It’s so bad I definitely can’t go out in public. and my derm suggested i switch off the aczone and duac every night so as to adjust to the aczone. I started on new years so currently it has just been over three weeks since I’ve switched skincare routines. I made an appnt. James, thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, my normal skin is now extremely dry. Hello Gio, I have been recommended Medic8 by a friend. I heard retinol shouldn’t be mixed with L-Ascorbic acid (which drunk elephant day serum has.). And I’m prescribed with pero bar (a benzoyl peroxide cleansing bar). GH Beauty Lab tests confirm that this Neutrogena day cream, a GH Seal star and test winner, both… Breakout Vs Purging: What’s The Difference? Exfoliates would cause purging since they scrub off skin cells that expose what’s underneath. Many thanks for all your advise. Is there an email we can contact you on for specific skin care advice? I’m broken out all over my chest, upper back and the back of my neck. I now feel the need to wear mineral makeup every day to cover the acne. Clears clogged pores: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, retinol can serve as an effective blemish-fighting treatment. Question. Unfortunately tretinoin after causes purging so it’ll be worse for a while before it gets better. I’ve noticed that I break out in the summer sometimes (but not every year) and this summer has been the worst ever. I just bought all the lines from Paula’s choice. A breakout can last for up to six weeks. The result? A313) after visiting France. I talk to people all day in my job andn so self conscious. Usually, when you start using retinoids and acids, it is normal to experience purging. They also had me do a complete overhaul of skin care products. I am about 20 days in and I am really really starting to give up. . Like and subscribe for more motivation and inspiration!! How long does it take to get over the peeling and so forth from retinol? Wait 5 mins for the tretinoin to settle, then apply a small pea size of the Dapsone to face/acne areas. What do I do to regain my glowing skin within the shortest possible time?? this one is less than $30 and has really good reviews, thats why I bought it but I am open to other choices. I have gotten up to every 3 nights and move on to every 2 days next week. Dalia, so sorry to hear about your situation. My doctor put me on birth control and now after 5 months my skin is back to normal. I started using Neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair, and sure enough, I am breaking out again. Call your doctor if skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks. Stacey, oh no! The first 2 weeks my skin was flaky and really dry but no irritation. My research then led me here. Retin A Before and After Acne. I have been breaking out quite badly but I have read many articles about the purge so I’ve been keeping faith that this will be over soon. And you’re not your acne. Retinol can help treat acne, but not the red and inflamed kind (http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/the-complete-guide-to-retinol/) so it may indeed be the serum that’s making your skin act up like that. Amy, is it the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution? For two weeks, my skin was red, dry, and weirdly furry. It is just a skin reaction to the unsuitable product. If you are using Retin-A to treat acne, your condition may get slightly worse for a short time when you first start using the medication. Do you know if it contains any comedogenic ingredients? Btw my skin type is sensitive and dry/combination. I disagree that the whole purging proces is not a myth. I bought this to get a head start on wrinkles and fine lines and my pores before i turn 30. In today's post, I'm doing a 5-Year Retin-A Update showing results on wrinkles in Before & After photos. I’d also cut back on frequency for a while. Went back to the Dr and was told exactly the process my skin was going through and started back using it and I have never stopped because once my skin cleared up after “the purge” it has been clear and my pores have been minimized. Or is rarin a the reason for those tiny bumps. I seem to be still getting red bumps only on one side of my face which is the side the is sun damaged with pigmentations and scarring from acne 20 years ago and the other side is fairly clear and don’t seem to break out with the retinol as much. Benzoyl Peroxide VS Salicylic Acid: Which One Should You Choose? Leahe, retinol should help decrease the oil, not the opposite. I didn’t toss it, but I stopped using it. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum) or anything with acne-fighting salicylic acid (like Clinique Acne … I know that some prescription retinoids also contain isopropyl myrystate, an ingredient that never fails to break me out too. Imanp, it’s likely a purge. If a breakout, stop using it immediately. I guess that happens. Julianna, I’m not sure why you would use a retinoid for milia? That said, you can totally get the same results with other run-of-the-mill products (such as Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment, $79). That’s what makes you truly beautiful. The product claims not to clog pores. I’ve already replied by email but let me know if you need anything else. ... And the congested pores on my nose looked a lot smaller too. I am very diligent with washing my face in the morning and at night. It just needs to make it worse first. thanks! Since starting the Tretinoin, her skin appears to have gotten worse with more severe acne. Some people just can’t use it at all. When the skin heals, you can reintroduce it starting with lower doses and with 1-2 applications a week. I’d try one of their Granactive Retinoid in Squalane formulas. It works by increasing cell turnover. I wasn’t sure if it was the retinol or the base of the serum (I think it has grapeseed oil, so I thought that might be the culprit). So I just said screw it and went back to my nightly routine that I mentioned before and mornings I just washed, toner, lotion and serum (no benzoyl peroxide) and added retinol just as a spot treatment and my skin is still horrible! I guess more than anything I want to know that I’m not alone and that it will get better! Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide exfoliate skin, getting rid of the dead cells that would otherwise end up in your pores and clog them up. My night time is Tatchas cleanser then niamicide by ordinary then retinol then moisturizer. Of course, that doesn’t mean there can’t be something else in the product that causes breakouts. I wanted to still do the resting days so I bought the big clear acne kit and the big skin balancing kit and then the a ton of extra products like the c15 super booster, another serum, and another hydrator. I recently added retinol to my face routine(i just turned 27) and I wanted to be on top my skin before it’s too late, I’m prone to acne but when I started to use retinol it made me break out(small red pimples and lots of white heads)I work in the cosmetics I industry so I’m a little more vain about these things lol , I wanted to stop the retinol because of this , but should I push through and wait for it to clear up? But, I agree, with everything else you said. Leaves skin looking firm and hydrated. Acne before and after retinol Retinol may take several weeks to produce results, and may need other medications and skin cleansers to help treat severe acne . I’m glad you’ve found something else that suits your skin better. In another words, retinol isn’t causing the problem. If this is purging then im going to stick to the retinol but if its not I really don’t want to. Hi Gio. Mercy, sorry to hear about your problem. Does The Ordinary Skincare work? Did retinol “make” your breakout? Since then, I’ve never looked back, and now use retinol regularly. Sasa, yes it’s possible to experience purging from retinol. Remember that the Retin-A acne diagnosis or treatment is coaxing the acne from your skin. Why is Retin-A making my acne worse? Monica, it really is the best. Hang in there, it should be over soon. Yes! Acne can really rob you of your self-esteem. Did have a couple of bumps pop up but them seem to clear visibly within 3 days. It gets rid of old and damaged skin cells and replaces than with new, smoother cells. i am also using isispharma teen derm morning and night. Her before-and-after pic of her skin shows her previously broken out, acne-prone face before retinol, along with her clear, smooth, bright skin after using retinol. Related: Breakout Vs Purging: What’s The Difference? It’s annoying as hell but totally normal. Practically, it’s not as common as retinyl palmitate is less powerful than other forms of vitamin A. I have always had relatively good skin, but had a random breakout of whiteheads (closed comedones) on my forehead back in March. In between the first two treatment I used it once a week. Good Morning, My daughter 15 year old daughter was recently put on Tretinoin .5% to help with her breakouts. I also bought a spin brush from vanity planet and here’s the big kicker…I barely ever wear liquid make up! Always wait at least 15-30 minutes after cleansing and applying any other skin care products to your skin before you apply tretinoin to help reduce peeling and dryness. Typically, a purge can last up to 6 weeks. Topical tretinoin is a generic form of the acne medication Retin-A. Try using a salicylic acid exfoliant every morning and night right after cleansing. Try switching to another retinol treatment and see if it helps. Sooo…now I’m just hoping for the best. Shruti, I’ve found your comment! Nia 24 Intensive Retinol Repair. I have oily combination skin. What about retinyl palmitate? I currently just use PC’s Antioxidant Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Serum which has some retinol in it I believe. Sorry this Skinceuticals cream didn’t work for you. ), RELATED: The Internet Is Obsessed With This “Miracle” Acne Cure. Chelsea, sometimes it can be difficult to tell what causes the breakout, especially if you’re prone to them. I use Synergie B serum in the morning with with the zinc based sunscreen. I used it for a while and it went to trash as it caused me clogged pores and acne (along with strong exfoliation). But then, I don’t have acne. Jenny, yes, retinol should help. If this is happening to you right now, calm down. after all it is my first time with Retinol. My face is pretty clear now except for my forehead, which has had small skin colored bumps all over that come and go. I had a perfect regimen for my face. The regular skin trial. Will retinol help with this? The real tragedy is the acne on my cheeks/lower jaw. Broke me out even more! I usually get sent an email when someone posts a comment so I can reply quickly, but this time it didn’t happen. I dont ever wear makeup. A bad first experience with The Ordinary’s retinol 1% brought me here. I am guessing this is retinol a way of balancing my skin, but not sure. Hi! Amy, after 6 weeks, the worst should be over. I’m thinking of trying a retinol to help clear this issue, but I don’t know what to get and what dosage since it would be my first time using it. Hi I ‘ve been using retino a 0.025 for 6 weeks now. Any advice!!? So I returned it all and went and got a facial. Skin Concerns so i started on differin gel 0.1 sometime in oct. it hasnt been long but im seeing quite a lot of improvements from my previous, where i was so disgusted by my multiple close comedones/small bumps on the sides of my face. My ugliest retinol uglies were from prescription 0.05 percent tretinoin by Actavis. Hang in there and get yourself a bottle of salicylic acid. If someone is breaking out, then perhaps they are wearing it during the day or not washing their face in the morning or just sensitive to the Retinol and need to use it every third night until they get used to it. ", There is one thing to be wary of though re retinol: it can cause slight irritation at first, so if you decide to try it out – start small (a pea-sized amount a couple of times a week should do it! I think this was a reaction to the tretinoin break. There are many Retin A before and after acne testimonials on the web and in magazines. Stop using it until the breakouts go away and then reintroduce it slowly. How long will the breakouts last? I started using prescription Retin-A 5 years ago when I turned 50. But it can be so harsh at first. Thank you for your help! I can ten try reintroducing gradually. Valerie, oh no, sorry to hear that! I went from one or two pimples normally to severe and I mean severe acne from this, it’s so bad most people think it’s one big rash but up close you can see thousands of white heads and pumps, aswell wind burn feeling and my nose is like stiff like a weird dry. I use the tretinoin every other day. If you’re not comfortable with tretinoin, you can start with a small concentration of retinol to give your skin time to get used to vitamin A (tretinoin is a higher strength of retinol) and see how it goes. My entire face has taken 20 steps backwards. Then I use hyaluronic acid from the ordinary after the Retinol (I wet my face with rose water and regular water before applying as your skin should be wet when you apply hyaluronic acid) and then I moisturize. Allie, you can find my contact info here: https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/contact/, I used Retin A for 6 weeks. Sharmeen, check out this post for the best retinol products for beginners: https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/strength-retinol-need/. However, I still had some hyperpigmentation and occasional breakouts so I started using the A-pasioni from drunk elephant along with the protini moisturizer and slaii cleanser. My skin broke out soooooo bad! I have read your entire blog and find it most informative – I recently started using the Go Pure system and got small red spots tender if touched and think I need to hold off the nightly Retinol and just use it every 3rd night until my skin gets use to it – your opinion would be appreciated – I did stop the Retinol all together and the red tender places went away all together – so should I start back only using every 2nd or 3rd night? Does it have salicylic acid? Im losing hope How long is this purging period going to last? Needless to say i felt like curling up and going to sleep in a dark room for a month or forever ….. Tania, it’s a fairly basic moisturizer but it does contain enough retinol to work. Im thinking i am putting too much retinol on my face and should dial it back to once a week because I have been using it almost every night. My skin was doing well during the first 2 weeks, but then i suddenly had a breakout. When I stopped (almost immediately) the breakouts went away. I have read the entire blog and I have researched if it’s normal to purge with tretinoin cream and I am so confused (very overwhelming reading all these different opinions)! I just wanted to say thank you for posting this. If your skin is prone to them, chances are your pores are already quiet clogged and would erupt in a breakout later on. Also, take into account that there is a small percentage of people who have extreme reactions to even the lowest dosages and who should avoid it altogether. It is sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal and get rid of sebaceous material blocking the follicles. My skin condition is getting worse day by day. After this I used nightly as suggested by my derm, a week and a half after finishing the treatment I broke out majorly. The fact that it goes away after a while is more the result of your skin getting used to it than the purging being completed. Hi Ezgi, sorry to hear that! She puts her incredible results down to one simple product. I am not happy with how my skin looks right now, but it is nowhere near as bad as what some people have been describing on this and other sites. Any recommendations? how can I get my natural skin back . The occasional pimple here and there at that time of month. Find out more, here. If there aren’t any, you won’t have to deal with it. Is all this going to scar? I also use dermalogica exfoliant once a week – should I exfoliate twice a week now? Retinol is just bringing to the surface what would have appeared there anyway, just later. Then why do I have more pimples than ever?!”. I need some help i have bin using ratin a from 6 weeks now.it has improved acne on chicks but skin is still red and irritating but suddenly there are so many tiny bumps on my forehead and i dont know wat caused it and m worried should i continue usin ratin a on my forehead or should i stop. So I used to use all drug store products. pls help, Insia, please check out this guide for the difference between a breakout and a purge: https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/purging-breakout-difference/. because the hormonal comedonal acne on my forehand was severe, along with hormonal acne along my jaw line and cheeks. So I stopped using it and replaced it with the Paula’s Choice 1% retinol booster mixed into the Paula’s Choice Resist skin hydrator. Should i discontinue using it. It may be that this form of vitamin A is too gentle for you. It’s skinceuitcals .3% retinol. Retinol is such a powerful antiaging ingredient, why not use it all over your face? In the pictures below you can see the benefits of retin a in both anti aging, and acne reduction. I just wanted to comment because I was a little confused. I’m now on week 6 and my skin is fairly clean but I am still getting tiny whiteheads (no puss, red skin, infection, irritation) on forehead and blackheads on my nose. I have started using ‘The Orginal Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion’ in order to get rid of my milia, however it had caused lots of pimples all around my face especially on my chin (I think acne) which has never happened before because I have always had clear skin (except from milia). Retinol is not for everyone, and if you experience any serious side effects, you should definitely stop using it. 2 questions : Do you know this brand, and does it have any comedogenic ingredients? Both retinol, AHAs and BHA can exfoliate skin and/or accelerate cellular turnover, which is why I believe the purging myth is no myth. He was very clear that my skin would get worse before better. I used to use a Benzoyl wash, but weaned myself off of it when my skin seemed to clear up with a change in my birth control pill. Claire, it’s hard to tell for sure, but sounds like a purge. Maybe that’s the problem. So, if you use retinol/ tretinoin and get a lot of breakouts or your skin gets very dry and cracked, take a step back and give up on it for a while. I fear increasing large open pores. Share your experience in the comments below. I’ve done quite a bit of research on the matter and I got the impression that the ” purging” is your skin’s reaction to being confronted with a very harsh substance, one that, if not used with caution can lead to extreme dryness. Either way, stop using it immediately and get yourself a salicylic acid exfoliant. Benzyl Peroxide and Tretinoin help each other, but do not use Salicylic acid if you’re using Tretinoin. Neither form is one that you want to see on your face. Skin experts say that retinol is the best product for anti aging .. so I’m going to keep on using it . Because I had a wedding coming up, I was prescribed a steroid cream which calmed everything down in a couple of days (I was only on the steroids for 3 days). So I took a break and have been using Cerave Moisturizing Cream at night to repair and then I will do the retinol twice a week instead I was doing it 5 days in a row so I think I used to much in the beginning. I know that the adjustment period of Retin-A can be very difficult and it is a shame that your doctor didn’t prepare you for it and warned you this might happen. Also, when you say to keep using it for a month, do you mean a month with everyday use? Janet, yes unfortunately it is normal. Hello, WORLD! In post titled, ‘Hard work and retinol rlly makes a difference,’ Reddit user Egotr4p shared a side-by-side snap of her skin before-and-after using the product.And the results are pretty darn impressive, to say the least. What are your thoughts? It’s obvious that your skin doesn’t like the changes you made, but you tried so many different products in such a short space of time, it’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly is causing the problem. Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Hi Gia, I recently started using 1.0 retinol by the ordinary, I worked upto this one from the 0.2 retinol from them. Go back to basics. Before The NeoStrata ProSystem Retinol Peel. It is exactly what happened when I started using it years ago and when I stopped and started again. Glowy, dewy, fresh looking skin in a matter of months (with regular use. Is it possible my skin and retin a just don’t get along? By Jessica Migala This breakout should last a month, 6 weeks tops. I see how people give up on it so quickly as it certainly made my acne worse, but your post has encouraged me to continue and see how things are going at 6 weeks. Retinol speeds up this natural exfoliating process. I’ve recently purchased the Paula’s Choice 1% retinol boost, so I think i’ll switch to that and see how I fare. I believe the Isolaz is supposed to bring any blemishes up to the surface and salicylic peel should rid your face of any impurities etc. So I am 29. But the purging shouldn’t last more than one month. sorry if i rambled, im just so sad about the status of my face right now and im wondering if you have any insight about this? I had tried retin-a years ago for acne. Why You Should Stick With Retinol Even If It Makes You Breakout (And What To Do About It). Due to its low potency, it is available for purchase OTC, however this makes it an accessible, affordable treatment for anyone seeking treatment. Thank you for your time I await your response. ? That’s what your skin needs to get rid of the whiteheads now. Both retinoids and benzoyl peroxide are pretty harsh ingredients so it’s normal your skin would need some time to get used to them. Hi. The first thing though is to deal with acne so definitely salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide as you were doing in the beginning. Unfortunately, Differin often makes things way worse before it makes them better. But I’m still on that pill and my skin is a mess again. DON’T USE SALICYLIC ACID WITH TRETINOIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, not every day. (x1, x2 a week) I slowly worked up to it, diluting the retinol with moisturizer, etc..but my forehead is covered with tiny tiny bumps now and I’m scared to continue. Make sure that whatever product you try doesn’t contain these comedogenic ingredients or you’ll get even more pimples: http://beautifulwithbrains.com/2009/06/10/what-ingredients-are-comedogenic/. If it worked well for you in the past, there’s no reason to assume it’d fail you now. Retinol CAN help clear up your acne. Thank you! I’ve been given Isotrex, do you think I will experience an initial breakout as I’ve just gone to a stronger retinol? But if you have oily or acne-prone skin, chances are a breakout is already brewing underneath the surface of your skin. Also what is your opinion of the Go Pure product? Retinol doesn’t break out, but this silicone-heavy cream by SkinCeuticals definitely does. I could not find a single article to suport this statement. I definitely need advice and my derm is not very reassuring when I ask her. Cristina, I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I had happily gotten my skin care regimen down to simply soap once, sometimes twice, a day and lotion. If you have dry or normal skin, all’s good. I started using it daily about 2 weeks ago (whoops.. didn’t know that I should build up gradually) and have broken out in deep, red, painful spots on my chin and forehead that seem to continuously spread and fill up with sebum. The picture above the word “after” is you with acne. I never needed it before so now I’m looking into getting some but I’m not trying to make my face worse. I feel so ashamed of my appearance right now. I had only just started and a couple weeks in, I had to stop for about a week. Hi, I'm Gio! Thanks for the advice, once Im more resistant to retinol, i will switch for the paulas choice serum. Purging happens when there are breakouts brewing underneath your skin. I see it has soybean oil. I don’t have 6 months or even 6 weeks to wait. Hey, so I’m 24 and started experiencing hormonal acne this past year. I know you want to throw that retinol cream in the bin, but hear me out first. I am afraid that if I start using this cream, I will make things so much worse. What should I do now. ), Full disclosure, Egotr4p also changed up her diet. It’ll help the acne heal faster. Please guide me. The breakouts have been in my T-zone, especially on my forehead, where I am normally most acne prone. 3.Retin A Before & After Pictures These are actual Retin A (retinol) users. Sydney, please, don’t feel ashamed. I have started with 0.3% twice a week for 2 weeks, then every other night for another 2 weeks. Do you think it may have been a reaction to that? Hey beautiful babes!! It seems like there is one zit a week now, so frustrating. A friend of mine recently had extremely clogged pores after years of using Retin-A Micro. Or do you have to use it over your entire face? My skin is combination, and I usually get the odd zit before my period but it’s definitely increased after starting the retinol. That way, if your skin reacts badly, you’ll know what to avoid. Yet, retinol is not known to cause breakouts. Once you’ve done this, you can gently introduce salicylic acid to clear up the breakouts. But unlike the majority of the ‘solutions' out there, this one has some actual cred. This is my first 3 month Tretinoin cream review. That one is very well formulated too, and, hopefully, will be more suitable for your skin type. Anything longer than that, you know there must be something else causing it. Hi, So I’ve had fairly decent skin for a while and just a random pimple during the TOTM – my dermo told me to use Soskin C-Vital which has retinol and vit C in it combined. This period should last between 4 and 6 weeks. My skin got smoother but my pimples just keeps on popping out literally anywhere. after all it is my first time with Retinol. Ita, those are definitely possibilities. I usually have clear skin so this is so frustrating! Sorry this is long! I was put on Spironolactone to reduce the amount of oil my body produces as my face would be slick with sebum after an hour of waking up. The picture above the word “before” is you with clear skin. Because they have medical grade levels of ingredients, they felt it was best to switch me over. or is there a better choice? Hi! Hey! I also started to break out in areas that I usually don’t including nose and forehead. Also: Before you experiment with a retinol for acne, consider seeing a dermatologist to make sure you know exactly what you’re dealing with. Now I feel like I have to be all high maintenance again. A Passioni is one of the most powerful retinoids out there and can make your skin worse before it makes it better. That’s awful! In time you can increase both the percentage of retinol and the frequency of usage. Stop the retinol and any other ingredient that could irritate skin, including glycolic acid and vitamin C, if you’re using them. The spots I had 4 weeks ago are gone, and the ones that remain are ones that purged later, so that seems to be an indication that it is indeed working, although the redness is a bit extreme. Perhaps there is something in it making me break out. Retin-A is a highly concentrated, topical retinol used to address a range of skin concerns—most notably acne, but also wrinkles and uneven skin tone. 3. My derm prescribed tretinoin .025% to start using every 3rd night, but after everything i have read online, I am TERRIFIED to use it. Claire, if the breakouts appear on areas where you usually breakout, it’s probably a purge. Maybe there was something else in the formula that trigger it. Hi, I just started with Retinol, it is my second day with Roc Retinol Correxion deep wrinkle night cream, I already got 3 pimples, I guess I will stop for a couple of days before the next time I apply the cream. It didn’t make me breakout, but it did dry my skin at first because it’s so strong. It can make your skin more prone to sun damage. Logan, sorry for my late reply. You are wrong. Salicylic acid gets inside the pores and removes all the crap that clogs them out and causes breakouts. Could your skin just be getting used to a product and I need to break it in a bit slower? Hi Hannah, glad to hear the retinol serum is helping somewhat. But never during the day. William, so sorry to hear that. At what point do you suggest that it be looked as a reaction outside of the “normal” when adding retinol and doing such a huge change in products? I’ve never had acne this bad. Therefore I believe the purge is incorrect. I’m guessing the breakout stage is over now? Sophie, you’re not deformed. By speeding up the exfoliating process, retinol unveils it much sooner. More oily. I have no idea. So many studies support its anti-aging properties. Do you know? As frustrating as it is, Retin-A treatment can make your acne worse before it makes it better. If after that your skin isn’t clear, it’s time to ditch it. My derma prescribed me with tretinoin. In post titled, ‘Hard work and retinol rlly makes a difference,’ Reddit user Egotr4p shared a side-by-side snap of her skin before-and-after using the product. Just wondering if the comedones that we’re there prior to using are starting to reveal themselves. Not everything works for everyone *sighs* But I’m glad you’ve found something that works now. If not, the culprit is probably glycine soya oil, which is in the Skinmedica product. The breakouts should disappear within a couple of weeks but you can try using a leave-in exfoliant with salicylic acid to speed up the process. I really am thinking about throwing in the towel because it’s awful. I’m so frustrated. 1 to 1 and 1/2 weeks in or so, things may have started to clear up, slowly, not so sure, but that week and half in, my skin started to peel and easily burn (from my usual facecloth routine). It just brings to the surface now what would naturally have appeared one or two weeks later. Give it a month and see if it gets better. Kendra, yes, I love the serum: http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/the-ordinary-advanced-retinoid-serum/. In the meantime, use a salicylic acid based exfoliant to get rid of those you already have. I didn’t have access to my usual salicylic acid facewash for the couple days before I broke out, so I used some random clean and clean morning burst. I have some breakouts, hoping that the’purging’ period will soon come to an end. I keep reading that this is to be expected; even my doctor said it takes time for these ingredients to work. Is it normal to keep breaking out being on the 3 week? These are the only two exfoliants that can help your cysts heal faster. Anything longermore than that, you’re breaking out. thanks so much!! What should I do?? Still, switching to Paula’s serum is not a bad idea. I’m scouring the internet looking for positive reinforcement about the Retin-A treatment I just started about 2 weeks ago. Once the wedding passed, I went to a very strict routine of gentle cleanser in the morning and salicylic acid (2%) face wash at night, moisturizing twice a day. Brandi, without knowing what product you’re using, it’s hard to tell whether it’s the retinol alone that’s causing this or if there’s something else there that may be aggravating the purge. I have tried over the counter brands from drug store lines all the way up to high-end brands. Will it at any point curb the oil, is there some science behind this? They usually do after a month. I foolishly bought the 1%, not having read anything, and after just 2 uses (once a week) it has caused a painful breakout, and caused all kinds of dryness. Hello Gio, i have been using the Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion for about 1 week, is it normal to have acnes the first time you used a retinoid? I think I also have dry skin, any advice? Retinol, vitamin A, generates cells turnover in the dermis layer of the skin, but this has nothing to do with purging skin of acne. I understand the purging process can be heartbreaking but it’s not a myth. I feel so depressed. Emily, oh no!