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Just realized my old boss in Austin always said 'never mix acids and retinoids', but my new place in Denver pushes them together.
Three years ago a client got a bad burn from that mix, but now I'm told the science says it's fine with the right timing. Anyone seen good results with combo treatments?
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wesleyc751mo ago
Blair626 has the right idea with that slow ramp up, spacing them out is key.
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Hold on, that "slow ramp up" plan sounds like a lot of extra steps for clients. I've seen people get red and flaky even with gentle formulas spaced out. Why risk it? The old rule exists for a reason, to prevent burns and damage. Sometimes separate, focused treatments are just safer and more effective.
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My old clinic was super strict about keeping them separate too... it felt like a hard rule. We started doing a slow ramp up with clients, using a low acid toner in the morning and a gentle retinol at night, spaced like twelve hours apart. The key was starting with formulas that weren't super strong from either side. We saw way less irritation that way and the results for texture were actually better than using just one.
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