Tretinoin breaks down in visible light, and quite quickly. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2971693 If you applied Retin-A in the mornings, then it wasn't doing anything. If you want to apply a retinoid during the day, then you need to use adapalene, which apparently doesn't break down in visible light.

What concentration of Retin-A is it? Cream or gel? 3 months is more than enough time to figure out if a medication is working. But definitely don't give up on retinoids just yet. Rather, I would either use a stronger concentration, and/or move up to tazarotene. A gel will give you better absorption over a cream.

Thanks for the reply.

It's .04%, and I believe that it's a gel.

The only reason I've considered sticking with the retin a is there are visible changes (past two weeks) -- most of the acne I get not comes and goes faster, and it never pops. I've never gotten this kind before, so it's most likely from retin a use. Also, my skin definitely heals slower if I attempt to pop one of these, which is a side effect I've read is associated with retin a. So I guess the main question here would be am I still improving and should I continue with it? I honestly don't know.

Another alternative is accutane. Unfortunately, the more I read, the worse the side affects seem. Plus, its' unlikely my derm will put me on tane -- although I think my acne is really bad, he doesn't seem to agree. The reason I leave this as an option is because I'm going to college next year, and I really want clear skin beforehand. So I would say, since an accutane course is 6 months, that that gives me until ~April 1 to fine something else that works.

If I could stop using retin a, and go back to the skin I had before beginning using it at night, I would be so happy..do you think this is a possibility?

Sorry to overwhelm you with so much..there's just so many options right now!

Try moving up to 0.1% Retin-A Micro gel or a 0.1% tazarotene gel. 0.04% Retin-A Micro wasn't strong enough for me, but I got completely clear with 0.1% tazarotene.

I imagine derms will prescribe isotretinoin for less-than-severe acne, as long as you show that you've tried basically all other medications and the acne still persists.

If you find that the severity of your acne flucates despite being on a constant regimen, then there is probably some other factor affecting your skin. I'd say it is almost certainly your diet. Try to find a correlation between acne and certain foods. The most common triggers are animal milk and foods that raise your blood sugar level very quickly.

If you stop using a retinoid, then it won't take long until your skin assumes its pre-retinoid state.

I'm pretty sure that's what I'm gonna do -- either move up to Retin a Micro 0.1% or Tazorac 0.1%. When you switched, did your previous usage of retin a micro help in the transition to tazarotene, or was it as if you were starting from scratch? Also, how long did it take for you to clear up after you switched?

In terms of my diet, I haven't had any milk for the past month, and I'm trying to avoid soda and any treats.

I had been using 0.04% Retin-A Micro gel for 4 months before I switched to 0.1% Tazorac gel. The previous use of tretinion definitely helps prepare your skin for the tazarotene. Both chemicals have similar mechanisms of action.

I found the Tazorac ridiculously effective, and results came within days. Using Retin-A Micro I found I would get a lot of whiteheads that would stay put for weeks or months unless I popped them, but simply applying the Tazaroc would make them go away within days (without popping). Tazarotene is supposed to be a more effective retinoid overall than tretinoin, and is supposed to be especially effective for non-inflammatory acne.

A good piece of advice I'll give for tazarotene is to seriously use only a pea-sized amount (or not much more) for the entire face. My face was used enough to the Retin-A Micro that by the end I was putting huge gobs of it on and not getting any irritation. I tried that with the Tazorac... my face got super beet red. So take it slow to begin.

*DESPERATE FOR CLEAR SKIN BY APRIL 1 2015 - GOING ON VACATION*

Hi there. I am a 16 year old female on ziana and 100mg minocyline every night. Last year i achieved beautiful skin after 3 months on epiduo and doxycyxline but I became resistant so the derm switched it up. However I am 2.5 months into the ziana regimen and am not pleased. I haven't seen any improvement honestly and have just recently gotten huge cysts on my naturally clear forehead.... I get so hopefull from peoples stories that say after 3 months there skin improves greatly.., but then get very discouraged when I see those posts saying the product didn't work at all. Is it normal to still be on the initial breakout 10 weeks into ziana?

Also: the last month I have been using tea tree oil basically all over my face because I was so desperate to get clear and then applying ziana directly on top.... Just yesterday I read that tea tree oil shouldn't be mixed with a tretinoin (ziana) so I stopped today and will never use it again. Also I have always applied ziana in the morning and night but am now just doing night because I thought the overuse might be contributing to my breakouts. Thoughts?

Regimen: morning: wash with cetaphil oil control foam wash

Apply cetaphil oil control moisturizer

Night: same thing but apply ziana before moisturizer and take 100mg minocycline pill