My journey with tretnoin!

Tretinoin is the widely used topical treatment for acne. There are a lot of videos about tretinoin too. This is my experience with tretinoin living in the environment of Kathmandu. 

I had severe acne. It consisted of big pus-y ones to small skin-colored ones. Some of them would be these teeny-tiny very white bumps that burned like hell. So I was very worried obviously and went to meet my dermatologist. 

My dermatologist suggested to me tretinoin 0.025% topical gel as an acne treatment. It costs Nrs. 155 for 20 gm. I have inserted the picture of the one that I used below.

My experience:

For the first week, I did not see any difference. I felt like my acne dried out but I was not so sure about it either. So I kept my patience.

Then the second week! I faced the driest skin of my entire life. My skin was flaking away and it burned like hell if I stepped in the sun without any sunscreen. My skin started to get super sensitive to the point that the perfume in moisturizers started to irritate me. More pimples appeared. I got worried and met my dermatologist again. She said it is normal since tretinoin peels the skin which brings out the acne underneath it. (The same technique is used to remove the wrinkles too according to my research)

The third and fourth weeks were painful too.

I started seeing differences from the fifth week. My skin cleared away. The acnes they came and dried away. The appearance of acne got lesser and my skin clearer. My tolerance for tretinoin developed as well.

It has been almost 9 months since I started using tretinoin. I took a break from it though for about 2 months in the middle of this tenure.

But all in all, it was a successful experience.

The products that I used along with it:

1. Moisturizer:
I have been using DermaMoist as a moisturizer. It is kind thick. Having combination skin I was scared to use it. Butttt It is goood! It has squalane. Squalane oil resembles very much to the oil our skin naturally produces. It does not irritate your skin at all.


2. Toner
For toner, I use the one from Nivea. It is a good toner. It is non-irritating and works well with tretinoin.







3. Face Wash
I use a face wash from Nivea too. The mud foam one of Nivea whitening and pore reducing series. It is not too harsh on skin or overdrying










4. Sunscreen
I use the sunscreen recommended by my dermatologist. It is called Sunban but I am not a big fan of it. Ray shield is one of the best sunscreens you can find out there. It is available in any pharmacy or cosmetic shops.











5. Facial Mist
This is very optional. I found it very helpful in my case. I put some of Newlook rose water with witch hazel in a spray bottle and spray it whenever my skin is irritated and burning. It helps me a lot.











6. Glycerine
When my skin is very dry. I just apply a veryy little amount of glycerine on the most affect areas(esp. mouth area, eye areas, etc) at night and let it sit overnight.

That is everything I have for you guys. Comment below if you have any confusion. I will happily answer!