Topical Retinoid
Reviews
3.4
1972 Reviews
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
50%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Retinoid
Side Effects
Low
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.
Read All About Tretinoin
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.1%
4
32%
3
21.6%
2
14.9%
1
9.4%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 20, 2012

Pros:

Deep acne lesions heal faster.

Cons:

Breakout in areas I didn't breakout in before
Red marks/scars

I went to the dermatologist with mild/moderate acne and was prescribed retin a micro. I was keeping under control with epiduo but was looking for a way to control it even more. I was informed that it may get worse before it gets better and have now been on it for 4 months. I have used it every night within the four month but I still have yet to see any improvement and have red marks from the retin a breakouts and scars that I have never experienced before. The initial breakout doesn't seem like it will ever stop. My skin is very tight during the day as well. I am going to continue for another month to see if my skin is just taking a while to respond.
October 11, 2012

Pros:

Haven't seen any yet but I'm holding on to hope.

Cons:

+++Oily Skin!
Terrible initial breakout

I have tried nearly everything and after almost 15yrs on Diane 35 (controlled with light acne) I have had my acne return; along with chest and back acne. I refuse to use birth control and have tried everything short of Spiro and Accutane over the years. My derm gave a rx for Retin A micro (gel) and suggested to start by applying it for 1hr/night before bed x1wk, then apply it nightly. I experienced no flaking/drying and instead my face turned into an oil slick!!! So incredibly disgusting. I could literally see oil dripping out of my pores. Needless to say, every doc I've talked to states that this is "very uncommon" and they have not heard of this side effect. I was switched to the Retin A cream at a lower concentration and advised to moisturize immediately following my am and bedtime wash, with the rationale that my skin was irritated and over producing oil (I've always had dry skin). The oil has been cut in half after 2wks use, however I have not experienced the peeling/drying effect that is supposed to happen with the cell turnover. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience? I am currently experiencing an initial break out which has worsened my acne from mild to moderate/severe. I expected that and am hopeful that it will improve in a few months. I am willing to purposefully go through a difficult time in the short-term, for long-term gains, but it is not easy. Reading the other reviews has helped in knowing what to expect; aside from this oily side effect. I plan to give it another 2 months and hope for some improvement.
July 11, 2012

Pros:

Seems to work.
Cheap.
Easy to get via the internet.
Should do other good things for your skin besides reducing acne.

Cons:

Takes a little while to work.
May cause side effects (hair loss, being tired etc.)
May cause lot of peeling and redness in the first weeks.

I bought this as I heard it did a lot of good things for your skin besides fighting acne. It was supposed to make your skin more even look younger etc. I did not experience that. As I worked towards the 0.1% retin a I did notice less new acne was forming but still some remained. Scars didn't seem to disappear as there is a lot of alcohol in it. After about two months of using the 0.1% I started using the acne.org system again during the day (retin a should not be used with benzyolperoxide but can be used after using it or before). My acne disappeared completely and I stopped using the retin a. I am now using the acne.org system as before, - during the day and night and my skin looks a lot better then when on the retin a. It is expensive as I have to pay a lot of shipping cost and taxes but it's worth it. Hope Dan will start selling in Europe one day. P.S. Do not buy the cream version! It made my acne much, much worse. The retin a gel is what you need when having acne. P.P.S. Also do not use peelings when on retin a. I did and wasn't able to go outside for at least a week.
June 3, 2012

Pros:

smooths skin, heals existing acne,helps with discolorations, SLOWLY helps with shallow scarring

Cons:

makes your skin much more susceptible to the sun, can't really go out in public with it because it makes your skin oily

This product works very well for clearing acne and smoothing the skin. I just wished I would have used this product years ago so I wouldn't have any scars. I use Retin a micro pump at .04%. I had my acne pretty much under control before I started using this product but my skin was still in bad shape. I had small bumps, scarring, discolorations, and the occasional big red bump. I have used this for a month now and I only very very small whiteheads, usually after a night of partying too late. This is helping with the discolorations and GREATLY helped in evening out texture. I originally wanted to use this product for shallow scarring but it hasn't done much in that department but the progress so far has given me hope. By the way, I didn't experience any initial break out. Overall this product is amazing and I highly recommend it.
April 5, 2012

Pros:

Definitely exfoliates
Very, very few new pimples.

Cons:

Dry flaky skin
Sensitivity to sun

I have been using this for a week, and thought I'd review now, and then after a couple of months. I have mild-moderate acne... primarily just little comedones that bump up my skin and look unattractive. Eventually most of them turn into a full fledged zit, but they are always so tempting to pick and try to squeeze out. Doing so caused more acne and cysts, and so I've decided to seek professional help. Benzoyle and Salicylic Acid alone were not enough. I tried mild cleansers, harsh cleansers, Alpha Hydroxy... everything. Nothing really helped. It's been a week on Retin-A (PM) and Clindamycin+Benzoyl (AM) and I haven't had much new acne... The bumps are still there but I'm assured that in time they will go away. My doctor recommended combining the Clindamycin with the Benzoyl in the AM as the Benzoyl helps keep your body from developing a resistance to the Clindamycin. This is combination with the Retin-A seems to be doing good things, but dealing with all of the peeling is a lot to handle. Reading these reviews is the only thing that is keeping me going right now!
March 15, 2012

Pros:

smoothes/evens skin tone!
clears cystic acne
reduces pore size

Cons:

initial dryness

I use the .05% tretinoin (generic brand) and let me just say I am so happy. My skin tone is so smooth and clear now. I went to my GP and she saw my inflamed owies on my jaw line and said that BP wouldn't work on them, and prescribed me this! Ask your doctor :) Also, the stuff lasts foreverrr! You only use a pea size
March 6, 2012

Pros:

Works!
Reduces lines and oil on my face

Cons:

Driness,
Slow action

It really works, but require patience. I used this with Acanya, so.....? My face is clearer and glows, will continue using this.
December 13, 2011

Pros:

Helped improve skin tone and texture

Cons:

Doesn't help much with acne, irritates skin A LOT, and dries it out pretty bad even though I use lotion and have been using it for months.

A nice product to use in conjunction with others, but not much of an acne treatment.
June 1, 2011

Pros:

None for me

Cons:

-Dried out skin severely
-Peeling
-Redness
-Irritated acne further

So basically I heard good things about this product and thought I'd give it a try, first day I use it, in a couple hours my skin turned red and stung really bad, and then the next couple of days it started to peel off slowly and apparently this is supposed to happen so I stuck with it. 1.5 months into it my skin's condition didn't improve, I had still had patches of redness that took forever to go away and my breakouts still continued, so I just stopped using it.
January 3, 2011

Pros:

none!

Cons:

left skin rly red and dry. broke me out real bad!

i thought that this would help me but it didn't! i started using it and it broke me out where i didn't even have any acne at all! i used the 0.02% and i read all the reviews where it states that it starts out bad but then gets better... i never saw the better.. would not recommend.

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.

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.