Tretinoin is one of the most popular topical acne medications available. In fact, it’s the second-highest-selling brand name topical acne medication in the United States. However, what many people don’t realize is that they may be using tretinoin incorrectly. If you are not using it correctly and along with other acne-fighting skincare products, you may find your results aren’t as stellar as you would like them to be.Luckily, there are several ways to know if your tretinoin application is working – and it doesn’t need to involve testing your skin tolerance or being subjected to awkward microdermabrasion sessions to find out if you are getting satisfactory results from your treatment plan. Read on for more information about how you can tell if your tretinoin prescription is working for you and which other simple steps you can take to help increase its effectiveness.
## Always Use a sunscreen with SPF
Tretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays, so always use sunscreen when you are outside for long periods of time and when you expect to be outdoors in the sun. Even if it’s cloudy outside and you are indoors, be sure to protect your skin. UV rays can still pass through clouds, so be sure to cover your skin even if it doesn’t seem like you need it. If you have sensitive skin, you may also choose to wear a hat while you are out in the sun to protect your skin even more.
## Try exfoliating first
Although you should begin your tretinoin treatment immediately after your doctor’s visit, you should continue using the medication every single day until your treatment is over. However, it is a good idea to begin your acne treatment with an exfoliating cleanser that will help open your skin to the active ingredients in your medication. Exfoliating your face with a loofah or mild yet effective facial scrub can help your medication work more effectively on your skin. It can also reduce the amount of redness and irritation that may occur from your acne treatment. Exfoliating your face before applying your medication can reduce the risk of your medication being less effective and can increase your medication’s effectiveness by up to 30%. Exfoliating your face also removes excess oil, which can help prevent your acne from becoming more severe. If you have oily skin, it may be best to use an oil-free facial scrub that is designed to remove excess oil without causing too much irritation to your skin.
## Know the difference between dry and oily skin
If you don’t exfoliate your skin first, you may be stimulating the oil glands on your face. You may notice oil building up on your face or your T-zone (the area around your nose and mouth) after you begin taking tretinoin. This is completely normal, and you should expect to see an increase in your skin’s natural oil production for the first few weeks of treatment. If you have dry skin and begin taking tretinoin, you may experience a further reduction in the amount of moisture in your skin. This is a sign that your skin is more sensitive to the medication due to the increased oil production that is occurring in your skin. If you have oily skin, you may find that you need to exfoliate your skin to get the maximum effectiveness from your tretinoin treatment. If you are using a retinoid and have sensitive, dry skin, you may also find that you need to moisturize more frequently while using tretinoin.
## Don’t forget to apply your moisturizer
Even though you should begin using your new tretinoin prescription immediately, you should continue using it every day until your medication is completed. However, in order to get the most from your treatment, you should continue to use your moisturizer. Studies have shown that people who don’t use a moisturizer with their acne medications tend to see less positive results than those who do use one.
## Keep using your skincare routine
While you are using an acne medication, you should keep using your skincare routine. It is very common for people to discontinue their skincare products when they are trying to clear their skin of acne. However, this can result in your skin becoming even more sensitive to the sun’s rays. When trying to clear your skin of acne, it is important to keep using your skincare products. If you stop using your acne products, your skin may become even more irritated and more susceptible to developing acne.
## Conclusion
Acne is the most common skin problem in the United States. Many people believe that they have to suffer in silence when they have acne, but this is not the case at all. With the right treatment, you can clear up your acne and regain your confidence in no time. Now, it is important to know how to identify when your tretinoin is working. You can do this by taking note of how your skin looks and feels each day once you start your treatment. Of course, you will need to keep using the products that your dermatologist prescribed for you so that you can continue to see results.
When you are able to track your results, you will be better prepared to find out if your tretinoin is working for you. You can also use these tips to help you make sure your treatment is effective.
