2 YEAR TRETINOIN UPDATE: Before & After Tretinoin Cream 0.05% + My Current Skincare Routine

Sharing my tretinoin before & after after 2 years on tretinoin cream 0.05% for hormonal adult acne! Also my thoughts on the overall experience, tips I've learned, & my updated tretinoin skincare routine. I also went back on Spironolactone 25mg so I'll update you on how that's going!

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⇨ Skin type? Normal to dry & acne prone
⇨ How old are you? 28

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[veggierunner]

I have been taking spironolactone + tretinoin for the past 5 months and it has made a huge difference for me. My skin isn't 100% clear but I don't have anymore cyctic acne and occasional pimple I get is very minor. I'm taking 125 mg daily and 0.25 tretinoin daily.

[axman]

I love the feeling of that iunik sunscreen after trying it recently but ohmygoodness it stings my eyes. BOJ is really gentle though.

Started tret just this week myself (the 0.025% lowest concentration) and so far, so good. No discomfort whatsoever. I suspect that having consistently used OTC adapalene for over a decade has probably already thickened my skin a bit and set me up for an easier time. Fingers crossed it continues to be smooth sailing ⛵️

[mmmkk]

I noticed your hair looks fuller.. glad to see the spiro is working for you!

[belindah]

Those Paulas Choice products look really nice! I've been using 0.1% tret 6nts a week for maybe nearly 2years (46 so for anti ageing reasons) I never suffered purging either just the flakey skin, only just managed to get it round my mouth area now without flaking. 100% agree with the facial oil. I also like the Avene Xeracalm Moisturisers.

[whitneybrown]

This is Gonna b so Helpful SR🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Saturday😀….

[UnpurrfectRobyn]

That Versed night recovery cream is really good! I used that last winter when I was dealing with some uncharacteristic dryness. It will be a repurchase if the winter dryness becomes normal for me in the future. I typically have normal-oily skin, with the oiliest part of my face being the t-zone. I got some wicked dry skin around my eyes and nose/mouth last winter.

[lelalu]

I'm currently about to embark on a backwards version of your acne journey. I'm about to turn 29, also have PCOS and had the same reaction to getting off BC. My periods got wild off so I had to get back on. I started spiro 25mg at the same time. So 25mg for the past 3 years which actually cleared up my skin almost entirely for a long time. But in 2023 my acne started to come back. I switched to 50mg spiro 3 months ago, 100mg in September. When my dermatologist changed my spiro she also prescribed tret .025%, I was petrified after previous experiences so I have been instead playing any % speed run with all of my retinoids since that appointment. I had tried to start differin on my own and it was super tender which is when I decided to start from the gentlest product I owned nightly and just push up from there. The goal is to be using Tret by the 3 month follow up!!
I am currently up to .06% retinaldehyde & 1% granactive retinoid (the ELF serum!), I'll be going up to 0.1% Retinaldehyde next and then on to Adaplene 0.1% and Tret. I'm currently using my ELF serum nightly and I am hoping I can keep that up until the jump to Tretinoin where I will likely have to go to every other night for a while. I would never have gone and bought these retinoids to do this tiered approach to strength of retinoid, but I own the ELF, retinal product, and differin already so it seemed the best approach without causing major irritation.

[SolElarien]

Didn’t your doctor consider Metformin for PCO? The ovarian cells that causes PCO are usually insulin resistant and using low doses of metformin regulates them and treats PCO and its effects. Hope it’s a helpful tip. Love, Sol

[Baharispring]

Hey Sarah, I just found your channel. thank you so much for your helpful videos. I have PCOS, and my journey has been similar to yours. I've been struggling with acne, and after months of antibiotics, I'm about to start Spironolactone. Could you please share information about your diet? Did you cut out dairy, sugar, or gluten? It's been bothering me a lot lately, as I've heard various opinions, and I'm unsure if I really need to eliminate them completely. Thank you so much

[kalilili]

I hope this isnt TMI, but do you use any hormonal birth control? I ask because where im from doctors are very quick to recommend birth control for acne and for me it did clear up my skin, but i want to come off of it and im afraid even with tret my acne will get a lot worse.

[aberwocky]

Spiro didn't work out for me because it interacted with my other medications 😢 my derm is recommending oral dapsone. Fingers crossed this is what makes the difference for me as my skin is the worst it's ever been 😞

[TracyD]

MSM will grow your hair and thicken it. I don’t know of any interactions with medications. That people would have to research. I do know you should drink more. A lot of people give up before the 6 months of trentinion. If they would just stick with it. They would be golden. There are long lasting benefits. You will see those rewards when your my age 56 and you look at your peers who never used tretinion. Just saying. You look beautiful.