u/estropiizp

I think I might be doing too much in my daily life. I've added more products to my routine along with Tretinoin, and my skin now feels more sensitive.

Routine:

AM: Cleanser, Actives, Moisturizer, and Sunscreen

PM: Cleanser, Tretinoin, and Moisturizer

I'm not sure now:

1.Too many things or a reaction to tretinoin?

2.How can you tell the difference?

What helped you to understand?

I've been taking tretinoin for a long time, and I'm starting to wonder if it has changed how my face responds to stress or inflammation.

I feel like my skin is more sensitive now, like small things like not getting enough sleep, worry, or changes in the weather make it red and irritated more quickly. My skin feels a little more sensitive now that I've used it for a long time.

That's what I've seen. Some say this can happen if the skin layer isn't balanced over time.

For those who have been through this: Did this make your skin more sensitive? What changes did you make to your practice or how much time did you spend on barrier repair?

I've had brain fog for months, and it's making me less confident and less able to do my work. It's harder for me to concentrate, I forget things more often, and things that used to be easy take a lot more work.

I'm still getting things done, but I don't trust myself or feel mentally sharp, and that's really scary. This seems like stress or burnout, but I'm not sure if it's something that needs more attention.

Who has dealt with this? When did you realise that constant brain fog wasn't something you could just get through? How did you know it was time to go further or get help?

This is making me a little perplexed.

Tretinoin has benefited me a lot over the long run. But I'm not sure if I still need to use exfoliants.

Routine:

AM: Cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen

Pm: Cleanser, Tretinoin, and Moisturizer in the morning

I'm curious now:

1.Does tretinoin already take the place of exfoliation?

2.Or is there a way to use both safely?

Don't want to go too far. What worked for you?

I've been using tretinoin for a long time, and my skin looks "okay" overall—no big breakouts—but it doesn't look or feel healthy or bright.

It's a little dull, a little dry, and never just right. People have told me that this can develop if the skin is a little overworked, dry, or irritated for a long time, even if it doesn't seem like it.

For people who have felt this way: Did your skin ever get to this point where it was "okay but not healthy"? And did making your routine simpler or drinking more water help you look better again?

For a time now, I've been using Tretinoin every day. At first, it worked great, but now my skin feels thinner, more sensitive, and reacts quickly.

Routine:

AM: Cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen

PM: Cleanser, Tretinoin, and Moisturizer

I'm not sure now:

1.Is this damage to the barrier or merely a short-term sensitivity?

2.Should I use it less?

3.Would it help to pay greater attention to hydration?

What helped for you at this point when your skin feels more fragile?

I've been taking tretinoin cream for a long time, but lately my skin has started acting quite unusual. It feels tight and dry, but it also feels oily. I've read that this can happen when your skin is dry or your barrier isn't working right. Your skin creates more oil to make up for it, even though it still feels dry underneath. If this happened to you, did your skin feel like this too? And did it help to focus more on drinking water or cut back on how often you use tretinoin?

I'm worried that this mental drowsiness will last forever. I've had brain fog for a long time, and I still can't concentrate, remember things, or think clearly.

I can get through the day, but I never feel fully present or clear. It scares me to think that this could be my new normal. Everyone has told me what to do, but nothing has fully fixed it.

Has anyone who has had brain fog for years gotten better? What helped you, and how long did it take? I really want to hear about real situations and be reassured that I can get better.

After taking tretinoin for a long time, my skin is always clear, smooth, and much more stable than it used to be. However, I've noticed that some deeper issues, especially stubborn pigmentation, haven't gotten much better even though I've been consistent. I think I've hit a point where the quality is good overall, but some problems aren't responding the same way. I'm beginning to wonder if this is because of the way tretinoin works or if there is something I'm missing from my routine. For people who have been using tretinoin for a long time, did you find that some problems just stopped getting better with it, or were you able to fix them with changes or other methods?

I have brain fog along with constant tiredness, low motivation, and a strange lack of feeling. I'm constantly tired and mentally clouded. I don't feel as excited or engaged in things as I used to.

Even though I can still do things and get through the day, everything feels so heavy and quiet. Resting doesn't help much, coffee doesn't help much, and pushing myself makes me more tired. I am confused as to whether this is burnout, sadness, brain fog, or something else.

Others have had the same set of symptoms. How did you actually get better? Were there changes to your living, therapy, medical care, or something else? Genuine stories and advice on what worked for long-term recovery, not just short-term relief.

I have been struggling with mental dullness consistently, which manifests itself as poor attention, forgetfulness, and an inability to feel completely clear-headed. It is exhausting, but I can function, but everything requires more effort than it should, and it is.

Which of the following finally worked for you, assuming you were able to recover? Have there been multiple significant shifts, or was it a combination of them? Being able to hear about actual experiences would be really helpful.

I have been using Tretinoin every day for a long time. At first, it worked great, but now my skin seems more sensitive and unpredictable.

What I do every day right now:

AM: Cleanser → Moisturizer → Sunscreen

PM: Cleanser → Tretinoin → Moisturizer (Earlier, I also used vitamin C / exfoliating acids)

Now I think it's too much.

What should I do?

Cut back on tretinoin to a couple nights a week? Make the routine easier and focus on fixing the barrier? Stop doing anything else for now?

Trying to keep the results without making my skin angry. What worked for you after using it for a long time?

I’ve been dealing with stubborn post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation along with ongoing acne, and I’m wondering if combining azelaic acid with tretinoin could help tackle both issues. I’m curious about how others have structured their routines—like how often they used each product, in what order, and what textures or formulations worked best. Has anyone seen noticeable improvement with this combination, and how did you make it work without irritating your skin?