Hey Tret Girls (and boys),
I have been on tretinoin for years now and the improvements to my skin have been worth it. Clearer, smoother, better tone overall. But if I am being honest, the side effects have been a real struggle for a long time. My skin would get so dry, tight, flaky, and raw that it often felt like a low grade chemical burn. There was stinging and sensitivity that just would not settle no matter what I did. I tried all the usual tricks. Sandwiching, heavy creams, slugging, and taking breaks when it got bad. They helped a bit in the moment, but the discomfort always came back. I started wondering if this was just how long term tret was going to be for my skin.
From talking to others, I know I am not alone. Plenty of people share similar stories. Some eventually adapt with small tweaks like waiting longer after cleansing or switching textures, while a few try different retinoids for better tolerance. The one thing that comes up again and again is how important it is to support your skin barrier. Tret speeds up cell turnover beautifully for results, but it can also increase water loss and leave your barrier struggling to keep up between applications. Basic moisturizers often are not enough when things get really irritated.
After years of figuring it out, what finally made a lasting difference for me was finding a rich balm style moisturizer packed with targeted ingredients for retinoid stressed skin. It is not a light serum or regular lotion. It is a nourishing, protective texture that feels comforting without being too heavy or greasy for everyday use.
Key ingredients that helped me the most were colloidal oatmeal to calm the raw stinging and redness, and shea butter to seal in moisture and strengthen the barrier. I use a pea sized amount as the last step in my nighttime routine, after waiting 20 to 30 minutes for the tret to absorb, and sometimes in the morning if my skin feels off. It took some consistency, but the intense rawness and flaking finally calmed down a lot. I could stick with tret long term without feeling like I was fighting my skin every day.
It is not a cure all. Nothing will fully save you if you are overdoing the strength or frequency, and it will not replace what tret actually does. If you are very acne prone, richer formulas are worth patch testing. But for anyone stuck in that solid results but my skin feels wrecked phase, focusing on this kind of soothing and occlusive support has been a total game changer.
If you are dealing with the same ongoing dryness and irritation I experienced for years, look for products with barrier friendly ingredients like colloidal oatmeal for calming and shea butter or similar butters and oils to lock moisture in. They work together to calm irritation, replenish hydration, and prevent that constant water loss. Exactly what tret stressed skin often needs.
What is your experience been with long term tret? Have you found certain ingredients or products that finally helped your skin feel comfortable again? I would love to hear. We are all in this together. ❤️
Disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist. I’m a founder who had really irritated skin. This is personal experience, not medical advice. Patch test everything. Speak to your doctor before starting or changing a retinoid routine.