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 5, 2006

Pros:

I use Abra detox complexion wash in the morning and at night. It is gentle and all natural. No drying. In the morning I use Benza Clin and at night I use Retin-A micro gel. My face started to show improvement within a week with no serious sideeffects

Cons:

The Benza Clin makes my cheeks sore for about a half hour but you can live with it. It's not that bad.

Definately wash your face with the Abra Detox Complexion Wash. It cost about $8 and you can find it in the health food store or on line. It is for oily and combination skin. It's a soap free AHA fruit cider was with plant surfactants to deeply cleanse and detoxify problem skin. Also use the BenzaClin in the morning and Retin-A at night..both after washing with the ABRA..you will see a difference.
January 19, 2012

Pros:

Brightens skin
Clears some acne, mostly blackheads and whiteheads

Cons:

Flaking

Not good for deep acne, but still good for the skin. Doesn't reach to deep levels to clear most acne, that requires something entirely different. I would still recommend this product for the lighter acne and for your blackheads and whiteheads. If you alternate at night between moisturizer and Retin-A, you will notice a much better quality of your skin, but will still have your deeper cystic and nodular acne.
January 12, 2012

Pros:

None

Cons:

Pimples in areas I never had before all over my face that would not go away
Made my skin oily
The pimples that I got ended up looking scabby, and rough
Left me with lots of red marks because of all the breakouts I experienced

This was the worst product I have ever used on my face. I had mild/moderate acne at the time, but it was persistent and I could never get it to go 100% away so I decided to give this a try because of all the glowing reviews. However, I greatly regret that I ever used this. I used it for 8 months, and finally just gave up. Even though my acne was not improving I was still so hopeful that it would eventually get clear while on this medication because I heard so many great things about this medication. But, it just did not work for me. I got terrible pimples all over my face, in places I had never had acne before. They were very painful, and they were difficult to get rid of. They would last for weeks and once they went away they would come back again. It was a never ending cycle that I could not get rid of. I finally stopped using it and started to use BP and my skin started to improve immediately. It has been about a year since I stopped retin-a and my skin is in much better condition than it was before, but it still has a little ways to go.
December 9, 2011

Pros:

i didn't have any with this product unfortunately

Cons:

I have very dry skin to begin with and this only made it worse didn't exfoliate what so ever when my dermatologist put me on this my skin was pretty clear except for a butt load for red marks and some scars and after using this for 8 month my skin is back to how it was before i got rid of my acne only worse

not a good experience. pretty depressing actually still looking for the right product if nothing works soon im gonna have to try accutane cause this is just bloody ridiculous.
June 30, 2011

Pros:

-Only had to use once daily
-Easy to apply
-Dont have to use much

Cons:

-Made my skin peel badly
-Skin felt very strange after application
-Product smells bad
-My skin became red, very irritated, and very dry
-It hurt to smile due to irritation and peeling around my mouth
-My moisturizer, sunscreen, WATER, touching my face, or lying on a pillow STUNG!
-Discontinued use after 5 days because i couldnt stand the way my skin felt

I refused to continue using this because it, well, IT WRECKED MY SKIN! I could stand it. Didnt work for me at all! Too strong i guess.
March 21, 2011

Pros:

The fact that it seems to have worked for some people

Cons:

-Extreme redness and peeling at the start
-Initial breakout
-Overall, made things worse
-Skin becomes paper thin
-Old marks stick around for weeks

Had a lot of hope for this, but wish I'd never tried it. Tried for about 5 weeks and just couldn't do it anymore. Overall, made things worse
May 2, 2009

Pros:

makes your skin glow, keeps it young, works slowly on acne, just keep it up

Cons:

broke out for a while, by awhile, I mean like 3 months.

So I seriously went on this thing SO MUCH just to find out more info on retin-A-micro. it was soooo frustrating going day after day with nothing working, so i started using benzaclin which doesnt prevent pimples but dries them out instantly, and then finally in april i started a new pill with lower estrogen and im FINALLY clear. I cant tell you exactly what is doing the job, but i bet it's all three of the meds. I know the retin-A is keeping my skin looking young,at the very least. Good good luck :) (oh and it didnt make my skin peel and get red like a lot of people, i used vitamin E lotion which is really cheap and you can find it at drug stores, keeps your face from getting so dry)
April 29, 2009

Pros:

None

Cons:

Drys skin, redness, works for a few months then stops doing anything, expensive

Do not get this, it won't help.
April 2, 2009

Pros:

Clears up pimples and shrinks them overnight

Cons:

None

Doctor told me to just dab in on and not rub it in on only spots that were broken out, not the whole face. I put on anytime of the day and put makeup over and its fine.
March 20, 2009

Pros:

about to try it for the first time

Cons:

...

I have had acne since I was in grade 6 (age 11) and now I'm 24. It was never that bad until I got to highschool (grade 10). I tried using home remedies such as lemon, yogurt, tumeric powder. Nothing helped. Then I started using Proactiv. I used it from highschool until my 3rd year in university. My acne was very much controlled and in terms of foundation, I only used a loose powder (translucent). I had been in a long relationship with my ex and once I broke up, I not only broke up with him emotionally, but my face started to break up as well. I felt I hit a mid-life crisis. I totally stopped using Proactiv as it did not help my acne. I started getting cystic acne all around the sides of face. I finally consulted a derm and they put me on Clindamycin. I used it for about 5 or 6 months until I noticed (and everyone else me) that I started getting darker. Continued on next post

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.