Acne.org Products
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.
Used Tretinoin? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 2, 2014
Tretinoin has literally changed my life
I have suffered from acne and cystic acne for 10 years. I have tried almost EVERYTHING there is to try from topical to oral treatments. I recently stopped taking minocycline after 5 years of use. I regret taking that because I now have to live with the side effects of taking an antibiotic for so long with results of hyper pigmentation, yellowing of the eyes, and gums/tooth discoloration. Anyway, the day I stopped taking minocycline, I began my treatment with tretinoin. It has been six months and my skin is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I am no longer embarrassed to go without makeup in front of my boyfriend and it is such a freeing state of existence. Those with acne will understand what I mean. There still is slight discolorsfion from years of acne but it is improving every day. Please, please, please give tretinoin a chance. It works, just be patient!! It took 2 months for me to be happy with my skin. Hope this incredibly long review helps :)
April 28, 2012
Cons:
The largest con would be the waiting time, I waited entire 3months to stop breaking out.
My acne has gotten more severe than what I started with
Dries my skin a little
Would be a little expensive without insurance coverage
I started it (0.025%)with minocycline 100mg in November, and the initial breakout started one week after that. Every breakout had left a red deep mark after that, which was very esteemcrusher!!!
I almost cried every week, and avoided to look into mirrors anywhere I go,it was an extremely frustrating and horrible period. Until the end of my second month and entering my third, I realized that the breakout frequency is slowing down, even though it was still a lot! I was very aware of my diet at that time and drank lots lots lots lots of water!!! And at the end of January, the breakouts stopped all of a sudden!!
Oh!i was using retin a with neostrata level 3smoothing cream during the day
And all the until now, I only get small bumps when I eat junk food or pull an allnighter..and these do not leave any marks and has no heads, they just come and go in 2-3days at most. So I believe my acne is under co ntrol so I asked to drop minocycline to 50mg.and everything worked well until now. I be still got the red marks that are fading slowly but at least I have not gotten even one major break out after January, not even my menstruation,
I do think diet is a factor but I sometimes eat unhealthy food and no reaction shown :)so just don't eat too much and drink water and eat veggies and fruits!!and relax as well cuz stress is the beauty killer!!
And be optimistic that it will work!!i came to this site almost everyday during the breakout stage and wished to see some encouraging words, and because of that I toucghed through that awful time and now enjoying the skin I have now:):):)
Btw,I have been having acne since 13 yes Los, and it is our privilege to have acne as teens:) I'm 19, and I guess I can still call myself a teen:):)
Hang in there people!!!things will turn out beautifully!!u have to believe in that to make it happen!! U r beautiful no matter what:D
March 28, 2012
Pros:
-reduction in acne and clogged pores
-diminished broken capillaries
-smoother, brighter complexion
-smaller looking pores
Cons:
-takes a while to begin working
-NEED a good moisturizer
-peeling, flaking, redness, and burning for the first few months
I am 25 years old and have always had mild-moderate acne, blotchy skin, excess oil, large pores, and a generally ruddy complexion (basically...just bad skin). I began Retin-A (0.05% cream, generic version Retino-A) exactly 10 weeks ago. I'm writing this review because for the first 8 weeks I desperately wanted to quit using the product because my skin looked HORRIBLE. I had constant peeling, even MORE oil, flaking that would not go away, and redness. I was on the verge of stopping but read some reviews that encouraged me to keep going, and I'm very glad I did. Around week 9/10, my skin made a turn for the better and for the last 1-2 weeks has looked fabulous. I can now use the Retin-A almost every night with no more redness or peeling (I still have minor flaking but I exfoliate with Burt's Bees Exfoliating Scrub about 3-4 times per week which takes care of it).
While using this product, you NEED a good moisturizer. For the first 8 weeks, I tried 3 different moisturizers but none of them got rid of the flakes and peeling. Finally, I began using Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream which is AMAZING. It does not burn at all when I apply it and it completely gets rid of all flakes for the entire day. Without this moisturizer, I'm not sure I could even use Retin-A. Find it at CVS: a large tub is about 15 dollars.
I want to let everyone know that even if you are discouraged right now and think your skin is looking so much worse, KEEP USING IT! It will get better. You just need to find the right moisturizer and let your skin get used to it. For some people, this may take about 3-4 months, so hang in there. If you're having trouble finding a good moisturizer that does not burn and gets rid of flakes, buy Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream (it is noncomedogenic). This is the only moisturizer that worked at all for me. I apply Neutrogenia SPF 85 sunscreen and then the cream atop that as needed in the morning.
I will update again in a month to let you all know how it is g
January 28, 2012
Pros:
smooths skin
clears acne
Cons:
makes your T-zone oily
thins your skin way too much thus causing your skin to scar more easily EVEN FROM PILLOW MARKS or scratching your cheeks from an itch!
The initial breakout and flaking of the skin the first 2 weeks is pretty bad too.
I've been on Tretinoin for about 8 weeks now and have noticed a significant difference in my skin. All my cystic acne is completely gone and I've had no new breakouts. The first 5 weeks were tough though and I wanted to give up so bad. I started reading the reviews for this product here on this site and was motivated to stick it out. I'm so happy I did because the results are really good. Not AMAZING as others say but it does drastically reduce acne. I still am struggling with the discoloration my acne has left but hopefully by 12 weeks I should be 100% clear. I do have a 2 inch scar on my right cheek from either scratching my face while on the product or it could've been from sleeping on my face and getting a deep pillow mark that has not gone away in the last 2 weeks. I'm pretty upset about that. However, if you DO NOT touch your face and sleep on your back you should be okay.
October 29, 2011
Pros:
Really works!
Reduces acne upto 95%
smoothen skin
Cons:
Takes a lot of time
scars are still there
initial breakouts
redness, dryness, flakiness
I have been using this product from last 3 months.. I am on .025% cream.. The first month was horrible..my acne got worse.. I hate to go out of my house as i was depressed.. People only stares at my acne.. I just can't tolerate it. Every night i thought of committing suicide.. (I was mad I know) but then i came across this site. I read reviews of different people and this really helped me. So first I had breakouts then dryness and flakiness.. And after crossing 3 months mark my acne started to heal. Now i only have scars left.. And i think these scars will also disappear in a month or two.. I highly recommend this..
October 31, 2011
Pros:
clear skin
no more acne
fading scars
helps with discoloration
Cons:
dry skin
I forgot to mention I use tretinoin .025%
everyone needs to try this I swear it cures acne
just be sure to use the right amount and in the beginning you might want to use it every other day
and make sure you're using a good cleanser!!! I think using bad cleansers is what made me break out so bad in the first place. look for alcohol free oil free fragrance free cleansers. also try not to get anything with sulfates. I use loreal go clean 360 cleanser but I don't lather it up. I just spread it on my skin and rinse off. it still absorbs oils and cleans your face fine without over drying and stripping your skin.
also, it is important you only use tretinoin at night. in the morning I use clyndimiacin (not sure if I spelt that right) 1 % all over my face. it moisturizes too. 2.5 % bp in the morning also as a spot treatment. I don't use anything but these products and my face has never been this clear. I swear the face products industry puts bad stuff in their products on purpose so you continue to break out and buy more products. go see a dermatologist! get tretinoin and clyndamiacin and 2.5 benzoyl peroxide! they might also prescribe you a bp wash but don't use that. I've tried 2 bp washes in my life they suck. idk about antibiotics I was prescribed those too but I didn't take them . I think theyre unnesscesary.
September 7, 2011
Pros:
Smoother skin.
Healthy skin tone.
Fresh faced.
Confidence boost.
Could say alot more!
Cons:
The only thing that bothers me is how flakey my skin looks and kinda feels when using it. Slight 'stinging' sensation on newly sqeezed or hard, angry under the skin kind of Spots.
I havn't had Acne for a terribly long time. I'm a 13 year old girl now and when I started my Acne and treatment. I basically blame a cheap Face Mud Mask although my Mum thinks different. I used to have lovely skin and one day... POOF! I used to wake up depressed about going to School and would often cry over how ugly and self concious I felt. I didn't have the world of Money so treatments were minimal. I used 4 Hour spot cream from Clearasil and didn't see a change. It all just got to much and I demanded to see a Dermatologist but my Mum said it would cost too much. She took me to the local Doctors and he said I had slight Acne and told me it takes years to fully cure. He gave me Retin-A which I rub over my face (Minus cheeks) at night after a face wash. Can't really remember how long Iv'e been using it for but didn't think it was doing anthing but peel my skin at first. Absoulutly love this product and suggest any one to go to a Doctor and get it on Prescription like me. Don't feel like just because of a few spots and redness that you are any less of a person. Your beautiful no matter what, and youv'e got to start believing it! (I would also recomend a dab of Sudo-Creme on any redness) ;) Good luck Gorgeous, Charlotte <3
August 28, 2011
Pros:
Clears up the tiny bumps.
Clears up all other kinds of acne
No new bumps or lesions form.
Skin is smoother than before acne started.
Skin is healthier looking than ever.
Old lesions heal faster.
Cons:
Irritates your skin at times.
Took me 10 weeks for no new lesions to appear.
There is an initial breakout.
Basically, this product gives you 10 weeks of bad skin for near perfect skin forever after. I would recommend this product to anyone else. At many points during the initial 10 weeks I found myself worrying about whether the product would actually begin to clear up the acne at all. However, just a couple of days after 10 weeks I noticed that no new lesions were appearing. Not only this, my skin had a better overall complexion than before I stared retin-a micro gel .04%. If you are a current user who finds them self in the early weeks of usage, and are worrying about your initial breakout, my advice would just be to stick it through because it will be worth it before you know it. To those of you who are questioning whether or not to use this product, I would say use it. Just be aware that there is an initial breakout which means you will probably have more acne lesions than you ever have before.
February 10, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up acne
Pore size decreased
Takes two months to actually notice any difference but stick with it.
Haven't had a major break out since
Cons:
Can dry out skin
I've been using Retin A for over a year now and I absolutely love it. I started breaking out last winter terribly and tried benzoyl peroxide and other prescribed medication but the only one that actually works in Retin A. It took awhile to actually work and I was worried at first but in the end it's well work it!
October 10, 2010
Pros:
- works on acne and acne scars.
- clears out pores
- increases cell turn over rate
- softer smoother skin
- not as harsh as Benzoyl Peroxide!!!
- stops break outs
Cons:
acne will get worse before it gets better so be patient. It will dry out your skin but no more than any other topical acne med and also makes your skin a bit sensitive so moisturize to conbat irritation.
THIS WORKS. It will take some time. For me the first sign of releaf came at about the 3 week mark, but I am also on antibiotics. I REALLY recomend you start on some antibiotics when you start using this to keep the intial break out to a minimum, mine wasn't that bad. DONT stop using. Your ance will inprove dramaticly only with consistency... trust me! My ance was bad I had whiteheads, blackheads and deep painful cyst and nothing worked. My doc gave me a prescristion of Doxycycline and Tretintoin .025% cream and this super combo work amazingly attacking my acne from the inside and out. Its been about a month and my face is much clearer and is contiuning to improve. I also see my scars and flesh colored bumps slowing fading. It usually takes as long as 3 months to see an improvement on scars. But for me after only a month I see a small improvment. For those of us who have scars we know how big a difference even the smallest improvement can make and it reassures us that it is working even if its at a slow pace. Also if you start this while your breaking out your current acne will have to heal so give it time.
Pros:
It worked after a long time of waiting ang dark days
Slowly gets rid of the marks left behind