Can I use Tretinoin every day?
Does It Mix engine · how often
Not at first. Start two or three nights a week and build up only if your skin stays comfortable.
How to build up
- Start 2-3 nights a week, at night, on clean dry skin.
- Add a night every week or two if there's no peeling or stinging.
- Moisturize after, and wear sunscreen every morning.
- Prescription retinoids: follow your prescriber's schedule, which overrides this.
Don't stack it with
Retinol · No, not togetherVitamin C · Yes, with timingSalicylic Acid · Yes, with timingGlycolic Acid · Yes, with timingBenzoyl Peroxide · Yes, with timingAdapalene · No, not together
More: everything Tretinoin mixes with · how to layer Tretinoin
FAQ
What should I do if Tretinoin irritates my skin?
Cut back to fewer days, keep a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen, and reintroduce slowly once skin calms down. See a dermatologist if irritation persists.
Sources
- Zaenglein AL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.
- Martin B, et al. Chemical stability of adapalene and tretinoin when combined with benzoyl peroxide in presence and in absence of visible light and ultraviolet radiation. Br J Dermatol. 1998;139 Suppl 52:8-11.