My Tretinoin Journey: From damaged skin barrier to healthy, improving skin
All the famous Youtube skincare-gurus use it. Dermatologists seem to recommend it. And there’s probably a person or two in your vicinity that’s either using Retinol or thinking about using it.
Retinol almost sounds like the perfect cure for all things anti-aging. It eliminates fine lines, promotes collagen production. The prescription version, Retin-A, is the stronger and more powerful version for treating severe acne, scars, and wrinkles.
About a year ago, I came across my first Youtube video on Retin-A. Prior to that, I had been using the wildly popular The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid line with moderately decent results — but the thrillseeker in me told me that it was time to move on to a more potent form of Retinol, cue: Retin-A.
The start of a rocky journey
I did some online research on whether Retin-A really was a product that could benefit me. I then ventured down to my local pharmacy to see if it was possible to buy over the counter here in Korea. Nope. No OTC Retin-A in sight. I then headed over to my local clinic, told the doctor what I wanted, and got a prescription within five minutes.
Alas, the $40 (yikes!) Retin-A 0.025% was finally mine.
The first night I did what many resources had told me and applied a small amount to skin that was already moisturized. I woke up the next morning with no visible issues or dryness. Yay! So naturally, I did what I definitely should NOT have done next — slathered on a significantly larger amount on bare skin.
Hi, redness from hell! I looked and felt like a burnt tomato. My eyes hurt, my nose hurt, and my confidence was hurt. I deemed Retin-A unusable with my skin (have you noticed that I’m very impatient?) and put it in a box with all of my other impulse purchases.
My Retin-A Journey: A second chance
Months passed. Then, I got a big acne-flare up in November and suddenly started thinking about Retin-A again. Contrary to the last time, however, I actually planned out a suitable routine to go with the Retin-A to steer free from the horrible reaction I induced the last time I had used it.
This time, after cleansing with the Oneoseven Low PH Chaga Cleanser, I applied a Laneige Cream Skin Refiner as my toner, and then applied a SMALL amount of Retin-A all over my face. Then, I let my face rest for ten minutes. After that, I applied a hydrating serum and rosehip oil to seal everything in.
It worked! I woke up with brighter looking skin without any reaction or dryness. I still follow this routine today. It’s been almost four months. In the morning, my routine is the same, but instead of the rosehip oil, I cover my face in sunscreen.
My Retin-A Journey Final Verdict — What have I learned so far?
My Retin-A ride hasn’t been all smooth. I don’t have flawless skin (yet?) and I still have old acne scars and congested pores. But I am finally starting to see some improvements — it’s typically supposed to take about 12 weeks to see noticeable benefits of Retin-A. So, I think I’m right on schedule in terms of finally seeing my acne scars looking a bit less prominent than they used to, and the occasional cystic acne flare-ups I used to dread are now starting to become significantly less frequent.
The big lesson I learned from my Retin-A journey is to start slow and be patient. This can be a “miracle” product, but it’s not going to give you glass-skin overnight. It’s not going to be more effective if you put on more than the recommended amount — unless by “effective” you mean effective in breaking your skin barrier.
My advice for the Retin-A curious out there is to do your online research but also ask your doctor or pharmacist about the recommended usage instructions for your skin type and concerns. Remember to incorporate it slowly and give it time. And don’t forget to use a nourishing moisturizer at night and sunscreen during the day.
Good luck on your own Retin-A journey! You’ll probably look like a burnt tomato somewhere along the way but…better days and better skin are definitely on the horizon!
Read part 2 of my Tretinoin journey here! Learn more about my Tretinoin journey, Tretinoin skincare tips, and I answer a frequently asked question, ‘Does Tretinoin damages skin barrier?’.
Have you started a Retin-A journey? Or thinking about it?
