Can I use vitamin C while using tretinoin?

How should I use them?

1. 1In the morning, wash with a gentle cleanser. Apply vitamin C serum after cleansing and before moisturizer.
2. 2Apply moisturizer, then sunscreen as the final morning step. Choose broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and use shade and protective clothing outdoors.
3. 3At bedtime, wash your hands and face with mild soap and water. Let your skin dry as directed before applying tretinoin.
4. 4Apply a thin layer of tretinoin to the affected area, using the amount and frequency prescribed. Keep it away from your eyes, mouth and corners of your nose, and do not apply it to sunburned skin or eczema.
5. 5Use moisturizer in the evening too. If your dermatologist has told you to moisturize before tretinoin to reduce irritation, follow that order instead.

You do not need to layer vitamin C and tretinoin in the same application to include both. The straightforward schedule puts a serum in the morning and a retinoid, a medicine derived from vitamin A, at night. Tretinoin is generally used daily at bedtime, but your prescription takes priority over a general skincare schedule.24

What if my skin is already dry or sensitive?

Keep new additions to a minimum and test a new product before making it part of your routine. Choose gentle products with fewer ingredients and avoid heavy fragrance. Use one morning serum rather than several, even if every bottle has applied for a different job, which is a lot of recruitment for a bathroom shelf. Mixing vitamin C serum with chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids can upset your skin's pH balance.1

Tretinoin can cause redness, peeling and dry skin, and its drying effect can worsen eczema. If your existing prescription is irritating your skin, ask your dermatologist about adjusting it before expanding the routine. They can recommend a smaller amount, less frequent application or moisturizer before the medicine. Make those prescription changes with their help, rather than changing the schedule yourself.34

What does vitamin C add?

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect cells from damage caused by reactive molecules called free radicals. A stable, properly formulated topical vitamin C product can help protect against sun related ageing and improve fine lines. Vitamin C serum can also help reduce dark spots and support sunscreen protection; it does not replace sunscreen.15

Formulation matters, which is inconvenient for marketing built around two characters. L ascorbic acid, a common form of vitamin C, is unstable when exposed to oxygen, and some vitamin C products do not penetrate the skin sufficiently to help. A vitamin C ingredient on the label alone is not enough reason to expect those benefits, even if the lettering looks very confident.5

Tretinoin treats acne by increasing production of new skin cells and unclogging pores. Give the prescription time: acne treatment generally takes at least 6 to 8 weeks before fewer breakouts appear, and topical retinoids can take 12 weeks or longer. Improvement in fine wrinkles with tretinoin can take 3 to 6 months.234

When should I stop or contact my doctor?

Stop a new skincare product and arrange a dermatologist appointment if irritation develops. Tell your doctor if tretinoin causes severe or persistent burning, peeling, redness or swelling. Call immediately for a rash, hives or pain at the treatment area. Tell your prescriber if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding; call if you become pregnant while using tretinoin. Discuss other topical medicines before adding them, especially benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.12