u/gesoutla

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?

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?

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'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 have been using Tretinoin for almost a year now, and I think my skin is "good," but I'm not sure how to keep it that way without messing it up. Before, I was mostly worried about getting rid of acne and rough skin. Now, though, I'm more concerned about maintaining the results steady without putting too much stress on my skin.

Routine right now:

Am: Cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen

PM: Cleanser, Tretinoin, and Moisturizer

I don't want to keep pushing actives if I don't have to. Right now, the goal is just to have skin that is stable and healthy and doesn't hurt.

How are you all handling your regimen after using it for a long time?

I've been using tretinoin every day for nearly a year, and I'm starting to think that using it less often could be better for my skin.

My skin is stable, but it constantly feels a little dry or sensitive, and that never goes away completely. Some customers have said that their skin looked calmer and healthier when they used it less often, like every other day instead of every day.

For those who have attempted this: Did your skin become better when you cut back on tretinoin? And how did you figure out the proper amount of time without losing results?

My skin is always smooth, clear, and much more solid than it used to be after using tretinoin for a long time. I have noticed, though, that some deeper problems, especially stubborn pigmentation, haven't gotten much better even though I've been consistent. Though the quality is generally good, some problems aren't reacting the same way anymore. I'm starting to wonder if this is because of the way tretinoin works or if there's something I'm missing from my routine. People who have used tretinoin for a long time: Did you find that some problems stopped getting better when you stopped taking it, or were you able to fix them with changes or other methods?

I'm going through this right now and I don't know what happened.

I've been using Tretinoin for a long time. My skin was alright with it at first, but now even small things bother it.

Every day, I do this:

AM: Cleanser → Moisturizer → Sunscreen

PM: Cleanser → Tretinoin → Moisturizer

Now I'm curious

1.Has my skin become more sensitive as time has gone on?

2.Should I not use it as often?

3.Or should I make my routine easier and work on getting rid of obstacles?

What helped you when this first started?

Now that I've been taking tretinoin for a long time, my skin is always clear, smooth, and much more reliable than it used to be. It was nice to see early progress, but now it seems like things have reached a plateau. It's almost like I've hit a ceiling with how good my face stays, but it's not really getting better. Still, I see little things that bother me, like a little uneven tone or fine lines that don't seem to change much. I don't know if this is the most that tretinoin can naturally do over time, or if the right changes could still get better results. Those who have used it for a long time: Did you find a way to get past this stage? If not, is this normal?