Tips – How to apply prescription topicals containing retinoids

By Dr. Matete Mathobela3 min read

Retinoids or combination treatments with retinoids can irritate the skin. Correct use will maximise effectiveness and limit skin reactions.

  1. Use at night (ALWAYS). Cleanse your skin and pat dry.
    Apply eye cream or barrier cream around the eyes to protect the delicate skin of the eyes from retinoid irritation.
    Wait 15 – 20 minutes before applying because if your skin is at all damp, the retinol will be able to absorb more deeply into your skin and might cause irritation.
    We want to apply moisturizers and serums to slightly damp skin, but never retinol.

  2. Apply a pea-sized amount to the whole face.

  3. Gently massage all over the entire area, not just spots. Avoid eyes, around the mouth and nostrils.

  4. Use 3 times a week to start with (Mon, Wed and Fri) for a month

    Then follow with alternative nights for a month (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, Tues, Thurs, Sat etc)

    Use every night from the start of the third month

  5. Consider applying a moisturizer 10 minutes or more after the retinoid.

  6. If you develop any irritation or stinging, stop treatment for 1-3 days, cleanse and moisturize in the meantime, and then restart your topical medication applying it for 30 to 60 minutes for a few days and washing it off, following with a moisturizer before leaving it on for more prolonged time intervals.

  7. Make application part of your daily routine by placing medications where you can easily see them, using around the same time every day, and setting up self-reminders on your phone

  8. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen every morning, always advisable and beneficial to reapply your sunscreen during the course of the day as retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun.

Did you know?

  1. Retinoids cause skin cells to turn over at a faster rate, decrease oil production, and help skin exfoliate?

  2. Retinol could help eliminate dark spots, shrink pimples, and smooth out fine lines while keeping new wrinkles from appearing.

  3. There is a transition period called retinization.

For the first couple of weeks, you might experience redness, dryness, peeling, and light breakouts.

This is normal. Don’t quit. There is a saying that if you don’t get a little bit of dryness from a retinoid, there’s something wrong with the retinoid.

Most people do adjust to it [within] four to five weeks. If you stop in the middle of the retinization process, you’ll just have to go through the process all over again if you try retinol again.

If you are having a tough time adjusting to retinol, make sure to use a moisturizer or oil at the same time to minimize the dryness.

  1. By using a retinoid at night, together with vitamin C and sunscreen in the morning you are not only treating your acne but reversing or preventing premature aging and pigmentation.

More blogs