Apply The Advanced Anti-Aging Solution as directed by the dermatologist on your case. Your prescription will come with specific instructions on how much to apply, when to apply it, and how to ease into the routine — and these instructions are personalized based on your skin type, prior retinoid history, and tolerance.

A few practical points that apply to most maximum-strength anti-aging prescriptions of this type:

  • The ramp-up matters more than usual. Because this is a higher-strength formula, the dermatologist on your case will almost always start you on a less frequent schedule (for example, every third night for the first one to two weeks, then every other night, then nightly) to let the skin adjust before going to full strength. Skipping ahead in this schedule is the most common cause of avoidable irritation, and irritation severe enough to discontinue treatment is the most common cause of stopping before the formula has had time to work.
  • Apply at night, on clean dry skin. A non-foaming gentle cleanser is recommended; apply the prescription a few minutes after washing, once the skin is fully dry. Prescription retinoids are typically used at night because sunlight degrades many of them.
  • Layer a barrier moisturizer. This is more important with a maximum-strength formula than with a balanced-strength one. A simple ceramide-based or barrier-repair moisturizer applied after the prescription helps reduce irritation and protects the skin barrier during ongoing daily use. The "sandwich" method — moisturizer, then prescription, then moisturizer again — works well for many patients during the first weeks.
  • Daily SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable. Higher-strength prescription retinoids significantly increase sun sensitivity, and unprotected sun exposure is one of the strongest drivers of the visible aging this formula is built to address. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is part of the protocol, not optional — and is arguably the single most important non-prescription part of any anti-aging routine.
  • Pause other actives. If you are currently using over-the-counter retinols, BHA/AHA exfoliants, vitamin C serums, or another prescription product, the dermatologist on your case will tell you which to pause and for how long. With a maximum-strength formula, stacking other actives is even more likely to cause barrier disruption than with a balanced-strength one.
  • Pregnancy and nursing. Prescription retinoids including tretinoin are contraindicated in pregnancy and generally avoided during breastfeeding. If your status changes during treatment, message the team immediately so the dermatologist on your case can adjust your prescription.
  • Message the team if irritation is significant. A maximum-strength formula should challenge the skin in the first weeks — but not damage it. If you experience persistent burning, severe peeling, or visible barrier breakdown beyond the adjustment period, the dermatologist on your case can adjust the strength, the frequency, or the specific combination in your formula.