Topical Retinoid
Reviews
3.4
1972 Reviews
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
50%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Retinoid
Side Effects
Low
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.
Read All About Tretinoin
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.1%
4
32%
3
21.6%
2
14.9%
1
9.4%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 4, 2008

Pros:

Skin glows, reduced pore size, less breakouts, less blackheads.

Cons:

Sensitivity. Putting some make-ups on is irritating and can sting.

Well worth it. Broke out the first two weeks I used it. Skin probably needed to clear out! Complextion is MUCH better, reduced appearance of large pores, freckles and old scaring. Significant drop in breakouts, although nothing is perfect. :P
July 27, 2008

Pros:

1. The medicine did clear up my acne somewhat...
2. Free from doctor.
3. Most of the actual "pimples" are gone.

Cons:

1. Took over 4 weeks to start working.
2. Will not get better than where i am now after 7 weeks of use.
3. Burnt skin for first few weeks, severe drying.

It does work fairly decent. Will take 3-4 works to start working. This medication will most likely not restore your face to spotless. Burns and peeling skin. I don't think its the best medication.
June 18, 2008

Pros:

works for other people.

Cons:

I used it for just over a month and it was STILL breaking me out. I was told it would only take a couple of weeks for my skin to get used to it, but this was not the case.

Did not work for me.
May 24, 2008

Pros:

nothing

Cons:

just like the past people i have more scares now from it it did not help at all i wish i had never used it

when i would have a break out its like the med. would burn the bumps off leaving scares
May 15, 2008

Pros:

zero

Cons:

I tried this for 5 weeks and it was horrible! Small bumps everywhere with cysts all along chin. I didn't want to leave the house. I was also taking antibiotics. I stopped the retin-a and things are so much better.

Don't try it.....the dark scars that it leaves and the bumps everywhere are horrible!
March 2, 2008

Pros:

it feels soft after puttin it on...

Cons:

lol..i have red scars all over my face..after using this product retin a..the red marks started to become ice pick scars..its made my skin look really horrible....

idont recommend for you to use this product..although other may have good results with this...but for me it didnt work,..so if you dont want to have your face cratered stop using it......
December 8, 2007

Pros:

Helped with some scars but it took a while for it to heal. It was cheap because I have great health coverage.One tube lasts fairly long.

Cons:

Made my skin so much worse. I didnt see any improvements after the 3 months of consistant usage. I am giving up!

I used proactiv and my skin was great for 3 years! I discontued using it and had a bit of breakouts and scars. Once my doctor prescribed Stieva-A I was so excited and was hoping for so much. I was told my skin was going to get worse before it got better. I never broke out on my forehead for example and now its unbearable. I am still waiting for it to get better and still nothing. I feel like I want to give up. I am even more depressed than I have ever been. I continuely cry myself to sleep. I would never wear makeup unless I went out with girlfriends or to a party. Now I cant go to school without makeup! My skin was so bad one day even when I piled a lot of makeup on I ended up skipping school that day which had never happend before.I now avoid making eye contact with many people including my boyfriend. If anyone has suggestions it would be very appreciated.
October 7, 2007

Pros:

haven't seen any...

Cons:

dry, dry, dry skin!

I've been using this product for a week and a half, but I've noticed that it's burning my skin!It just started leaving me dark marks as in burn marks. I have very sensitive skin, so I am definitely calling my derm tomorrow for an evaluation.
June 14, 2007

Pros:

it does reduce the number of acnes, and heals them rather quickly. It also helped me with some scars that are not really pitted, but definitely helped with scars that look like red/brownish dots.

Cons:

made my skin WAYYYYY tooo oily. my skin became worse at first. and it's a hassle to have to wait 20 mintues after washing my face to put it on.

when i first tried it, my skin became red and peeled and very dry. after the peelings were gone, my skin still stayed red overall. i tried this produt for about 3 months. the first month, it was absolutely horrible. my skin broke out and it was worse than before. i went to the website and they said it is supposed to get worse but that it will be better around 8 weeks. they were right, cuz around 8 weeks my face was almost clear. i only had about 2 acnes on each side. but it dind't stay that way. i would say about my 8th~9th week was my best week with retin-a-micro. after about 9 weeks i started to get more acnes again...even though i kept using retin-a-micro. my least favorite thing about retin-a-micro is, it made my face extremely oily. my face was never this oily. it's really weird cuz a lot of people say that retin-a-micro actually dries the skin, but for me it only dried it for about 2 days and then i became very very oily. it helped me acne temporaily, but not for a long time.
May 28, 2007

Pros:

None

Cons:

Acne is worse than ever before after about 3 weeks of daily usage. Causes the skin to dry out and flake.

This stuff is useless for me. My acne is worse after 3 weeks of usage. Does it take longer to kick in or something? I'm breaking out constantly and in places I never used to. I am contantly amazed by my dermatologists inability to reduce my acne. Is there something for guys with acne that is not bad enough for accutane, but is more effective than this stuff? Please help me here.

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.

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.