Tretinoin
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Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

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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.

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3.4
1941
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Compare To Other Treatments
5
21.8%
4
32.3%
3
21.6%
2
14.8%
1
9.4%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

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April 20, 2008

Pros:

Evens out skin tone, makes skin look youthful and radiant, seems to turn over pimples more quickly when they come up

Cons:

Makes skin sensitive, if skin is oily it becomes both dry/flaky and oily/shiny at the same time which is unpleasant, takes a long time and it's hard to tell if it's working due to waves of breakouts

I've been using it for seven weeks and initially saw an improvement, followed by the expected breakout. My skin has become even toned and radiant though it doesn't help the oily skin I have naturally and I do flake at the same time, which makes wearing makeup a disaster. Skin cleared up again however after the forth week it just keeps breaking out with each day huge blind pimples surfacing. I assume this is meant to happen though it is very disheartening in the morning to discover yet more pimples. I'm going to stick with it as instructed since I am allergic to oral medications and reviews here indicate for some people it can take months. Also have come of the bcp so irregular/regualting hormones may be hindering the process. Works much better than duac which just makes me breakout horribly.
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October 11, 2011

Pros:

NONE

Cons:

WORST ACNE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE

I applaud those of you who can stick through the weeks of bad acne. I'm on week 4, and I'm discontinuing usage of my tretinoin .1% cream. My acne has NEVER been this bad in my entire 22 years. People say it takes up to 3 months, but how can I possibly have 3 months of bad acne??? It's incredibly embarassing that my teenage students have clearer skin than I do. I'm going back to the acne.org regimen. My acne wasn't even that bad before I started tretinoin. Bottom line: Use it if you can stand the worst acne of your life for at least 6 weeks.
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May 1, 2010

Pros:

Just started, only on day 3 of use, i'm very hopeful that it will treat my blackheads and fine lines.

Cons:

Slight redness and peeling, not major, feels like a minor sunburn.

I know I have to stick with it to eventually see results, even with the slight redness I already feel like my skin has a healthier glow, excited to see my skin in 3 months!
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February 6, 2010

Pros:

Smoother skin

Cons:

Did absolutely nothing to help with my acne, only my blackheads cleared up the rest of my face looked like a war zone.

It did not work.
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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.
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May 8, 2009

Pros:

Helped acne somewhat

Cons:

Made my face so red I looked worse than I did with the acne.

People don't generally comment on your acne. But when your face gets this red, people always ask "Why do you wear so much blush?" or "Why do you put blush all over your face?". I would always snarl through my teeth "I'm not wearing blush!!!!" Not worth it to me.
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July 25, 2008

Pros:

So far none :(

Cons:

Dryness of the skin and worse ance

I have only been using retin-a for a 2 weeks. So far it has only made my skin dry and my ance worse. From what I hear it takes a long time for this stuff to work, not quite sure if I will be able to rough it out. The pimples come in alot bigger now and I hate to look at myself. I'm really praying that the end results will be well worth the wait like everyone says it will. But so far this stuff SUX! I didn't have to pay for it tho, my tri-care insurance paid for it so it was free for me.
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June 24, 2008

Pros:

zero

Cons:

doesn't work for acne, SMELLS AWFUL!!!

I've been using this f**king sh*t for two months and I look like a f**king pizza! F**K RETIN-A!!! F**K IT!
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May 6, 2012

Pros:

Inexpensive

Cons:

Didn't work
My acne got worse and never got better
I believe it worsened my scarring and never made it better
I was red and peeling the entire time I used it with no improvement with my PIH

Not for me
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January 11, 2012

Pros:

It helped a lot with acne in a short amount of time.

Cons:

It REALLY dried out my skin. I got to the point where my acne was getting so bad right underneath my nose and down to my upper lip, that I put a ton of this stuff on every night. The acne went away days ago, but my skin is terribly chapped. It appears dry, it looks disgusting, and it burns extremely bad. It hurts to move my mouth anymore. This alone makes the medicine not worth it. I would rather have acne than have this.

It's not worth it because of how dry it makes your skin. It is especially not worth the money.
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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