivo em Portugal. Aqui eles só vendem tretinoina 0,5% sem prescrição. Caso queira valores elevadores teremos que ir ao dermatologista para que eles nos façam uma prescrição e levamos para manipular em farmácia. Isso é horrível! Eu compro tudo pela internet, pois dermatologista só serve pra sugar dinheiro. 😂 Azelaico aqui compramos na farmácia a 20%, isso é bom!

[@WalkingHeadPro]

did you know that retinols such as tret lower testosterone/impact hormones? If so, why the hell wouldn't use seek alternatives.

[@EmmanuelLeon-o9h]

This is not true 😂 Where are the peer-reviewed sources??