Why Tretinoin is best to use at night?

Why Tretinoin is best to use at night?
Manoj Kumar Published : Feb 04, 2024 Last Updated : Feb 07, 2024

Still looking for the most effective, affordable, and easy to use medication that prevents acne and decreases the signs of aging? If yes, then it’s time for you to use Tretinoin. 

You can experience decreased levels of acne on your face by using Tretinoin 0.5% gel regularly for almost 12 weeks. On the other hand, daily use of this medication can also provide relief from wrinkles and other facial skin aging signs.

No matter whether you are using tretinoin cream for acne prevention or anti-aging reasons, it is important for you to use it effectively as directed by the doctor.

Tretinoin is considered a powerful and effective retinoid that is capable of offering noticeable and lasting results in a short time.

In patients with melasma, topical 0.1% tretinoin produces significant clinical improvement.

Why use tretinoin at night?

Tretinoin, the active ingredient in Retin-A often stops working in sunlight. This is the reason, doctors recommend using tretinoin at night before going to bed.

You need to know that there is nothing wrong with using Tretinoin each night. The doctor will first recommend applying tretinoin every 2-3 nights in order to decrease irritation and side effects. Also, this will help your skin to adjust to the medicine.

After the first few weeks of using tretinoin, the skin irritation linked with this medicine also starts to decrease. It is always better to start slow and then increase the usage after 1-2 weeks as your skin starts to tolerate the current usage of Tretinoin.

When required, you must also use plenty of tretinoin-friendly moisturizer along with effective sunscreen to keep your skin calm. If you experience irritation then take a break from the treatment or call the doctor about lowering the strength of tretinoin.

When starting the treatment with tretinoin, make sure you listen to your skin and go at your own speed.

What tretinoin will do for your skin?

If you are using Tretinoin for the first time then you might experience some retinoid side effects and your first few weeks can also be rough.

Tretinoin works by intensifying your skin cell turnover which means you might experience some blooming pimples; layers of dead skin cells will be pulled out and your skin will feel raw and irritated.   

You might feel from inside that you have made a bad decision to start the treatment with tretinoin. But give tretinoin for some time as these symptoms disappear after some time. By removing the dead skin cells, tretinoin will make your skin clear, smooth as well as fresh looking. 

How tretinoin is applied correctly?

Before applying the medication, wash your face using a gentle cleanser and then allow your skin to dry for 20-30 minutes. Using tretinoin on wet skin will allow the medicine to penetrate and increase the risk of side effects. 

Take a pea-sized amount of tretinoin and apply it all around your face by dotting it in an equal amount. Make sure you avoid the areas present around your eyes and lips. Rub tretinoin for a few seconds to absorb fully in the skin before applying lotion or cream. 

After 20 minutes, apply a gentle moisturizer to keep your skin calm and hydrated at the same time.

Choose the right strength of tretinoin cream

It is important to know that tretinoin cream and gel are available in different strengths right from .01% to .1% formulations. Though tretinoin is a safe medicine but when applied on the skin, it can cause some side effects.

The most common side effects of tretinoin include dry skin, irritation, and peeling. When you start the treatment for the first time, these side effects are common. 

In case, you want to decrease the risk of experiencing these side effects then start your treatment with low or mid-strength tretinoin cream.

Remember finding the right strength of this medicine is vital to treat your skin issues like acne, skin sensitivity, and others. Consult the doctor and then start your treatment with tretinoin to experience amazing benefits.

Avoid side effects by slowly increasing the usage of tretinoin

In case, all the skin adjustments are worrying you a little bit for the first few weeks of a treatment then it is better to start slow as this will aid in reducing the side effects.

After the first day of treatment, skip one or two days which means you need to apply this medication every second or third day. Once 1-2 weeks pass, check how your skin is reacting and if it is tolerating the dosage properly then start using this medicine every other day or regularly.

You need to gradually increase the dose or how often you use Tretinoin unless you start using it at night every day. When your skin is able to tolerate the medication every night, continue with it. It is crucial to stick to the frequency that keeps your skin away from irritation.

How to deal with the side effects of tretinoin?

Experiencing side effects from tretinoin is uncommon but you might experience them during the first few days of the usage. As your skin adjusts to the medication, you can experience some side effects. 

Here are some easy steps that can help you to deal with the side effects of tretinoin:

  • Strictly avoid spending time in the sun. tretinoin is responsible for making your skin more sensitive to light during the first weeks of treatment.
  • Moisturize your skin immediately, if you experience dry skin. While applying tretinoin, you can use moisturizer but not one that contains alcohol or ingredients like benzoyl peroxide.   
  • Avoid applying excessive amounts of tretinoin cream and follow the instructions of the doctor on how much you require. To cover your entire face, you only need to use a pea-sized amount of medication.
  • While using tretinoin, do not undergo laser, waxing, or chemical treatments strictly.

Thus, tretinoin or A ret gel 0.1% is a prescription medicine that can do wonders for your skin, if used under the supervision of a doctor.