The following side effects are expected to occur in the first 2-4 weeks of treatment, and resolve with continued use of tretinoin / benzoyl peroxide. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away after 4 weeks of treatment.
Tretinoin / Benzoyl peroxide may cause some side effects. Data on side effects consists of a combination of government data as well as acne.org’s compilation of side effect data from existing clinical studies:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
Redness and/or warmth in the area | Up to 40.1% of all users |
Pigmentation | Up to 34% of all users |
Dryness of the skin | Up to 28% of all users |
Skin peeling or scaling | Up to 19% of all users |
Burning, stinging, or tingling sensation | Up to 13.6% of all users |
Itching | Up to 12.9% of all users |
Pain on the site of application | Up to 12.04% of all users |
Upper respiratory tract infection | Up to 2.19% of all users |
Sun sensitivity | Up to 1.07% of all users |
If you experience any of the following side effects, stop using tretinoin / benzoyl peroxide immediately and contact your doctor or get emergency medical care right away:
- A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
- Swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, or entire face
- Severe itching
- Trouble with breathing
- Feeling dizzy or faint
Tretinoin / Benzoyl peroxide may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using tretinoin / benzoyl peroxide.
References
- DailyMed. Tretinoin and Benzoyl Peroxide. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=27208dff-e376-4c18-b56e-0a260f685a39. Cited 17 Sept. 2024.
- Del Rosso J, Sugarman J, Green L, Lain T, Levy-Hacham O, Mizrahi R, Gold LS. Efficacy and safety of microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide and microencapsulated tretinoin for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Results from two phase 3 double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 89(4), 719-727 (2023).
- Singh R, Chatim A, Kankaria A, Feldman S. Review of Tretinoin-Benzoyl Peroxide in The Treatment of Acne Vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol. 21(10), 1098-103 (2022).
- Kontzias C, Zaino M, Feldman SR. Tretinoin 0.1% and Benzoyl Peroxide 3% Cream for the Treatment of Facial Acne Vulgaris. Ann Pharmacother. 57(9), 1088-93 (2023).
- Webster GF, Sugarman J, Levy-Hacham O, Toledano O. Microencapsulated Benzoyl Peroxide and Tretinoin for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Results from a Phase 2 Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled Study. Skinmed. 18(6), 343-51 (2020).
- Poteate A, Levy-Hacham O, York JP. Real-World Adverse Events Associated with Encapsulated Benzoyl Peroxide/Tretinoin, 3%/0.1%, and Encapsulated Benzoyl Peroxide, 5. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 14(2), 285-92 (2024).