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
February 21, 2010
Cons:
-Has done nothing for blackheads around nose
-Make breakout on forehead bigger and worse
-Bigger and more red pimples are emerging
I started using the 0.05% early in December. I used it for around two months and it didn't help me very much. It cleared the pimples in my nostril creases, but essentially made my forehead break out much more. I went back to the doctor, and she gave me a higher dosage, 0.1%. I have been using that for around a week or so, and I haven't noticed a difference. I use it at night, and the morning after my skin does look less red. I do experience some minor peeling around my nose, on my chin, and a bit on my forehead. To combat this I use Aveno Clear Complexion Moisterizer, more than I did before I started this treatment. Even though my first two months of the lowest dosage didn't do anything, I am hoping that if I stick with this dosage my skin will clear up.
December 18, 2009
Pros:
skin seems smoother and more firm
Cons:
dry and flaky, a pretty bad initial breakout
Im using this product along with a round of doxycycline to hopefully get rid of everything. Im breaking out for the first time at 19 and it's pretty frustrating. I was unaware that this medication made you break out worse at first WHICH IT DOES! My face is way worse than before, but im hopeful that it will eventually be clear completely. Stick with it, im sure its doing its job
December 18, 2009
Pros:
It does work
Cons:
burns like crazy after the first couple of days because it burn through the first layer of skin. you peel like no other. mosturiing does not help. it hurts to open my mouth even
it does work. but the first weeks are rough
December 13, 2009
Pros:
Made me stop breaking out, no dryness
Cons:
Made my previously very dry skin very oily! Also enlarged pores all over my face, a problem I'd never had-makes my skin look bumpy. It gave me noninflammatory bumps on my forehead, where I never had such problems before. It also made my cheeks redder
I started using Retin-A because I was getting pimples that caused scars on my right cheek due to stress. Although it stopped my skin from breaking out (after a very, very mild initial purge that caused some scarring), Retin-A made my skin look much worse. I know that people have had very different reactions to it and I'm probably one of the few who didn't experience any dryness (even though my skin had always been very dry), but I thought I'd share my experience. I wish I had never used Retin-A. My skin would look so much better if I hadn't used it, but there's really no way you can know that before using it. I also never saw any effects (positive or negative) on the wrinkles on my forehead. I recommend praying. That's the only way I can deal with the negative thoughts and feelings I have about my acne.
December 4, 2009
Pros:
Began to clear up my back/chest acne after a month.
Cheaper than other options.
Cons:
Never even touched my facial acne.
Severe headaches.
Problems focusing my eyes.
If you have mild acne it might work for you, but it didn't do much for me. My chest and back acne, as stated under Pros, began to clear up after about a month.
If I had been able to stay on it longer, maybe my face would have cleared up. I started to have pretty nasty headaches after about 2 weeks on the drugs, did some reading and found that's a "normal" side effect. But as a migraine sufferer I don't want "extra" headaches.
I also wasn't crazy about the idea of using an antibiotic for my acne. I wasn't pleased with it.
December 1, 2009
Pros:
it works on acne and black marks,but not scars and wink-lies
Cons:
is it afforability not relly does it work agreebillity to get the acne away form your face yes
'it's ok
November 23, 2009
Pros:
lightened some old acne marks
Cons:
made my face peel uncontrolably.
I was prescribed this to help with some random stubborn acne marks on my cheeks and forehead along with to lighten some old post-acne marks. It didn't work to get rid of the acne at all but the dark marks did fade considerably. I wasn't able to continue using it for long and had to spread out applications further because it was so very very very very drying.
November 5, 2009
Pros:
Works on stubborn acne when other products don't
Cons:
Severe initial breakout; too harsh for fair/sensitive skin
Use with caution! Retin-A Micro 0.04% cleared up my stubborn bacne when nothing else (BP, salicylic acid, antibiotic pills and topicals) would. I didn't notice an initial breakout on the back, maybe because I couldn't see it, or because it was winter and I didn't care. I'm still using it and my back is crystal clear! Woo-hoo! There is some itching but it can be helped with moisturizer. I tried it on my face and boy was that a mistake. I have very fair and sensitive skin, and it made my face very red, scaly, and bumpy. I gave up at the 7-week point. It may have worked if I'd stuck with it, but it wasn't worth it in my opinion. The initial breakout was too severe on the face. It turned my mild acne into a red-hot mess. I barely recognized myself and cried every day.
November 4, 2009
Pros:
Smoother skin. Whiteheads dry out quicker.
Cons:
Oily and flaky skin
I am 32 years old and have only recentlly been refererred to a dermatologist after over 15 years of moderate to severe acne.
I requested to try this product before they put me on Accutane. Unfortunately this product does not work for me. Although I have some good days and the whiteheads I do get dry out and clear up quicker, most days I still have on average 5 - 10 whiteheads. My next course of action is Accutane....
October 26, 2009
Pros:
Leaves my skin smooth and seems to help reduce scars over time.
Cons:
Doesn't help with the blackheads around my nose and on my nostrils. Can be drying and leave skin peeling which can make face red.
Suffered from acne off and on since high school and am 35 YO now. Use Solodyn, Benzaclin and Retin-A. Not sure which has done the trick but been clear for a few months now, except for the occ. pimple around my period. Had been using Clindamycin but tried Benzaclin to clear up the whiteheads on my forehead. Benzaclin has cleared them up but my face super dry and even the DML didn't help even though usu. have oily skin. Started to wash my face only at night (Cetaphil for oily skin) and use the Benzaclin as a spot treatment and preventive on my t-zone. Also cut back on the dairy, switched to organic milk for my cereal and stopped eating soy. My acne is hormonal and stress-related so believe it or not but think yoga helps me too. Not only does it relieve my stress but I think the breathing is cleansing. I still have bumpy scars around my mouth but hope they'll reduce over time. Also had two chem peels by Dr. but not convinced they help.
Pros:
-Cleared up small pimples around nose area
-Face looks less red the morning after