Tretinoin
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Side Effects

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.

3.4
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5
22.1%
4
32%
3
21.6%
2
14.9%
1
9.4%

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December 4, 2007

Pros:

nothing

Cons:

made acne worse and yes i do know for sure it was worse, skin was HORRIBLY oily after using it.. completely an oil slick by the end of the day. skin was DRY after washing face and peeled, but by midday was completely oily. din't work.

i used this to clear scars after finishing up accutane a month after. worsened it and now im on the basics again tryna clear up acne with clindamycin hope it works.
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November 20, 2007

Pros:

Great for mild acne and oily skin!
Reduces Whiteheads and Blackheads quickly.

Cons:

Takes a month or two to work (Im right at 6 Weeks)
Have to wait 20-30 mins. after cleasing..

Contrary to what everyone is saying, your acne should clera up a little bit, then get a horrible breakout (Like me) within the 3-6 week mark. From 6-12 weeks, your skin should clear up alot, and after 12 weeks - WHALA! Perfect skin! This is definately for oily skin because its drying and clears out your pores.
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October 30, 2007

Pros:

none yet

Cons:

common for acne to worsen

iv been using it for about three months now and i havent really seen any results.on and off: once and a while my face will look good but then thats when i know that the next few weeks my face will look bad!ive stopped using it for a bout a week and my face looks alright i am now using panoxyl10% and same story
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October 4, 2007

Pros:

Easy to use, no side effects

Cons:

did not work at all for my moderate acne.

This cream didn't work, I don't think I missed an application in 5 months, but no luck. It does work for some people, though, so it was so easy to use I would say give it a go. Saying that, living in Britan, I could afford to try it without much cost (only 6.50) so it wasn't a big deal if it didn't work.
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September 2, 2007

Pros:

Ugh

Cons:

See below.

Pain in a tube. Made me flaky, bright red and only exacerbated breakouts. Thinking it had to get worse before it got better, I continued using it for over a year. Nothing. The only thing that has helped me is washing my face with a mild soap (such as Dove) and leaving it the F**K alone. That's my cynical two cents, anyway. :)
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August 16, 2007

Pros:

- -

Cons:

takes a long time to work

The beginning is was burning, red, itchy and it seemed like an explosion of a lot of acne all over the cheeks. Very bumpy and pus filled it hurts. I'm still sticking to it right now, the cheeks seem less, but around the jaw line and just near the neck it's increased and around the hairline of near the ears. I see it's red and blotchy now too where it use to be the worse and it looks like scarring or little holes from whiteheads. Not sure yet if it'll work completely, since it's still growing pimples but less with pus.
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August 2, 2007

Pros:

It got rid of pimples. That's all.

Cons:

Did not remove any acne or redness on my face from old acne. Ha! After I went swimming I could see the Retin-a come out of my pores! Little improvements and actually added acne and then made it go away slowly. There was little peeling too.

SUCKS!
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July 12, 2007

Pros:

it completly got rid of pimples

Cons:

it hurt to use facewash or even touch my face because it got so sensitive from the retin-a. When i got my eyebrows waxed i screamed, and my forehead bled. Also, the cream left scars.

I guess it's effective, but if you are someone that really needs their thick eyebrows waxed, BEWARE.
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July 11, 2007

Pros:

Pretty good for treating mild-moderate acne. Helps fade acne scars.

Cons:

Acne will get worse before it gets better. Also turns your face red and lots of peeling, which was really annoying but bearable. Also makes you a lot more sensitive to the sun.

I have a dark skin tone so it looks really weird when my face is all red. Also made my skin much lighter which didn't really match the rest of body. And also makes your skin super sensitive to the sun. Well, it worked pretty well along with my doxycycline and clindamycin phosphate to clear up my severe acne. I wouldn't recommend using this product to treat mild acne cause theres lots of better products. If you can bear with the side effects, then tretinoin would be alright. Just don't forget to use sunscreen and moisturizer.
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June 26, 2007

Pros:

clears mild acne..

Cons:

VERY DRY AT FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS! then MAKES YOUR FACE OILY!!! use sunscreen and have a good moisturizer.

i used it a little over a month but i still had really bad acne. i wanted to continue but the dryness and overall outcome was simply not what i wanted. It cleared out my whiteheads but not cystic acne... i guess if you stick with it for a while it will clear up, however it was not the case for me. good luck.
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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