Help! purging after 11 weeks still? Restarted tret
Hello! Okay so I’ve used 0.1% tret on and off for years, and even used tazarotene for a while as well, but eventually fell of using it when I was in active addiction. I started using tret inconsistently about 3 months ago, and more consistently 2 months ago (started at 2x a week, would increase to 3x then get super irritated barrier and have to back off). I’m currently at week 11 and still breaking out a lot. More than before I used it and I’m just wondering if this is purging still or what I can do? I stopped using hormonal birth control in may of last year and my skin started breaking out a lot more after that but didn’t get super bad until I started using tret again. My routine is as follows:
(I’m aware it’s a lot but I have had all of these approved by my doctor and I have to layer moisturizer to prevent getting eczema or extreme peeling)
AM:
Water or gentle cleanse (prequel gleanser)
Byoma hydrating milky toner (sometimes I skip this)
The ordinary alpha arbutin serum (sometimes I skip this)
ANUA 10% azaleic and hyaluronic serum if my skin is not peeling
La Roche Posay double repair moisturizer
Vanicream moisturizing cream if dryer
Isntree Hyaluronic Watery Sun gel
PM: (tret nights, every 3 days)
Micellar water
Prequel Gleanser
Byoma hydrating milky toner (sometimes I skip this)
La Roche Posay double repair moisturizer, let dry
Pea size of tret, let sit
Vanicream moisturizing cream
If peeling bad, a little slather of Avene Cicalfate on peeling spots only
PM: (non tret nights)
Micellar water
Prequel Gleanser
Byoma hydrating milky toner (sometimes I skip this) the ordinary alpha arbutin (sometimes I skip this)
ANUA 10% azaleic acid
La Roche Posay double repair moisturizer
Vanicream moisturizing cream if still dry (usually am)
If peeling bad, a little slather of Avene Cicalfate on peeling spots only
If my barrier becomes compromised I switch to no actives for a few days and then get back on to tret for 2x a week and no azaleic acid for a week, then azaleic acid in the mornings.
I’m prepared for a lot of messages saying this is too much and that’s what I need to dial back but I cannot decide what to change, or if I just need to stick with it? I get really deep hormonal pimples on my chin twice a month, when I ovulate and when I’m about to get my period. They take a week to go away so I like never have clear skin. And I have a lot of congestion now that I didn’t have before starting tret. Please help. I have an appointment with a derm scheduled for next month but I need help in the mean time. Thanks!
First pic is March 14th before I started using tret consistently, second is April 11th (I had been using tret inconsistently here too) , 3rd is April 25th (when I started using tret consistently 2x a week), fourth is May 23rd (using tret 3x a week), fifth is June 8th (alternating 2x and 3x a week as skin handles), sixth is today, July 7th (using it every third day)