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← LEDGERENTRY L-02FILED 2026-03-084 MIN

Retinisation is not a result

The flaking at week three tells you a retinoid is present. It tells you nothing about whether it is working.

FILE
ENTRYL-02
FILED2026-03-08
LENGTH4 MIN
SUBJECTSRETINOID, TOLERANCE

Retinisation is the epidermis reorganising under an accelerated turnover signal. It resolves in four to six weeks whether or not the dermal effect ever materialises. People read the peeling as feedback and escalate frequency; the barrier fails; they conclude retinoids do not suit them.

  • Week 1–3: tightness, fine flaking, transient erythema. Expected.
  • Week 4–6: resolution. Nothing visible is happening. This is normal and is where most people quit.
  • Week 8–12: measurable change in roughness and fine lines. The first honest read.

Three nights a week, indefinitely, beats seven nights a week for eleven days. The protocol card in the box says this. Almost nobody reads the protocol card.

FIGURES IN THIS ENTRY ARE DRAWN FROM THE REVIEW REGISTER. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.
RETINOIDTOLERANCE
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VALUE
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ENTRY
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DEPTH 000%
THE DRAW · ONE READER

Win a year of
prescription skincare

One reader gets a 12 months CoreAge Rx derm subscription — compounded, physician-reviewed, delivered. The plan we score in the register.

VALUE$780
TERM12 MONTHS$64.99/MO × 12

VALUE IS THE PUBLISHED $64.99/MONTH SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OVER TWELVE MONTHS, AS RECORDED IN R-10. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. WE REVIEW COREAGE RX — WE DO NOT SELL IT.