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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4
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3
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2
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1
8.6%

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March 29, 2008

Pros:

clears skin

Cons:

works very slow

to start, if you dont have patience this product really iusnt for you. the normal ime table for this product is initial breakout in the forst 2 weeks, progress in weeks 3-6, and results after 7. dont go buy that, everyone on here stresses patience it took about 5 months for my skin to get clear. i kept breaking out all along while on this treatment but know after the 5th month im so happy i stuck with it, u will be too
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March 29, 2008

Pros:

pretty much none

Cons:

it doesn't work for me and i've been on it for like 1.5 years.

i honestly put all of the stuff on with it for 2 straight weeks and it didn't improve at all. it's worthless
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

I can see it working already

Cons:

Initial breakout is scary as hell, dryness (wearing make up over it especially power make up like mineral make up will show it)

This is my third week using the 0.01% gel and my initial breakout is subsiding. I see some pimples disappearing already. My biggest issue is my forehead which is covered with tiny little whitehead bumps. But I can see already that they are starting to clear. Dear Lord, the initial breakout was scary(first 2 weeks). I couldn't bare to see my face in the mirror but I kept going because everybody on here said that it would do that and my doc also said that. I will post on the progress
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

Most effective treatment used. 48 yrs. old and have had acne since 17 yrs. old. Skin looks much better. One tube lasts almost 4 to 5 months.

Cons:

Cost for 0.05% Tretonin was $62.00 for a tube without insurance coverage. The low payments everyone else had must have been insurance co-pays.

Took a couple of months to notice a difference. Not much initial outbreak. My instructions say to wait 20 to 30 minutes for face to dry before application. Diet has always been a factor in my breakouts. Don't believe the hype that it doesn't have an effect. Greasy hamburgers, french fries, potato chips, fried foods and greasy pizza will always make me break out within 2 days after eating. Also, just about any moisturizer (some even oil free) make me get pimples.
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

So far, it has clear my pimples

Cons:

SCARES, DRYNESS, & REDNESS

I am not sure how well it is working since I am using DUAC as well. It seems to be getting worse, but I guess that is how it works.
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March 24, 2008

Pros:

none yet

Cons:

lots of breakouts (little pimples all over my face) redness because of dryness

Its been 4 months and a week since i started to use Retisol-a cream 0.01% and I take 50 mg of minocylin once a day and no improvement. I have hundred of little pimples all over my face and in places I never used to have! Can somebody please tell me if they experienced it as well and if I have to be patient and stick to it? Or nobody had that and its just not working&?
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March 22, 2008

Pros:

My forehead, nose, and chin are almost completely clear and i see considerable improvement on my cheeks. New pimples are a lot smaller. Most red marks are fading. Made most of my skin a lot smoother.

Cons:

It didn't completely clear my skin and there are still red marks left. It also made my skin a little dry sometimes. It can be unpredictable. One day my skin would be perfectly smooth and a few days later there were several new bumps.

I've been using this product for about two months. My skin stayed about the same for the first two weeks, but since then it's been getting a lot better. Sometimes I break out unexpectedly but new breakouts tend to be less frequent and less noticable. I still have some red marks from previous breakouts, but most of them seem to be fading. I'm going to keep using it for a few more months I think. Judging from other reviews, this will eventually work. I hope to be able to give another review soon giving this 5 stars. I would suggest to stick it out for at least 3 months or so. It's worked really well for some people I know.
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March 22, 2008

Pros:

Prevents breakouts, gets rid of freckles, evens out skin tone, makes skin smooth, makes skin look really really nice, like you have the best skin in the world.

Cons:

Initial breakouts bothered me really badly and this product took a while to work, around 7 weeks.

OK, if you really hate acne than use this product it will make your skin look beautiful. I used Retin-A 0.025% and used an amount of about 3 pea's for my whole face. Use a Salicylic Acid face wash like Garnier Pure A twice a day.
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March 21, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of acne for the first few months.

Cons:

Face started to get red and scaly. Dry AND oily. Possibly caused icepick-like indentation.

I was first prescribed Tretinoin .02% in about June-July of '07. I had some mild-moderate acne (basically just papules and pustules) at the time and had never used any products before. I didn't really notice an initial breakout like most do. After about a month's use my skin looked fantastic. Still some faint redmarks, but the overall complexion, tone and texture was excellent. By October my skin started breaking out again and grqadually got worse. In January I went back to the dermatologist and she prescribed Tretin-x .05%. This product broke out my skin right away and made it very red and dry. After a few weeks it calmed down a bit, but here I am in March and my skin looks horrible. More acne, uneven complexion, very dry and very oily in places. I've even read in other reviews that people were developing icepick scars and I've recently noticed an icepick indentation where a small wrinkle was. Wtf? I thought it's supposed to be good for scars/wrinkles?
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March 20, 2008

Pros:

Gets rid of pimples, keeps them from coming back

Cons:

Lots of redness, initial breakouts, takes forever to work, dry skin

I started using Retin-A Micro four months ago. At first I was skeptical, there were days where I thought my acne would never get better (I had severe cystic acne) It had been possible to get an Accutane perscription but I didn't want to try that quite yet, so I told my derm to put me on Retin-A and some Doxycycline. Initial Breakouts were terrible, my skin got worse then it had ever been. However, and I cannot stress this enough, just STICK with it. If you have the self discipline to use it everynight, your acne will get better. In fact, if it gets worse the first few weeks it's only a sign that the medicine is working. My severe forhead acne has all but dissapeared. I currently have about 3 or 4 new bumps, with an average of one new pimple showing up everyday. However, when you compare it to before (when I literally had about 25-30 pimpels on my head at one time) you can see how much of a difference Retin-A Micro has done. It changed my life.
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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