Can i exfoliate while using retin a

You can do this for as long as you like, but I wouldn't rub for more than a minute. The idea is to help the "ready" flakes shed and to encourage the other ones to shed as well, not to rub your face raw.

If you overdo this "palm massage," your skin may turn red and sting when you put on moisturizer, so be careful! When it comes to skin, it's always safer to under-do something than over-do it. If you want to exfoliate while you're on retinoids because the particular retinoid you're using isn't strong enough, then you should probably bump up to the next percentage strength if that strength ends up being too much, you can always jump back down. If you don't want to move up in strength, you can give your retinoid some extra oomph by using a BHA or AHA product immediately before applying your retinoid.

The acidity of the BHA or AHA will help increase a retinoid's penetration, but it does depend on the formulation of the product. For example, if you use a lotion, the emollients in the lotion might end up buffering the retinoid more than the AHA or BHA help to increase its penetration.

After the adjustment effects have passed, you can start to think about adding exfoliants, lotions and other products to your skincare routine. For the first few weeks, hold tight and focus on the tretinoin alone.

After a month or two, you will notice an improvement. Another good approach is to avoid using chemical exfoliants and simply use a soft, damp cloth to clear your face of dead or flaky skin. Avoid exfoliating using abrasive objects like body stones, which can potentially irritate your skin. If you do choose to use an exfoliant with tretinoin, avoid using it too frequently.

A good strategy is to begin by exfoliating once per week, then increase to twice per week at most if your skin is smooth, healthy and irritation-free after a few weeks of tretinoin usage. Finally, make sure you avoid over-exfoliating.

On its own, tretinoin can make your skin significantly dryer, especially during the first few weeks or months of treatment. If your skin is overly dry, you can use a moisturizer alongside tretinoin to manage dryness and prevent your skin from peeling. However, there are a wide variety of exfoliation options, and some may be more abrasive than others. Exfoliators that are more abrasive are made of ingredients such as apricot kernels, walnut shells and pumice stones.

Each of these consists of irregularly shaped edges that can effect delicate capillaries on the face, causing redness and even a bruised appearance.

Exfoliator ingredients that are more mild to the skin include jojoba, which is a natural exfoliator and is regular in shape. Other exfoliators that contain enzymes, such as papain, are less irritating to the skin, as they also soften as they exfoliate.

Mid-level exfoliators that can be irritating, but less so than the above-mentioned products include alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids, both of which have been shown to irritate delicate or sensitive skin. That said, if your skin is extremely dry or sensitive, you may want to consider an oil- or cream-based cleanser, which will help moisturize the skin.

And if your skin is oily or acne-prone, a cleanser containing salicylic acid can help cut down on grease and breakouts. In fact, exfoliation removes the outer layers of dead skin cells, helping to brighten and smooth the face, even out pigmentation, unclog pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Dr.

Bridges explains. There are generally two ways to go about exfoliating: physical manual and chemical. With physical exfoliation, you use a tool, such as a brush, a sponge, or a face scrub, to mechanically remove the dead skin cells, Dr. Lipner says. Meanwhile, with chemical exfoliation, chemicals including lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acid gently dissolve the cells.

Although exfoliation has been mainstream for years, some experts advise against it. Lipner notes that these products can cause irritation or make symptoms worse for those with eczema or sensitive skin. Chien, M. If you still plan to exfoliate, do it right after cleansing, either in the morning or evening. The frequency depends on the specific product and your skin. However, to be safe, start with once a week and see how it goes, Dr. Chien advises. If you find that your chosen method of exfoliation is too intense, you can try easing up on the pressure of your manual exfoliator or opting for a gentler chemical exfoliant like lactic acid or a PHA instead.

Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A compounds that have shown to be effective at treating acne as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Dr.