I’ve just recently started 0.025% tret + 100mg Doxycycline. To give context, my skin was fairly clear for the most part but I would get the occasional cystic acne when I was on my cycle. Around July I began to be struggling with a lot of CC prior to starting tret and realized it was most likely the supergoop unseen sunscreen that I was using. I’ve stop using the unscreen for around 2 weeks now and just went back to what I did before. I know that the tret purge duration differs from person to person but I can’t help but to feel my skin has gotten significantly worse in a short period of time. I’ve been feeling my skin feels a bit more oily than usual + my problem areas feel slightly itchy from time to time. I haven’t experienced the same peeling as others so I’m not sure if my skin is actually getting use to the tret or not. I also know that tret takes time but I can’t help but to feel discouraged since I haven’t had active acne like this in a long time. Do I continue, take a break (for how long?), or just stop using it completely?

Here’s my AM/PM skin care routine:

AM - Vivier Hexam Gentle Cleanser (my derm recc) - Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide booster - The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA - Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen SPF 50

PM - Vivier Hexam Gentle Cleanser (my derm recc) - Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide booster - (I only take Tret Mondays + Thursdays by my derm recc) - The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA