Should you pause retinol in summer? Communities are split

Every time the weather heats up, the same question appears: "Do I need to stop retinol for summer?"

The "take a break" camp

Retinoids are known to make skin more sensitive to sunlight
With more outdoor time and vacations, many pause because irritation and redness are harder to manage

The "keep going" camp

Retinoids are mostly applied at night, so diligent daytime sunscreen is enough, they say
Consistency matters, so many just lower the frequency instead

Realistic options

Pause right before and during beach trips or vacations
Otherwise keep going at a lower strength or frequency
Avoid stacking with exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA)
For prescription retinoids, ask your prescribing doctor about seasonal changes

The general conclusion: it depends on your skin and your lifestyle.

What do you do with retinol in summer? Keep going, pause, or cut back?