Topical Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Works about the same as the other two topical retinoids, tazarotene and adapalene, and lands in the middle of those two when it comes to side effects. Should provide partial clearing, but comes with sensitivity when you first start using it. It probably won’t be a total game changer but it should help reduce acne.
Topical Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Tretinoin? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
September 23, 2008
Cons:
Horrible, horrible acne, very red skin on my face, skin peeled nonstop, itchy, very dry and embarassing
My Derm recommended it to me since nothing else was working. I was excited. He told me things would get worse. He also told do not stop. I took for a few months and nothing improved. I followed the instructions and still nothing. So I stopped. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT. ITS A RIP OFF.
August 22, 2008
Pros:
It does dry out acne more efficiently than something like benzoyl peroxide.
Cons:
I used this medication once and the areas I applied it to peeled for a week straight. It was incredibly painful and very unsightly, as my face was not only lobster red from it but also flakey for more than a week.
I do not reccommend this product. I think it'd be fine if one had just a few spots of acne here and there, but for anyone with large areas of acne it just destorys the skin.
August 2, 2008
Pros:
My mom likes it...but that's about it!
Cons:
Burns and causes peeling/flaking like crazy.
Where to even start. My derm, who I have gone to since I was born (I have atopic dermatitis) prescribed Retin-A .01% gel for me. Now, my skin is indrecibly sensitive - I burn within 20 minutes of being outside, get super dry in winter, etc. My mom, who used to work in dermotology at a nearby university, was surprised when she found out about my prescription, but figured that the derm must be right. Well, I read info on it and everything said that it will burn the first few times you use it - "ok", I thought. Well...not only did it burn like all hell, but my face peeled and flaked for about 2-3 weeks afterwards. I couldn't put anything on it, not even wash with Cetaphil dry skin cleanser, without it burning horribly. Maybe if your skin is more durable than mine, this will work for you. For now I am sticking with my clindamycin lotion, differin, minocycline and aveeno ultra-calming regime. :)
July 28, 2008
Pros:
it worked for a week
Cons:
Didn't do anything to get rid of acne after a week
I have been on pretty much everything you can have and this was by far the least effective didn't cause brake out but didn't get rid of acne after a week maybe my skin got use to it?? it did however slightly!! flatten scars but not a dramatic difference
July 25, 2008
Pros:
So far none :(
Cons:
Dryness of the skin and worse ance
I have only been using retin-a for a 2 weeks. So far it has only made my skin dry and my ance worse. From what I hear it takes a long time for this stuff to work, not quite sure if I will be able to rough it out. The pimples come in alot bigger now and I hate to look at myself. I'm really praying that the end results will be well worth the wait like everyone says it will. But so far this stuff SUX! I didn't have to pay for it tho, my tri-care insurance paid for it so it was free for me.
July 8, 2008
Pros:
none...
Cons:
made my acne 10 times worse. bumps, redness, flakes, dryness, huge pimples, little pimples, roughness
don't use unless you have severe acne.
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 !
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.
June 12, 2008
Pros:
Ughhh none so far.
Cons:
Really really REALLY bad breakouts. BAD. Worse than I have ever had in my LIFE. Not predictable, looks awful with makeup, dry dry dry, red, flaming.
I've been using it for 2 months. I've read that the 2 month part is the worst. Mannnn I really hope you guys are right with the fact that it'll get worse before it gets better because this is just nast. Both sides of my cheeks have visible dark spots that I'm praying won't scar. My forehead was really clear for the first month and this past week it is god-awful. I went on this because my acne was getting a bit bad...not THIS bad. I'm also on Duac gel in the morning for the red bumbs and for the first two months I was on an antibiotic. I go see my Dr. in about 6 days and jeez I hope some good comes from this because I feel like CRAP.
May 24, 2008
Pros:
Has potential. When I didn't follow dosage & instead applied a TINY amt 2 my breakouts, they seemed 2 get better-still caused drying out.
Cons:
Caused my skin to become excessively dry, flaky, itchy, & painful. Caused a LOT more breakouts & red-splotchy discoloration. My face felt like it was ON FIRE!!
I used this product as directed for the most part for almost 2 months (minus several days during the times the inflammation & pain was unbearable) and I saw NO improvement-my skin became worse & all I had to show for using this product was more leftover splotches from the flare-ups this medication caused. Makeup was pretty useless because my face was extremely dry & flaky & seemed to be shedding that my makeup wouldn't stay on (literally). The redness was pretty extreme too. It would hurt to even go outside or to get any type of sunlight on my face because my face was so irritated. Beware if you don't have insurance & you want the name brand-it's HELLA expensive!
Pros:
didnt work at all :(