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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3.5
1649
5
22.4%
4
33.8%
3
21.3%
2
13.9%
1
8.6%

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July 17, 2011

Pros:

I think I've been using this for the past 2 years or so and I'm happy it worked out for me. Now, I am slowly getting out of the acne phase but I still get pimples now and then and use this. My Forehead is very oily and I'll will use this when ever a pimple pops up. I try my best to keep my skin clean to prevent outbrakes but I still get them even when I use this. Maybe I'm not cleaning my face good enough? Not sure. But I'm happy with retin-a and I'm afraid to try something else.

Cons:

Dry skin/ Skin Peels

Good, cheap and effective. It seems like this medication has improved my skin in many ways. It now looks smoth and soft. I still get pimples now and then and just apply some of this right on the pimple and it works. Also, when ever i get a pimple there are black spots left behind. This will clear them out very well but it will take some weeks to see resutls.
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July 12, 2011

Pros:

I swear by Retin-A. I use the 0.5% cream at night and love it! I rarely break out now but when I do have the occasional pimple, I dab a bit of Retin-A right on it and it is usually gone within a few days.

Cons:

It took several months for me to see results. I believe I suffered the initial breakout because my acne got worse before it got better which was a bit stressful.

I got so tired of hearing this when I was researching this medication but you really must be patient! I have been using Retin-A for over a year now and I love it. It has faded most of my acne marks and really cleared my skin up!
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June 23, 2011

Pros:

Definitly helps scarring
absorbs quickly
helps prevent acne
^^^^(not guaanteed bc im using another acne product as well)
lasts a long time

Cons:

Dryness at first
slowly improves skin
can irritaate skin more

so i HAD cystic acne appox. 4 months ago now i have MAJOR scarring and my dem. perscribed me this. im very thankful because along with doxy, and minocycline i had claered up completely and am now slowly riding myslef of the after math of the acne. the scars i did not notice any worsening of my skin like my derm said could happen thankfully i would reccomend this to anyone who is trying to get rid of scaring but not if your skin in inflamed
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June 18, 2011

Pros:

- cleared about 95% of my acne,no more cystic acne, blackheads, very few whiteheads.
-reduced the size of my pores
-slowly but does get rid of scars
-it feels really soft!
-my skin finally looks health!

Cons:

-takes time to work (6 months for me)
-peeling, burning, redness
-makes skin sensitive

So after everything else failed for me (differin, proactive, etc) even the pills my doctor prescribed which gave me lupus and got me extremely sick, this was my last resource! Bottom line is that you have to be extremely patient to use this medication because it does take time to work and makes your face look like hell the first few months, but since I had no other options I decided to be patient and wait and after 6 months of using it Im GLAD I DID!!! It cleared my face for about 95%, the other 5% it didnt work is due to my hormonal acne which I have to deal with once a month but after I started taking fish oil it has controlled it! My skin looks great though! One bad thing about it is that it made my skin super sensitive but if you are like me that everything else has failed and you are patient I recommend sticking to it because in the long run it will make your skin look and feel great =) Good Luck!
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June 15, 2011

Pros:

I've seen nothing but improvement.
No initial breakout
Months-old red spots have faded remarkably in 2.5 weeks.

Cons:

Spendy

The price is seriously the only con I could come up with. I'm 21 and have only had acne for the last year and a half. Each doctor has told me that it's the climate that I moved to that has caused my skin to freak out. I was in dry Central Oregon all my life, now I live in Portland. I feel like I've tried everything. Proactiv, glycolic peels, microdermabrasion, antibiotics, birth control, all with no luck. It's only been 2.5 weeks that I've been using tretinoin, but I have had no adverse reaction to the cream .025% I credit that to having taken two months of doxycycline immediately prior to starting. I stopped the doxy because the bloating was out of control :/ Anyhow, I wish I could be on both tretinoin and doxy to speed the results, but just the tretinoin alone has already faded my very, very red marks, and with the great foundation I use, they are virtually invisible. My texture is improving and I have had no peeling, no redness, no dryness, no discomfort. None. I've read some awful things about peoples reactions to this but my results have been stellar so far.
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June 14, 2011

Pros:

-promotes skin cell turnover and healthy cell development
-is the ONLY product proven in clinical trials to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
-highly effective in "fixing" acne
-helps speed up the healing process

Cons:

-makes skin super sensitive
-will cause redness and peeling on most people
-horrible initial breakout
-not a final solution; you probably will always have to use a low-dosage on and off if you want your skin to stay clear forever

so....i waited a super long time to post my review so i could be sure i saw the full cycle of effects...and trust me....some parts of the process were not pretty. it started out with the worst IBO of my life. I had thought my acne was bad before, but in the initial break out, which happened about 2 weeks in and lasted about 5 weeks, i didn't even want to leave my room. i didn't want my family to see me, let alone anyone else. makeup didn't help, because my red, peely skin would just flake and make the makeup look even worse. my social life suffered, my friends got pissed at me, guys thought i wasn't interested and moved on, etc. through this time, the only thing that kept me sane and willing to continue the treatment was coming on this website, and reading the multitude of reviews where others said they went through the same thing and came out of it after about 8 or 9 weeks. well the same thing happened for me. week 10 starts tomorrow and as of the past few days, my skin is completely clear with no active pimples. the only thing i have to deal with now is some residual superficial scarring and some hyperpigmentation, but i'm simultaneously using the Obagi NuDerm system, which has worked well for me in the past. i'm not worried about the scars as they are already starting to fade and heal; and besides, after going through such a horrible breakout, i feel like almost nothing can faze me now. please take my word and if you are using this treatment, don't give up until at least after week 12 or until the tube is gone--even the packaging states it may take up to 12-15 weeks for it to work. dermatologists are not retarded--there's a reason why they prescribe this medicine; it works! you just have to be patient and let it do it's job and use as directed. it will be very unpleasant for a while, but afterwards, your skin will be fresher than before! *ladies, if you need a good non-comedogenic makeup in
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June 2, 2011

Pros:

-if used properly it really doesnt dry skin to bad
-clears larger acne, and most bumps
-good for wrinkles

Cons:

-face shaded red
-small pimples still exist
-occasional pore blocked

Tretinoin cream is a good producy, however does not clear acne completley. However, skin looks fresh in the morning and clears 90% of acne. Still a few emerge regularly. used for around 12 weeks
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May 27, 2011

Pros:

Made spots disappear faster
fade spot marks
less greasy

Cons:

drying
breakout from the first few uses.
made skin tight

Made my skin peel and break out from the first few uses, but the spots was relatively fast to disappear. The tube is biggg! so it will last a long time. But remember to use a oil free moisturiser. I got it prescribed from my doctor so it was free.
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May 17, 2011

Pros:

-Works better than anything else I've used on fine lines
-Skin has a great texture (once cleared); very fresh and young looking

Cons:

-Initial break-out lasted three and a half months.

I started using this at the age of 29 after going to a dermatologist to ask for a product that combatted the whiteheads on my forehead and my emerging fine lines :) I was warned about the initial breakout, and it did last as long as I was warned, if not slightly longer (like other posters, I checked this board frequently to compare my progress to others). I just reached the 3 1/2 month point, and the final bumps are just going away. The initial breakout was not horrible, but definitely worse than any other breakouts I'd had (my skin had fairly clear throughout my life with just a few blemishes here and there). Makeup seemed to cover it up mostly but it was more bumpy than usual (my mom, ever tactful, did ask me if I had a rash on my forehead). So, it feels like forever, but once the IB is over, it does seem to be worth it. The texture of my skin is much improved, and once the redmarks from the IB fade, I'm sure it will look even better. Also, I noticed an improvement on the areas that didn't break out (mostly my cheeks and under my eyes) fairly quickly, and the texture is smoother than I've seen in a long time. One thing that I'm REALLY impressed with with this product is the way it worked on my fine lines around my eyes. I'd just started using a few over the counter products in the last year or so as I'd begun to see some lines around my eyes, and they worked moderately well, but the lines are definitely much reduced now, and I think I now look younger than my 29 years. I feel like this will be a great product to use through my 30s and later. Overall, I think it's worth the pain, and hopefully I'll look even better in the next few months! (Oh, and one tube lasts forever. I'm still on my first tube, and probably have at least a month left before it runs out.)
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May 8, 2011

Pros:

Lightens scars
Clears Skin
Company offers a rebate form (pay no more than $20 for prescription)

Cons:

Peeling
Dryness
Sensitivity to sunlight

I use Retin-A at night and Duac in the morning. It has really helped clear up my skin and fade scars. It does make your skin really dry, and you start to peel, but this usually goes away within a week. I got a drug rash from this stuff on my chest and back, but it cleared up quickly with hydrocortisone cream. I would recommend Retin-A, but I'm not sure how much it can do for people with deep scarring. I only have surface scars, and it clears those up really well.
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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