I’ve been on tretinoin for months and my skin still feels fragile and reactive—how do you tell if this is normal retinization or a sign I’m damaging my barrier?

I've been using tretinoin for a few months now, and even though I don't have any peeling or redness, my skin still feels delicate, tight, and too sensitive to basic creams. I keep wondering if this is just delayed retinization that will eventually go away, or if it's a sign that I'm steadily harming my skin barrier without realizing it.

For those who have been through this, how did you know the difference between "normal adjustment" and "barrier compromise"? Were there any signals, time frames, or modifications you made that helped you figure it out?