Question about irritation

I started tretinoin cream 0.5 mid-May for acne. I have now been on it for about 7 weeks. The first week I used it twice in a week. I had no irritation. So then I tried every second night and have been able to do that without excessive dryness, peeling, redness, and burning. I tried every night but found that caused my skin to really sting and comprised my barrier, so I have stuck with every second night. For context I have never used a retinoid before tret.

My question is: when everyone refers to “irritation” do they just mean dryness/redness? Or do they mean an acne purge? Because my skin has been purging with acne, not horribly, but the rate at which I have been breaking out has definitely increased. Is this considered irritation even though my skin can otherwise handle the tret? I just don’t know if I should move to 0.25 or if it is working as it’s supposed to.

Routine morning:
Round lab cleanser
Aestura moisturizer
The ordinary Azelaic acid
Beauty of Josen sunscreen

Night:
Anua cleansing oil
Round lab cleanser
Aestura moisturizer
Tret (every second night)
Aestura barrier cream