Can I use retinol every day?

How do I build up to daily use?

Choose the lowest strength you can find. Begin with spaced applications and increase gradually only if your skin tolerates the current frequency. If redness, burning, itching or peeling develops, reduce how often you apply retinol instead of increasing it. Daily use is an option for skin that tolerates treatment, not a requirement to push through irritation.123

Retinol is available in creams, gels, lotions, ointments and serums, so the bathroom shelf has plenty of ways to file the same ingredient.2

How should I apply retinol?

1. 1Test a little on a small area first. Wait a couple of days before applying more widely; do not proceed if the patch becomes very red or itchy.
2. 2At bedtime, wash with a gentle cleanser and pat your skin dry. Do not scrub.
3. 3Follow the package directions. General guidance is a pea sized amount spread in a thin layer across the face, avoiding the eyes, mouth and nose.
4. 4Finish with a noncomedogenic moisturizer, meaning one formulated not to clog pores.

The basic application routine is cleanser, retinol and moisturizer, which is refreshingly little paperwork for a skincare routine.2

Retinoids can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. During the day, apply sunscreen to uncovered skin, seek shade and wear protective clothing. For sensitive skin, a sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is an option.3

What should I expect?

Retinol helps prevent clogged pores and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines. Visible changes take several weeks; changes in wrinkles usually take several months. Early dryness, redness and flaking can occur as skin adjusts. Acne can also worsen initially, but worsening spots and irritated skin are not reasons to increase your applications.12

If acne is your main reason for using retinol, allow time for treatment rather than judging it after a few nights. Topical retinoid acne treatments can take 12 weeks or longer to show improvement. See a doctor for moderate or severe acne, deep nodules or cysts, or acne that remains uncontrolled with products bought without a prescription.56

Who should be careful?

Do not use retinoids during pregnancy. If you are planning pregnancy or breastfeeding, discuss retinoid use with your clinician. Skin allergies, substantial dryness, persistent redness or inflammation warrant advice before starting. Retinoids can worsen eczema through their drying effect. In darker skin, irritation can trigger dark marks, so starting slowly and using moisturizer are especially useful.345

If you use prescription tretinoin, check with your prescriber before adding other topical medicines, including benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Do not apply tretinoin to sunburned skin or areas affected by eczema, and do not apply extra to replace a missed dose.4

Seek medical advice if irritation continues despite using treatment less often. With tretinoin, call your doctor immediately for a rash, hives, or pain at the treated area; severe or persistent swelling, blistering or other irritation also needs medical advice.14