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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Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.1%
4
32%
3
21.6%
2
14.9%
1
9.4%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

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June 20, 2009

Pros:

Cleared acne, left a glowing tone, even tone, and if acne ever came back it would leave immediately.

Cons:

Blotchy skin intially, spots, and peeling skin

I dont remember my intial experience with skin peeling and having another break out situation; but, when I stopped using it (after 3 months) and allowed my skin to heal for a week it looked wonderful. Im actually having a bad case of acne again (which is light to moderate) and I am going to try it again and let you know what happens.
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June 3, 2009

Pros:

Pretty cheap and easy to apply.

Cons:

Bad breakouts, it made me sun sensitive, takes a long time to "work", and dry skin.

I would not recommend this, I used it for non-inflamed mild acne and now my acne is moderate to severe I actually got cysts while on this medication! I kept waiting and waiting for three months for this stuff to work but it never did. My acne got so bad I was put on accutane. Your derm may trick you into using this but do not unless you want your acne to get worse.
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April 30, 2009

Pros:

well i havnt seen any difference yet. but i only started like 4 days ago.

Cons:

Dry.

hope it gonna work!
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April 17, 2009

Pros:

Makes skin even toned and works consistent

Cons:

Inital period of breakout, peeling and overdryness

I've used this for 2 weeks and I can see pretty good improvements. It made me breakout in the first week with many small inflamed zits, but starting the 2nd week my face is starting to clear up. Since the second week, I've havn't had any new pimples yet. My derm. told me to apply this only at night and thats what I did. After I use it at night, I mix some jojoba oil w/ my moisterizer and it really fights against the flakyness and overdrying effects of tretinoin. If this product keeps on working, then I should get clear pretty soon!
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March 20, 2009

Pros:

made skin softer, smoother, pores look smaller, helped breakouts

Cons:

skin peels a bit (especially during cold, dry Iowa winters)

This is the only topical medicine I have ever used that helped to prevent some pimples forming. It also helped my skin look smoother, and the pimples I did get seemed to heal faster. It was a definite improvement, but my skin was still not completely clear which is what I wanted. So now I am experimenting with other medications to see what works for me. All meds work differently for different people. I'd recommend this to anyone, since there are no serious side effects and it does help acne. So give it a try!
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March 16, 2009

Pros:

Helps acne a little.

Cons:

Made my skin so dry that my whole face was flaking uncontrollably. NO LOTION WORKED. I tried many! I had to discontinue using it, and it took about 8 days to stop being flaky! I applied lotion multiple times a day and it didn't work.

Exfoliating didn't even help. Makes the skin too dry.
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February 23, 2009

Pros:

seems to be clearing up acne fast. Starting to fade old scars.

Cons:

peeling...a little painful...

i've been using retin a for the past 4 days...i think it's a little too early to judge but in the past 4 days my skin has gotten much better...atleast no more larger than life pimples. My skin is extremely dry though...that's probably because i used it every single day. I'm also taking doryx and applying duac as part of this treatment...i'm a little worried after reading all the reviews...i dont know how it'll be in the next few weeks...hopefully i donthave to go through the initial breakouts. I had pretty bad acne...a few cystic ones...a lot of scars...but now the scars have started to fade....i'll keep with it until all of it is gone.
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December 30, 2008

Pros:

Easy, works.

Cons:

Expensive, causes dryness

Used with Benzaclin and Sulfameth - 100% clear acne in a couple of months.
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December 30, 2008

Pros:

Covered by insurance, if not, go get it cheap in Mexico!

Cons:

Flaky skin all day!

It works instantly. I'm 30 and have always suffered from an oily T-zone and acne. After the 2nd application (thin layer, every other day) my skin improved tremendously! I love it! It's also reducing the overall inflamation of my face, reducing my scars and wrinkles and brightening up my skin. Everyone will have a different reaction. I'm glad mine has been positive---the only drawback is a flaky chin all day...just apply heavy cream all day long w/vitamin C. I recommend Dr. Murad.
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November 17, 2008

Pros:

-helps to reduce scarring
- increases time for pimple to heal

Cons:

- skin is extremelyyyyy dry (especially around the mouth area)
- major breakouts (i have two huge pimples)

- still waiting for final results; i have been using for about 3 months now & i hope my patience will pay off
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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