How can I manage retinoid-induced flakiness without stopping treatment?

[Emma.R]

I’ve been using a prescription retinoid for a few months now and the flaking around my nose and chin is just relentless. I moisturize like crazy, but it still looks like I have a constant patch of dry, peeling skin no matter what I do. Has anyone else found a way to manage this kind of retinoid-induced flakiness without stopping the treatment?

[OliverG]

I cut to every other night for a couple of weeks and the patches around my nose and chin finally quieted a bit. I switched to a fragrance free moisturizer, dabbed a thin petrolatum balm on the driest spots after I wash, and I avoided scrubs. It wasn’t perfect, but I could leave the patch alone longer.

[Madison_B]

I mix a little of my moisturizer with a drop of facial oil and apply while skin is still damp, then seal with a thin layer of balm. Some days it helps, some days not, but I think the key was not letting it go fully dry after washing.

[Riley96]

Lately I wonder if the air or heater is doing more than the cream. It feels like winter dryness, but the timing lines up with the retinoid too. Anyway I keep a small tub on the vanity and it helps a bit when I remember to use it.

[Charles97]

I did pause for a couple of days and then started again at every other night. The flakes came back at first but eased after a week. Am I missing something obvious?