Acne.org Products
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
December 15, 2007
Cons:
it makes your skin peel, itchy, flaky, and really gross for the first few weeks, followed by a huge breakout.
its really good, makes skin smooth, no wrinkles.
December 12, 2007
Pros:
Totally resurfaces your skin. Starts to get rid of pigmentation and acne scars. Pimples heal faster. Skin looks fresh.
Cons:
Your skin gets worse before it gets better. Definitely. Dont expect overnight success. The first two weeks you will look awful. Pimples everywhere, as it pushes up the gunk, and your face is bright red and peeling.
I use Retin-A Micro .04%. After 2 or so weeks, it starts to get better. Not full effects, but you can tell. Just crawl into a hole for a few weeks, its worth it. I havent reached full effects yet, but I can tell things are starting to shape up. Its a little weird how smooth your skin is, makes it harder to wear makeup. So just dont, until your skin heals up. Bottom line, stick with it. Good things come to those who wait.
October 29, 2007
Pros:
None that I know of.
Cons:
Dry, itchy skin, acne did not clear. I used this for about five months, and the acne did not clear. My skin continued to break out, and became very dry and itchy.
I do not recommend, because this also caused my skin to get tiny, dry, fine lines. The best thing is that I paid for this under my health care insurance, so I paid only $15.00 for the prescription.
October 10, 2007
Pros:
Skin has started to really clear up - pores are becoming smaller and i definitely have a glow.
Cons:
Still the odd breakout, but this is to be expected in the 1st few weeks. The gel leaves a layer on the skin that will flake off so i only use it at night. As predicted, skin is a little sore in the first few days. Can't use it with Benzyl Peroxide.
Definitely worth trying - i've had moderate acne for about 20 years now (i'm a 33 yr old woman) and although i've used products successfully before this, there have always been worse side effects (Dianette: loss of libido, Benzyl Peroxide: skin sensitivity and bleaching everything in sight).
The good thing about Retin A (i'm using the 0.025% gel) is that it clears it from the inside out, and once it kicks in, you really look youthful and lose lots of those horrible visible pores that we all hate.
Only a few weeks in, so still have some breakouts, but will check in again after a few months.
ALso cheap to get on prescription in the UK.
August 23, 2007
Pros:
uhh......
Cons:
redness, irratation, sunburn easily, more pimples!
Iim 16 and was on retin-a twice. once a year ago and once two weeks ago. the first time i used it i saw no improvment! and I remember a time in which i woke up in the morning and my chin (my problem area) was completely red and irratated. the second time around i woke up every morning with 2-3 new pimples. i looked up info. on it and it said that retin-a was supposed to bring out pimples so they could be "washed away" so i kept using it hoping that my skin would get better. it didn't it got worse! i hate retin-a with a passion. now i am on spironolactone and duac and i'm praying it works!
August 21, 2007
Pros:
zero pros,
Cons:
makes the face redder, gives u more pimples, gives the skin a bad tough dirty pimply texture
i've used this for about a week, my skin has gotten worse, i haven't noticed any irritation that others have felt, but it definitely hasn't cleared up the acne at all... i think this treatment is a waste of time
July 18, 2007
Pros:
I have noticed a change in my complexion...I also feel less pimples beneath the surface of my skin, which makes me feel its working.
Cons:
I am quite seriously experiencing the worst break out I have ever had!! However, I feel like my face is purging and my skin needed it! I am very embarrassed by the blotchiness. My boyfriend calls me "Metallic Woman" because I'm so oily. Costly too!
I've tried everything...I am currently doing a sulfer wash, as well as, Doryx (an oral antibiotic). Previous to this regiman, I did Proactive...worked for a year and then suddenly backfired. Perhaps my skin became immune to Proactive...I don't know. I do know I'll be kicking myself if I don't at least try to get through the next couple of months.
June 13, 2007
Pros:
Smoothed out skin and reduced some of my pimples
Cons:
make face really red and more prone to sun burn and it was a hassile having to wait 10 minutes after cleansing before aplying the Retin-A
Worked OK for mild acne but not a great product overall
May 4, 2007
Pros:
Affordable (as a generic), appears to start working QUICKLY
Cons:
flaky, peeling skin (although I am way too aggressive with the amount I use. Oops), skin is a little red.
I had BEAUTIFUL, flawless skin and then my Dr. changed my birth control. I started breaking out like nuts (I went from Yasmin to a higher-dose pill) so she switched me back to a lower dose pill and put me on Retin-A to clear up what breakouts I had. I started using Retin-A a week ago and started peeling the first time I used it. I use it all over my face and probably used too much the first few nights. I started peeling in my 'trouble spots' first--my chin and forehead. Now I'm peeling in other areas- further up my cheeks, around my nose. I have been using a 2% Salicylic (sp?) face wash and a 2% toner as well...cut out the toner because it stung too bad and worsened the peeling. I also use an Alpha Hydroxy Acid scrub in the mornings. It's gentle, but helps get rid of some of the flaking. I'm going to switch to a gentler face wash like Cetaphyl, continue with the AHA scrub, and limit the amount I use.
April 28, 2007
Pros:
After 6 weeks I started to see results. Stops breakouts.
Cons:
It takes a few weeks for the product to start working. If you put too much dryness and peeling of the face.
I never had Acne in high school, I was always clear until I went to college.Then, I started to breakout. I try a lot of over the counter stuff such as the OntheSpotNeutrogena but made it worse. Finally, I went to my doctor and he put me on Retin-A and after 6 weeks my breakouts stopped, but I still got marks from old acne. So I STARTED TO USE PROACTIVE REPAIRING CREAM during the morning after washing my face and at night the Retin-A and MY MARKS FROM OLD ACNE ARE STARTING TO DISSAPPEAR!!!
Pros:
WORKS! very very well, you just have to be patient. (after 7th week)