Tretinoin (Retin-A, Retisol-A) Reviews

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Prescription summary (724 votes)

How well it works

:):):)
3.2/5
Agreeability

:):):)
2.9/5
Affordability

:):):)
3.5/5
Common brand names: Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Retisol-A, Stieva-A, Avita, Renova

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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Not working yet, Sacramento, CA
May 12th, 2008
How well it works
:)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:none
Cons:More break outs. Scarring. On my 9th week still no sign of improvement.
Bottom Line:I occasionally had two or less pimples at a time. Ever since I started using tretnoin 0.025% it has slowly jumped to 15-20. Both sides of my face are covered with scars, which weren't there before I started using this product. Im probably going to stick with this product for another month and see if anything changes.
Recommended:No
Usage:Not working yet has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:5.00
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Pizza face, NY
May 12th, 2008
How well it works
:):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):)
Pros:It seems to be sucking the impurities from down the shells of my skin and throwing it out to the surface
Cons:Right now my face looks like a pizza:oily and red. I got big bumps some with pus, dried skin, blisters that don't heal, dry nose and lips. Skin doesn't exfoliate (crust on and around the pimple area)
Bottom Line:I am sticking to it! It's my 7th week and my acne is 10x worst than before I started but I am sticking to it but at least another 2more months. I am also taking Adoxa, yaz, and drinking apple cider vinegar. I use retin-a micro gel .04 at night and clyndamycin during the day. Some days I skip it because of extremely dryness. Sometimes I use a salycilic wash(pardon my spelling) and some days a mild wash. I pick on the dry skin at times. Guilty as charged. I will come back to post in another 6 weeks.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Pizza face has used this item for about a month.
Price Paid:25.00
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Anonymous, Toronto, Canada
May 12th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:evens tone and scarring, minimizes pore size and wrinkles
Cons:extreme redness, itching, flaking and dryness
Bottom Line:though one might see all the cons i listed above at first, you have to stick with it. I have been battling acne for 15 years, pitted skin, redness and uneven skin tone. This product is remarkable, it has made my pitted marks softer and less noticeable and smoothed out my tone. the only thing is that it is not getting rid of the redness inside my pitted marks. I might just go for a chemical peel to get rid of that, but i will stick with the generic form of retin-A. Also, for prolonged use for sensitive skin, use it every other night and always with a moisturizer! Good luck to everyone!
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Reviewer has used this item for a few months.
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Penny Lane, Brea, CA
May 11th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Heals scars and gets rid of a zit within a few days
Cons:A little pealing at first but that just means your skin is adjusting to it. during the first few weeks your skin could take on a blush after you apply it or after you wash face. However, this is normal. Let your skin adjust to it.
Bottom Line:This medicine works deep within the skin and takes time which means that as hard as it is to be patient, you must give it time. The peeling and redness won't last forever and can be minimized so maybe begin by using it every other night at first like I did. Once your skin adjusts, maybe begin using it every night. I have only used this product for about a month and I do not get much pealing or redness anymore and my scars are healing nicely. Remember: if you have scars, don't expect instant results. Scars take so much time to heal but the retin A will speed up the healing because it increases cellular turnover-that's why it may peel at first.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Penny Lane has used this item for about a month.
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
acm1012, NY
May 11th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:after about 2 months of using retin-a my skin is beeeaaauuutiful!!! very clear, very smooth
Cons:takes about 2 months to work, in those 2 months expect dry, flaky, sensitive skin. it's totally worth it. but....it doesnt really do much to prevent abscesses/cysts, which i still get from time to time
Bottom Line:great great great! but i still wish there was a magical treatment to prevent / remove cysts without severe marking/scarring
Recommended:Yes
Usage:acm1012 has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:20.00
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Michelle, Tucson, AZ
May 10th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:Taking a long time to work but it really does help. It takes time and it is slow improvement but I would say that 5 weeks later I am 75% clearer than I was.
Cons:Dry skin and SENSITIVE skin. If I am in the sun for 20 minutes my face hurts. Slow progress which gets frustrating.
Bottom Line:Stick with it. Well worth the patience.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Michelle has used this item for about a month.
Price Paid:10.00
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Hiddencat, Philadelphia
May 9th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Builds collagen over time to prevent and repair aging, keeps my pores clear, and after a year of use the texture of my skin is very smooth.
Cons:Expensive without insurance, takes a long time to work so requires patience.
Bottom Line:Folks, you have to give it more than a month to work. I didn't start seeing results (well, other than peeling and redness) until 8 weeks and it took 6 months to see a difference in skin texture (softening of scars, etc). You must use a good sunscreen with this as it makes your skin more susceptible to damage when you first start using it. Also, the cream formulation is in a pore clogging base, so you want to consider the gel for acne uses.

Bottom line: I intend to keep using this forever.
Recommended:Yes
Price Paid:15.00
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leilacey, New York
May 8th, 2008
How well it works
:)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:Cheap with insurance
Cons:takes a loonnnggg time to work, IF it ever ends up working...
Bottom Line:I used benzaclin and differin gel prior to using retin a and clindamycin... the differin/bezaclin combo works great for my skin, but my derm insisted that i try this new combo..... Its been 4 months and i have scarring all over my cheecks and jawline.
she said to give it time, and i have.. no improvement. Makes the areas of my skin that are already clear look fabulous, but it hasnt done much of anything for my problem areas. It stings, your skin may peel, does NOTHING for scarring. Its basically useless in my fight against acne.
Recommended:No
Usage:leilacey has used this item for a few months.
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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Sarah, England
May 7th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Finally something that works! My skin is so much fresher now I am out of the purging stage. Blackheads mostly gone and my cystic acne no-longer about. It works!! I have used for 4 months.
Cons:Initial 2 months - peeling and breakouts. Feels like it is not working but it is. Even on the dark days it is worth the wait.
Bottom Line:I am so much happier and confident. Best of all is the sense that I can expect my skin to behave rather than dreading the next morning waking up and feeling new lumps. I am sure you all know that feeling. Also good reason to use strong sun factor and keep those wrinkles at bay. I can now be vain!! Do not give up.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Sarah has used this item for a few months.
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what, USA
May 4th, 2008
How well it works
:):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:)
Pros:I'm on week 11 and parts of my face has cleared up faster than other
Cons:Takes very long, requires tremendous patience and committment
Bottom Line:I'm in my early 20s, began having whitehead problems 6 months ago, went to derm in late Feb and been using Retin-A (along with benzaclin in am) since. It does take a long time to work. The purging process is on and off and scattered, never all at once, which is both good and bad (takes long time, yet allow it to be somewhat managable). My cheeks has on most part improved significantly, but my chin area and jaw line is just starting to purge...so whiteheads are still coming out. I'm on week 11 now...and I guess just keep at it. A tip...after washing your face at night..moisturize your face and wait 20-30 minutes before applying the retin-A. This will help with the peeling and dryness tremendous by the time you wake up, which is inevitable.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:what has used this item for a few months.
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