The pattern matters more than the calendar. A possible purge is usually a temporary uptick in familiar-looking breakouts in places you already tend to get them. Irritation is more likely if you’re seeing widespread redness, burning or stinging, tightness, peeling, or new bumps in places you don’t normally break out. It can show up quickly, especially if you started often or layered the retinoid with other strong actives.

A gentler start: use a pea-sized amount on fully dry skin, once or twice a week, then increase only if your skin stays comfortable. Moisturizer can go before or after; skip exfoliating acids and benzoyl peroxide at first, and wear sunscreen in the daytime. If the reaction is intense, swollen, blistering, or keeps worsening, stop and check with a dermatologist rather than trying to push through. A retinoid isn’t something you need to “purge” through.

For the poll, “gave up” can also mean “paused and restarted more slowly”—those are very different outcomes.