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
September 9, 2008
Cons:
doesnt do much
Use this if you have light acne. But if your acne is more than light acne, dont even bother with this stuff. Go with differin it works waaay better.
August 28, 2008
Pros:
Cleared up my forehead.
Makes skin smoother.
Cons:
Broke out the rest of my face. Worst acne ever on cheeks, chin, jaw-line. Horrible peeling around mouth, flaking off when I smiled. Incredible sensitivity to sunlight and even some gentle lotions.
I used Retin-A Mirco for about 2 months. For my forehead, it did exactly what it was supposed to do: it cleared up the bumps that had started forming on it. No irritation on my forehead, but MY FOREHEAD IS MUCH MORE OILY THAN THE REST OF MY FACE!
If you have oily skin, I say give this a try. But, if you're like me and have normal to dry skin on the majority of your face, then be cautious. I have had acne since I was 14--I'm 27 now--and this stuff has caused the worst acne I have ever had.
I hardly ever had acne on my right cheek and none of my jaw-line; now, it's like I opened a flood gate. It feels like I mildly burned my face, and it's still recovering.
I went back to ProActive after the Retin-A, and the first few times I used it, it burned on my face for 20 minutes because my skin was ultra-sensitive due to the Retin-A.
I still use Retin-A Micro on my forehead, but only every other day. Be careful!
August 20, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
This product has been an absolute nightmare. It burns through layers of skin, leaving your face red, burned and scabby. Meanwhile, it dredges up tons of tiny whiteheads and large, sore bumps.
Unless you have severe acne, Do NOT use Retin A! If your skin is even moderately sensitive, Do NOT use Retin A. In only a week this crap has burned off large chunks of my skin and created peeling blisters that I am desperately trying to treat with aloe vera and lotion. I feel like I've just gotten a chemical peel... I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone. It takes a moderate complexion with a few zits here and there and a sprinkling of small pimples and it burns off every blemish along with the accompanying layers of skin. My face is so burned and blistered--I look like I have been used as an ash tray. My mom is now testing the Retin A on her feet to see if it will burn off the callouses, which is probably the only feasible use for this sh*tty medication.
August 16, 2008
Pros:
eventually cleared up acne
stronger than any over the counter med i tried
Cons:
huge breakouts at first
my face flaked off and it was disgusting
if you are desperate for something that works like i was, try it. after it gets rid of all your pimples over the period of a few weeks you will have significantly clearer skin. however, you NEED to use a moisturizer! i wear heavy makeup daily because of my acne, and my face was peeling off so bad at one point that i was FORCED to go to school without makeup on because every time i would attempt to apply it my skin would just flake off, it was horrible. i'm starting to use it again after getting fed up and taking a break, but i'm desperate and i know that despite the dryness this DOES work. for me it's either over the counter products that aren't strong enough, or strong products such as this that cause irritation and peeling but do work. i'm not sure what i prefer.
August 14, 2008
Pros:
reduced the size of blackheads on and around my nose
Cons:
made me break out on the sides of my face, neck, temples, and forehead where i never have before gotten breakouts. Increased redness in my face, even though i wore sunscreen religiously. made my skin irritated and dried it out.
After having some issues with my hypothyroid medication and making my hormonal acne break out like mad, I decided to go on retin-A because I had seen such great reviews. The initial breakout period was the WORST I have ever experienced--hellish, in fact, I didn't even want to leave my room. BUT I decided to continue with it. After that, my zits weren't terrible, my whole face was just irritated and kind of bumpy. After 3 1/2 months, I decided to INCREASE to twice a day to see if that would solve the bump issue, and that's when my face dried out terribly and I broke out again massively. I am now recovering from that. I had really high hopes for this, but my skin is just too sensitive. I'm now on minocycline to clear up what Retin-A made a mess of. I DO however think that this could be good for some people and I am going to continue using the rest of my tube on my nose area where it worked well to shrink blackhead size.
August 13, 2008
Pros:
Kept my face dry (I have oily skin)
Cons:
Mild stinging if too much is applied; no significant changes to face
I used this product in conjunction with doxycycline. When I ran out of doxycycline and I still had the Retin-A leftover, I used the Retin-A for a couple of months by itself, but my acne came back as soon as I was off of doxycycline, so Retin-A did practically nothing to my skin.
August 11, 2008
Pros:
The packaging is cute
Cons:
I clear up, then break out. It's a repetitive cycle.
I've been on and off retina since I was 12. Now I am 19. Maybe it's just me...but it's a cycle for me. I break out, use retina, clear, breakout. I've been religiously using retina. So I don't know. I just want to be break out free. =(
August 9, 2008
Pros:
It made the healthy sections of my skin smooth and eliminated fine lines
Cons:
Persistent acne developed in new areas that had never been infected, creating a very unpleasant complexion.
My dermatologist prescribed Retin-A Micro 4 months ago for minor acne on my forehead. I used the Retin-A as prescribed. My skin peeled and turned red during the first 2 weeks. I was delighted with the new, soft skin. I started to develop large cysts on both temples and the area between my eyes around the 3rd week. I was told this was normal, not to pick, and to continue the treatment. I continued the treatment for 2 weeks. By the end of the 5th week of treatment my entire face was broken out. Not with small pimples, but large cysts. My doctor prescribed Oracea and advised me to continue use. I'm 4 weeks into Oracea and I'm still broken out. The cysts take roughly 2 weeks to heal. I threw in the towel after 3 months of use. My complexion is terrible bc of Retin-A, but improving now that I'm no longer using it.
August 7, 2008
Pros:
First my settled after the breakout phase but then started to go worse.
Cons:
I've used this product for two months now. Jaw full of red scars, my lower face is a mess, full of tiny pimples. Pimples have even reached my neck now!
When my summer holiday started I went to see the doctor so I could get my light-medium acne controlled.
Well, this summer has been my worst. My face EXPLODED with nasty, painful pimples. My face looked totally red. I did not go out for weeks because I was so ashamed of my looks, and I still am. This has been very very dificult for me. I feel so envy when I read "I've used this product for a week and my face is perfect now". I've struggled with my acne troughout my teenage (i'm 23 now) and I'm so tired of this! I keep reading the good reviews and just pray my face gets better as going to school now is so hard and being at school is just.
Good if this works for someone, but this has been a nightmare to say the least. I would be happily to cancel this negative feedback someday if I continue using this product. Big mistake to this day atleast.
August 7, 2008
Pros:
it kind of cleared up my acne
Cons:
it is not something to use if you have an emergency overnight acne problem..nope...it takes weeks to work...and it does not prevent acne...just gets rid of it eventually. and it dried up my face. so if u want to give it a dry...get a moisturizer.
its OK.
Pros:
doesnt bother sensitive skin too much