When to Stop Retinol,

Stopping just because it’s summer is wrong

I’m Director Wi Young-jin of Beauty’s Doctor.

Check this before you read

Q. Do you have to stop retinol

unconditionally in the strong UV of summer?

A. The season is not the criterion.

Whether the skin barrier has collapsed or not is the real criterion.

Q. My skin peels when I use retinol,

does that mean it’s working?

A. Exfoliation itself can be a normal reaction, but

if it comes with inflammatory redness, you should stop.

"The medical basis for stopping retinol

while the skin is breaking out"

— Director Wi Young-jin (Beautystone Clinic, Hongdae)

What is retinol?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A,

and it promotes skin cell turnover

to help improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and pores.

It is a representative functional skincare ingredient.

Unlike tretinoin (a prescription drug), retinol

can also be included in cosmetics, but

because it has to convert within the skin,

irritation often appears later.

Why you should stop while

the skin is "breaking out"

When using retinol, if your skin peels,

during a retinoid reaction (retinoid dermatitis),

mild flaking can be normal, but

it must be distinguished from barrier breakdown.

Retinol temporarily reduces ceramide synthesis

in the stratum corneum,

and if you keep applying it in this state,

it leads to chronic inflammation instead of improvement.

Pigmentation can become even deeper,

and capillary dilation may become fixed as well.

To summarize:

A little dryness and fine flaking are normal,

but if you see the signs below, that is the time to stop.

[Comparison] Normal reaction vs. barrier damage

If it stings no matter how much you moisturize,

that is

the easiest self-diagnosis point for barrier breakdown.

Director Wi Young-jin’s key takeaway

The time to stop retinol is not "because it’s summer."

When the ceramides in the skin barrier are depleted

and inflammatory reactions begin,

that is the real stopping point.

The season is only a secondary factor,

the key criterion is your skin condition.

Retinol stop/restart strategy by situation

1. Before and after laser procedures

You should stop at least 5 to 7 days before the procedure.

If you undergo treatment with a weakened barrier,

the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) rises sharply.

2. Seasonal change — transitional seasons

In fact, the time you need to be more careful is

the transitional seasons, not summer.

Because humidity drops and the barrier is stressed,

using retinol on top of that becomes a double hit.

3. During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Retinoid products may cause birth defects,

so if there is even a chance of pregnancy, it’s right to stop immediately.

4. When using peels or scrubs together

If used together with acidic peels such as AHA or BHA,

damage speeds up twice as fast.

Be sure to separate the days.

When restarting after stopping

— this is even more important

If the break is more than 2 weeks,

the tolerance your skin adapted to is reset.

So when you start again,

it’s safest to begin with a low concentration (0.025–0.05%)

about twice a week.

After the re-acclimation period, you can more stably

increase up to a higher concentration this time.

Because you’re starting from a recovered barrier.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. If I stop retinol,

will my skin get worse again?

It won’t go back overnight.

However, in the long term,

the turnover speed returns to normal,

so it’s best to rest sufficiently and restart safely.

Q2. Can I switch to

bakuchiol instead of retinol?

Bakuchiol is an excellent alternative with far less irritation.

However, if your goal is wrinkle improvement, learning

how to use retinol safely is even more effective.

Q3. If the problem gets worse,

should I go to a dermatologist?

If it doesn’t improve within 3 to 5 days or if oozing occurs,

you must get medical care.

If you try to endure it alone, pigmentation can become fixed.

This has been Wi Young-jin.

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