When you're in a hurry, it's easy to do a quick cleansing, hastily massage in your topical acne treatments, and head out the door in the morning (or hop into bed at night). But doing so can actually increase your chance of irritation, dryness, and peeling.
Even the smallest trace of moisture left on the skin when applying acne medications can lead to irritation, excess dryness, peeling and flaking. Before you apply your treatments, allow the skin to thoroughly dry. And just toweling off isn't sufficient.
To ensure a completely dry skin, wait at least 15 minutes after cleansing before you apply your topical acne medications. The usage directions for tretinoin products (Retin A, Retin A Micro, Avita) recommend waiting 20 to 30 minutes before applying.
So after cleansing, grab a cup of coffee or an evening snack, and give your skin a few minutes to thoroughly dry. You can reduce your chances of bothersome side effects.
Sources:
"Tretinoin." Medline Plus. 1 Aug 2007. U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health. Accessed 20 Feb 2008.
"Topical Medications Can Clear Acne… The Secret is How You Use It." AcneNet. 10 Nov 05. American Academy of Dermatology. Accessed 28 Feb 08.
