Dermatologist Retinoid Tips: How to Start Using Retinol With Minimal Irritation

Dermatologists love retinoids like retinol, tretinoin, and more because they have so many skin benefits (reduce fine lines & wrinkles, boost collagen production, fight acne, etc). But many people are afraid to start using them due to potential irritation and purging. That's why I put together this guide to help you start using a retinol (or other retinoid) with minimal irritation.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:43 What are Retinoids?
03:26 Irritation Risk Factors
04:06 Signs of Retinoid Irritation
04:48 Purging
05:22 How to Minimize Side Effects
07:00 Start with Over-the Counter Retinoids
07:50 Start With Lower Strength
08:37 Stick to the Same Brand
09:30 Remove Other Actives
10:12 Use the Right Amount
11:13 Mixing with Moisturizer?
12:08 Layering with Moisturizer
13:43 How Often to Apply
16:40 After You Adjust

DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links (marked with *). Affiliate links help support my YouTube channel so I can continue to create fun, informational skincare videos for you. Also, some products may have been received as PR. Thanks for watching!

[hopehealthhappiness]

Note for me:
•start with a .1-.3 strength over the counter retinol. Use every single night before moving to a higher strength.
•start with what you like putting on your skin (serum, thick cream, etc.) This can take trial and error.
•eliminate skin care actives for now like vitamin c, fruit enzymes, scrubs.
•starter routine: gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen and retinoid.
•use a pea sized amount of half of your fingertip. This may not feel like enough but it is. If can stick toilet paper on your face after applying, you applied too much.
•start with using retinoid on clean, dried skin. If this is too irritating, you can put retinoid on after moisturizer. If you wash your face and let it dry for 15-30 minutes then can apply retinoid. It’s good to apply moisturizer on again after applying retinoid.
•if applying to dry skin, can apply vasoline to corners of mouth and nose and eyes to limit irritation.
•week 1+2: apply retinoid Monday and Thursday. If no signs of irritation, then next week can increase frequency of application. If small amount of irritation/ stinging/ little flaky then stay at 2 times per week. If experiencing a lot of irritation/ super red skin and flakiness, stop application until skin clears and then start 1 day a week.
Week 3+4: apply Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If no or minimal irritation, can start using every other day. If you have irritation, go back to 2 days a week. If too much irritation, back off retinoid and then restart at the frequency where you weren’t having irritation.
• week 5 and on: use retinoid every other day.
•work up to using retinoid every night.
•once using every night, can keep that same skin routine or you can use a stronger retinoid after bottles finished. You can then start to add vitamin c back in or exfoliant if you really need it. Only add back in what your current skincare isn’t giving you.
•you may want to moisturize in the morning and night.
•make sure to use sunscreen during the day.

[ellebelle]

The one tip my dermatologist told me that might be helpful for people is when increasing from a lower strength retinoid to a higher strength one, stay on the lower strength and add the higher strength once or twice a week to start.

Other than that, what you laid out is far more helpful than anything I've been told by a dermatologist. I always thought that I had to push through the irritation and keep applying the retinoid to irritated skin so I wouldn't lose my progress. It's great to have permission to stop and let my skin heal before going back to the last tolerated frequency.

[marshall]

Girl for whatever reason the skincare gods blessed me without having that many side effects when starting tretinoin, which was a surprise because I have rosacea. I use azaleic acid 2x a day and tret at night. I think my skin has improved a lot!!

[thisusedtobemyrealname]

At 35y old finally took the accutane treatment that cleared up my acne and it has not come back in 7yrs. It took 8 months but was so worth it. Just wanted to say that patience really is key with your skin care, there are no quick fixes. Now at 42yrs old started to work on the scars the acne left behind. Had my first session of microneedling a few weeks ago and started a good skincare routine (cleanser, moisturiser, spf 50, adapalene every other day on the evenings). Thank you for all the dermatologists who give us this awesome informative content free of charge!

[savannahslopez]

I have wanted to start using retinol for a year now. After watching your video describing prescription retinoids, i decided to start 0.05% prescription tretinoin in October. I got through the dry skin irritation phase for a few weeks using your tips! My skin feels softer and I am slowly seeing positive changes. Now, I have an established night time routine! 💓
best tips: using more moisturizer than usual when starting out, starting once per week for two weeks, then twice per week, etc

[CorgiMom]

Thank you Dr Sam. After several visits to my dermatologist and watching countless YT videos, no one EVER mentioned to stop other acids when acclimating to retinoids and I’ve started and stopped multiple times, believing I’m just one of those who will never acclimate. After watching this, I’ve decided to stop my vitamin C and Lactic acid and am giving retinoids another go. 🤞

[allisonmarks]

Love the 1/2 of the fingertip example! I am an esthetician and experience that a pea size amount can be confusing for some.

[sofiakritikaki]

My dermatologist also gave me a good advice, instead of having it on for the whole night 🌙 at first I just had it on for a few hours and then washed it off, and increased cradually

[hengwin]

I had no problems whatsover using retinol and I didn't even ease into it. I did however shed like a lizard for 5 months when starting tret, only to find out a year later that it wasn't me being sensitive to the tret per se but the combination of dry skin, tret AND winter season. Also, slugging is a godsend.

[taybear]

Thank you for this. I wanted to incorporate retinoid in my skinscare, but was worried about mixing w/my other skin care products. I found this to be helpful & feel more comfortable in starting thank you.❤

[ryuichiro.sakuraba]

Much appreciate the tips! On a retinoid journey myself and it has been a smooth road for 16 weeks now. Have been using retinol, and I feel lucky that I have experienced minimal irritation and I have been able to move to a higher strength and 6 nights a week application (1 day saved for exfoliating acids).

The results are slow but promising though - razor cuts tend to heal faster, more glowy skin (can even skip makeup or just use a tinted moisturiser), and reduction of fine lines, and were noticeable after 12 weeks of use. Results may vary from one person to another, but this urged my mum and sis to hop onto their own retinoid journey too. :) Only thing is, the back of my hands had the retinisation flakiness (as I tend to use remaining skincare product from my routine on the hands). Quite funny that my hands are more sensitive than my face lol. This has subsided though and quite enjoying the feel of the hands as if I'm back in my late 20s. XD

...would like to try tretinoin so a visit to the derm is in order.

[bbscyzz]

Yes I am a 24F with naturally pretty good skin, I moisturize as often as I can, wear sunscreen/avoid excessive sun exposure on the regular, and eventually heard of the benefits of retinol and skin preservation. I started using retinol last summer at the end of the day, i put a very thin layer over my face and neck every night for about a week. Then I started noticing that I had slight itching and irritation, and I was afraid that I would damage my skin. I started it because I know that with skin, prevention and preservation is key to long term youthfulness. I really appreciate your professional educated take on the product, so that I feel more confident in incorporating it back into my skincare routine! I'm happy I kept my little retinol bottle.

[gretchenniemann]

How did you know Dr. Sam?! I just stopped breastfeeding and my tretinoin came in the mail yesterday. So timely!! 🥰

[kerry]

The instructions about how much to apply and how it seems like we don’t apply enough but we do- helpful

[mari]

Thanks for another great vid, Dr. Sam 🧡.
What retinol products/brands do you recommend for dry, sensitive, rosacea prone, and more mature skin?

[Pyq]

Such articulate and well informative video ! No substitute of a specialist doctor ❤

[MyLoVeLyMaN]

I've been using Differin for a year and had amazing results. It took me long time and patience to be able to use it every other night (which is perfect for me) Recently tried tret, I thought it would be easy to adjust, but even with moisturiser underneath, I got loads of dryness and flakiness which didn't seem to go away even after 2 months.. I decided to stop and go back to Differin, also because it way easier and cheaper to get :)

[rachelz]

I just started a prescription .005% retinoid to help with acne - after 1 application I had flaky skin around my chin — this video is very helpful as I work to build my skin’s tolerance! I might try the sand which method for awhile. Thank you!

[RitaKaminski]

this is the best retinoid video on the internet

[senseofwonder]

This is perfect timing! Just got my first prescription!!