use tretinoin or not?
At the start of this year I started using azaleic acid and fried my skin barrier on my jawline and cheeks (at least I think that’s what happened). However, I’ve had some amount of hormonal acne since getting my first mirena years ago so I went on 100mg spironolactone at the start of April (it’s been just over 1 month). At the same time, my derm switched me from biacna (clindamycin + 0.025 tret) to 0.04 tret, since I have been concerned about longterm use of clindamycin. I also switched out my IUD a couple of months ago.
Since i started spiro my cheeks and jawline, particularly my left side, have been blowing up even more than they already were. I have reduced the tret use down to every few nights for my forehead and my right cheek, and pretty much stopped it all together for my left cheek because I’m concerned my skin barrier is still an issue. But at this point I’m considering starting tret again every few nights for the left side too, because my right side seems to have progressed through the purge and getting to the other side, whereas the left cheek is just stuck in perpetual inflamed cystic acne. This is by far the worst my acne has ever been, and I’ve never seen cheek acne this inflamed on myself. I often get cysts on my jawline but this is another level. At this point I’d prefer to just power through with the tret if that will just speed up this terrible process. I’m honestly at a loss because at this point it seems like everything I do pisses off my skin more.
AM routine:
-wash with gentle life brand cleanser or rinse with water if didn’t use tret
-byoma gel moisturizer (last few months but I dont think it’s the issue)
-cerave ultralight spf 30 moisturizer (been using this one for years no issue)
PM routine:
-cleanse with gentle cleanser
-byoma gel moisturizer
-byoma barrier repair cream
-tret on days I use it
-Aveeno baby eczema cream
-cicalfate avene cream
any suggestions are welcome TIA♥️
photos are of each side one week before starting spiro, halfway through April/three weeks in, and present (First week of May)