Tretinoin
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Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

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Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

Tretinoin is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

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3.5
1649
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5
22.4%
4
33.8%
3
21.3%
2
13.9%
1
8.6%

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July 4, 2008

Pros:

- most of acne is gone
- skin feels smooth and soft
- very cheap

Cons:

-makes my skin pink or sometimes red

I KNOW THIS REVIEW IS LONG BUT READ IT! This product for the first 2 weeks did make my acne worst but my facial acne isnt that bad anyway so i didnt mind that. After about 5 weeks my skin looked flawless and i was in love with the product. After about 8 weeks my skin was clear but redish pink. im still using but dont know if i should i mean like my face is red!! always wear sunscreen. overall its pretty good my only problem is im red. It great for post acne marks too. If you have body acne then this is amazing. The best thing for body acne out thier!!!!!!!!
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June 28, 2008

Pros:

My breakout has stopped by now, after using tretinoin gel and then retin-a for a combined five months.

Cons:

Scars remain, crazy breakouts, skin peeled like crazy until I started using Oil of Olay Moisturizer and Facial cleanser and switched to Retin A Micro from tretinoin gel

My GP recommended this product, but I'm not sure it was the best thing for me. Acne has not been a problem for me during high school, but I began to break out in the middle of my senior year. Some of the acne seemed deep, perhaps cystic, and was located solely on my lower right cheek. I feel that my case may not have been severe enough for this product because it "purged" my skin by making it break out like crazy. I'm talking about perhaps 100 pimples over the first months. Now, my acne is gone and my skin feels smooth, but I am left with somewhat extensive scars (I picked at the acne initially,however).
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June 26, 2008

Pros:

nothing

Cons:

make acne a lot worse, made my skin dry and peel

i used this because i had quite a few little pimples on my cheeks i used this Hoping it would get better. My skin gradually got worse and after a few weeks had cystic acne all over my face. For some reason I didn't associate it with the retin a gel I just thought It was my hormones making my skin worse but then I was referred to a dermatolist and given some anti biotics and told to stop using the retin a. I started using clinique products and well skin healed up quite well apart from a few small blemishes, and luckily I wasn't left with scarring. And then I went on dianette and my skin cleared up lovely !
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June 26, 2008

Pros:

- no more pimples
- scars just peel off

Cons:

- takes a while to work
- on the second day my face looked extremley red, and was peeling, even 20 seconds after a face wash my face felt coarse, dry, and VERY VERY VERY TIGHT. skin looked OILIER. horrible
- peeling takes ages to heal

i got a diffuse REDNESS ALL OVER MY FACE no matter how little i used. now my face is starting to look brown and peeling, horrible. all rough and coarse and shiny. sooooo horrible, esp when i think of how SMOOOOOOTH my cheeks and forehead used to be. stick with benzoyl peroxide unless u have REALLY REALLY BAD ACNE. u will regret usng retin-a, it only sounds good but it KILLS UR FACE AHHHHHHHHGGGHH
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June 25, 2008

Pros:

smoother surface
fewer bumps and pimples

Cons:

PEELING skin
redness and irritation
raw-looking skin

I've been using this product for 4 months now, and overall, I'd say it has really helped improve my skin. I BROKE OUT in a LOT of papules and pustules (recently and out of nowhere)on my cheeks, an area on my face I had only ever had an occasional pimple or two. It took A LOT of patience for me to use this product, but in the end I think it has really helped. What I would tell other people is to also use LOCOID LIPOCREAM, which is something my derm just perscribed to me. Retin-A worked and took away a lot of the bumps and pimples, BUT it left my skin so red and irritated that I looked sunburned. The locoid lipocream REALLY helped reduce the irritation, and my mother (who is quite critical) even noticed the difference :). Please, save yourself the trouble I went through and get this cream (disclaimer: without my insurance it would have been 130$ so it's quite expensive)
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June 23, 2008

Pros:

Pimples, bumps are gone
Wrinkles fading
Skin pores and texture improved

Cons:

Dryness
It takes too long to start working`

I am 45 years old, and had a problem with acne and bumps and large pores in my teens that returned at age 40. I tried many, many things, and finally mentioned this to the dermatologist. I have been using the generic tretinoin 0.25% for over 3 months and hope I never have to go without it.Aside from some chronic peeling on my chin (I now avoid this are with the cream, or use it less there), I cannot believe the difference in my skin. The bumps all over are gone, once in a while I do get a stray pimple, but nothing like before. I am very pleased, and with only a 10.00 copay, and the additional benefit of wrinkle reduction, I am getting a huge bargain.
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June 23, 2008

Pros:

None.

Cons:

Drys out your skin, creates irritation and itchiness, causes flaking and redness. It hurts your face if you use it constantly, even if you apply moisturizer.

Rip-off, a product that ruins your face.
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June 20, 2008

Pros:

Clears skin, reduces the frequency of flare ups

Cons:

Initially causes redness/dryness, takes a while to work, "gets worse before it gets better", expensive (without insurance)

I have been using this product for nearly a year with the combined use of Septra DS (6 months). At first it made my skin much worse, but after being consistent I have seen a marked improvement the past few months. Other than red spots from old acne my skin is clear.
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June 20, 2008

Pros:

my acne was mild and 95% is already gone. smoother skin smaller pores

Cons:

my skin is peeling like crazy! and it does hurt to appply mosterizer

well i have only been using this for about 2 weeks and from the other reviews i can tell im going to have to be patient. im in high school and im gonna be a junior. b4 my sophomore year i had no acne. this year my skin started to break out even though people thought i was crazy cuz they saw nothing. however, my confidence went way down. i decided to go to the derm and she recommended that i use atralin every other night. the nights im not using atralin, im using duac. the first week evertying was fine then this week my skin started to peel like crazy! however, i can tell a difference already and my skin does seem smoother(after i scrub my peeling skin off) i am going to continue with it cuz the ppl who stuck with it said they say increadible results. i want to walk out of the house w/o makeup and feel pretty. hopefully my skin will adjust soon to atralin and will stop peeling.
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June 19, 2008

Pros:

get rid of pimples and whitehead

Cons:

reddness, become worse in the first 2 weeks, get a while to see the improvement

you have to be patient with this product. I wait for 2~3 months to see the improvement, but that doesnt really work for blackhead and oily face... This product is good cause it really pushes pimples and whitehead to the skin surface and completely cures them. i tried proactive which mostly contain benzoly peroxide(not sure about the spelling), and what it does is just dry skin and does not clear the pimples and whitehead completely, and so did salyidic acid. So, if your main problem is whitehead and pimples, try retin-A and be patient $54 is just a tube of retin-A without insurance I used half of the tube in 3~4 months
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website