u/That_Librarian_6379

how are you guys actually tracking tret progress without spiraling

i feel like tret progress is so slow and my brain is not helping lol.

some days i swear my texture is better, then i catch different lighting and suddenly i'm convinced my pores are huge and everything is worse. same with redness and post acne marks. i know tret is a long game, but i honestly cannot tell if i'm improving or just staring at my face too much.

for people who have been on it a while, how do you track progress in a way that doesn't mess with your head?

right now i'm trying to do photos once a week instead of every day, same bathroom, same time, no makeup, but even then it feels weirdly hard to compare because my skin changes so much depending on sleep, cycle, stress, etc.

are you guys looking at specific things like fewer active breakouts, faster healing, smoother forehead, less oil by midday, or do you just go by vibes until one day you realize your skin is better?

would love to hear what signs you personally use, especially the subtle ones. i think i need a more objective way to look at this before i convince myself tret is doing nothing.

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u/That_Librarian_6379 — 20 hours ago

how are you all tracking tret progress when your skin changes day to day?

i'm a few months into tret and realizing the hardest part is not even the irritation, it's figuring out whether i'm actually improving or just having random good/bad skin days.

some weeks i feel like my texture is smoother and my acne is calming down, then i wake up with extra redness or a couple clogged pores and convince myself i've ruined my barrier. i know tret is a long game, but day to day it's really messing with my head.

my details in case it helps:

- tret info: 0.025% cream

- time on tret: 14 weeks

- frequency: started 2x a week, now at every other night

- skin type: acne-prone, sensitive, combo leaning dry on tret

routine:

AM

- rinse with water

- moisturizer

- sunscreen

PM non-tret nights

- gentle cleanser

- moisturizer

PM tret nights

- gentle cleanser

- moisturizer, wait a bit

- tret, pea size for full face

- moisturizer again if i feel dry

what i'm trying to track:

- number of active breakouts

- redness level

- flaking/tightness

- overall texture

- how long post-acne marks are sticking around

i've been using SkinPal AI for the daily selfie tracking part so i can at least see some numbers over time, but i still don't totally trust myself not to overanalyze every little change. for people who've been on tret longer, how do you track progress in a way that doesn't make you spiral? weekly photos? notes app? only checking at the same point in your cycle? i feel like if i compare every single morning, i end up overreacting and wanting to change my routine too fast.

also curious what you personally count as a real sign tret is working, especially before the obvious "after" stage. less inflammation? faster healing? fewer new breakouts?

not looking for medical advice, just practical ways you all keep perspective while waiting this out.

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u/That_Librarian_6379 — 2 days ago