Tretinoin (Retin-A, Retisol-A) Reviews

My friend has let me use some of hers to try and I have been using it for five days. It has flattened all my zits, but they seem to have left a scar because I picked them so badly! The skin around the zits is peeling very slightly but overall my face looks better and my pimples not longer hurt! I have olive skin but because I avoid the sun my skin is quite fair. I have had no problems with this product. I recommend it. I have an appointment with the dermatologist so I can get my own tube!

I didn't suffer any major side effects with Retin-A, just some drying and redness. It worked for a while for me, but after a year of treatment, my acne came back. Also, ladies, NO facial waxing of any kind while using Retin-A (it will ruin your skin). I don't recommend using Retin-A for a long period of time either. It can damage your skin. A facialist once told me that she knew I used Retin-A the moment I walked into the salon. She said it was because my skin was so thin.

I have used this product on and off for about six months. I started back about a month ago and saw tremendous improvement after two weeks however no drastic improvement since. I have oily skin so this product helps to dry it. You can't complain about dryness and peeling because it is ten times better than having active white caps. I would recommend it, but don't expect a miracle.

In my 30s I used Retin A for a couple of years because the dermatologist suggested it to repair sun damage. I do remember having to switch to a lower strength (0.025%) because the higher concentrations were just too harsh.
I remember the peeling, redness etc. but eventually it went away. My freckles and dark spots disappeared as well. My skin really improved becoming smoother, firmer, and more even in tone. Finally I went on a maintenance dose for a while, then eventually quit using it.

Now I am in my 50s and although I have been very careful about the sun for the last couple decades, I am using Alpharma generic tretinoin (insurance won't pay for brand any more) again. I had to go in to the dermatologist for a squamous cell carcinoma on my arm, and while there had her burn off some skin tabs and this thing on my nose which she said was some kind of wart beginning to grow! Yuck. Freezing it off didn't work -- it started to grow back -- but it has disappeared since the starting the tretinoin a few weeks ago.

Don't know about the acne -- it was never my problem, but for repairing sun damage tretinoin is worth the side effects in my opinion. My advice is to start with a very low strength, though. And it takes a lot of patience to wait for results.

I started off using the Retin A Micro (.025) on just my forehead, jawline, and nose and have been using it on my entire face for about 13 weeks now. My oily skin has seemed less oily, and my forehead, cheeks, and jawline are clearer. Between weeks 8 - 12 I broke out a lot on my chin -- large, painful, cystic acne. I think I am finally getting out of that phase now (knock on wood) and have had a clearer chin for about 3 weeks now. My experience seems a lot like Erin, Kansas City and Anonymous, Haugesund, Norway. My skin has a really hard time sloughing itself, so I've been trying a Neutrogena salicylic acid scrub/mask a couple times a week, which makes my skin feel smoother but it's drying. Every morning I wash with an exfoliating scrub, then use alcohol-free toner, then apply oil-free moisturizer, and then apply Benzaclin gel. At night I mix the exfoliating scrub with a mild, oil-free cleanser, then use the toner, then in winter (when it's dry) a dab of oil-free moisturizer, then apply the Retin A Micro. "My routine" as my boyfriend and I call it. I've sufferend acne for about 15 years, and have tried ProActive (worked for a couple years), antiobiotics, Benzaclin and now the Retin A Micro. If the acne on my chin doesn't come back, I'd say I'm pretty happy with my current routine.

This stuff has got to be toxic, considering the damage it's done to my skin after using it only twice.

I used it several weeks ago, and my skin became red, dry, flaking, and painful. So I decided to lay off for a while and try again later.

This monday I decided to try again. This time it was worse. My skin was peeling off in sheets (to use the words someone else used further down) and it was red, crusty, and it not only hurt to touch it, but it hurt all day long. It's gotten to the point where my normal moisturizer (which is really quite strong - cetaphil) won't work, and I have to use vaseline. Needless to say Vaseline won't help the acne go away (it'll probably make it worse) but it's the only thing to make the flaking go away.

There's no way I could possibly wear make up over skin so dry.

Futhermore, the Retin A Micro .04% is going in the trash.

Never in a million years would I recommend this stuff. Unless you have skin thick as leather, it's going to dry you out.

And yes, I know I've only used this twice as opposed to giving it two or three weeks, but honestly I don't want to think about how I'd look if I kept using this stuff for another few weeks. That thought just scares me.

Hi!

Im just updating my progress with this medication. You can see my previous post further down this page.

As I said, I heard it could take up to 6 weeks for before it's clearing up. So far I've been using this for over 6 weeks, and Im really starting to notice a difference. Although you can see red scars on my skin, it feels very smooth. There's no cysts, or "submarines" that I like to call it =) So for those who are using retin-a, but not getting any results yet, keep using it. You will get results sooner or later. It just depends on the skin of the person who's using it. if you're faired skinned, it can take a while.. and the acne will probably leave red marks that'll stay with you for a while. but don't give up! remember to moisturize (with a non-fat moisturizer). If your skin tolerates the medication well, you can use it 2 times a day. If not, only use it at night.

Atm. I have some problems with red marks/scarrings. It seems as if the medication is making them stay.. But in 2 weeks or so I'll begin using retin-a only 2-3 days a week, and Im sure it'll get better then.

And remember that the initial breakout is just bypassing. it WILL get better eventually. Have some faith ;) Patience is key.

i loved it, it did wonders for me.

Well, I got it and used it for a few days, and I've already seen improvement with no flaking or drying. Dunno, maybe because my skin is brown, as from that I don't get sunburnt too easily, and my skin isn't so sensitive.

I used Retin-A Micro for about three months, along with birth control pills, hoping for the best. I would say that the results were disappointing, especially after enduring the horrible initial breakouts, which seemed to last forever. I still developed a few cysts and moderate acne after two months on it, and my skin was very very sensitive and oily, and I had a ton of hyperpigmentation marks and enormous pores, which didn't make me happy either.

For any women disappointed in Retin-A, I highly recommend trying Spironolactone. It has been a miracle for me. It works by blocking the androgens that over-stimulate your oil glands, so it REALLY gets to the root of the problem. I put in a longer writeup on the review page for Spironolactone. For all you women out there, you really should try it.