Tretinoin

Cleared my acne up
Cleared my acne scars (hyperpigmentation marks) up
Easy to Use
I'm pretty sure it helps with wrinkles too
Definitely go talk to a dermo about getting this, it's amazing

Cons:

Took a while to start to work
Made my skin peel a ton
Made my skin sensitive to the sun and to touch
My skin would sometimes dry out but this was really rare (It only happened twice)

Okay, so my acne was pretty bad. There was far to many pimples and white heads and cystic bumps to count. I had a lot of deep cystic acne on my forehead only at first. But soon I started to get white heads on my right cheeks. And to make matters worst, I popped them. I know you shouldn't, but they were so ugly and they really bothered me. I was on Proactiv, and saw almost no results. I have pretty oily skin and I don't think Proactiv was strong enough. I also started developing small bumps on my temples which spread to my cheeks and chin. I started getting acne around my lip especially on the corners. I started getting deep pimples on my back which really hurt and I also started getting small white head type things on my chest. I was getting really insecure and I hated how I looked. So finally I asked my mom to go to a dermo. I went to my dermo and she gave me a prescription for Retin-A Micro 0.04% and Plexion was and an Antibiotic. I was happy because I had read Retin-A Micro works miracles. I used Plexion both morning and night and applied Retin-A at night. At first my skin got worst, but I kept using until I reached the one month mark, and then my skin started getting better really quickly.It would peel everyday but it wasn't too noticeable, and when it peeled in an area with a scar, the peeled skin would be noticeably darked and my own skin was noticeably lighter and the scar was less visible. (Okay, so I'm calling them scars but my dermo said they hadn't reached that point. She said they were hyperpigmentation marks where the acne had been. Whatever they're called, Retin-A really helped them) Now my skin looks amazing and I have absolutely no acne or small bumps. Just a few of those marks left, and they are all really healing quickly. Just remember to apply sunscreen every time you'll be somewhere with sun like the beach. I was going to get a chemical (Glycolic Acid) peel I had scheduled once a week for the next month, but I don't know if I need 1 now

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July 25, 2011

Pros:

Pros are - it works. Clears acne. Makes the complexion better. All sorts of scientific goodness in a tube. Price is reasonable.

Cons:

Some side effects - if you use too much and too often, your face peels - which - may not look all that good, however, it's simply doing it's job. If you can't tolerate this, switch to Retin-A Micro, or blend the cream with a moisturizer and use every other day.

I use Retin-A in cycles. A couple years on, a couple years off. It always does it's job. I usually use it for a few years - and get tired of the routine of using it. When I have an acne outbreak (especially cystic) - I use it again! It's the king of medicines for the skin - if you have too many side effects, use one of the retrinol products - they take longer to work, however, they are more mild.

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scientastic

July 24, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up 100% of my moderately severe noncystic acne.
Cleared 100% of my keratosis
No side effects when used properly
Finally, perfect skin

Cons:

Peeling if used improperly.
Sun burn if not using sun screen.
Higher doses work no better than low doses but will burn skin.
Cysts take longer time to drain and will flare up if not fully healed before quitting.

28 yr old guy andstill had acne. I never understood why. I rarely got cysts but always had blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples size of peas on chest, back, and face. My problem areas were never localized, always moving. I barely kept control with over counter products caked on at night and washing throughout the day. Plus everything herbal. When in the army at 19, I got .1% tretinoin. It worked but burned my face no matter how sparingly I used it. But it also was the only thing that worked. If I stopped, my burnt raw skin would flare up cause it was open to the environment and bacteria. I went off it after a year and my skin stayed calm enough to use over counter crap to barely stay somewhat clear. (Meaning it was still bad skin but good enough for me) After hitting 28 and noticing my skin getting steadily worse, not better, with age, I decided it was time to suck it up and burn my skin for another year. I had a civilian doctor (who was much better than the army docs that refused to send me to derm because they wanted to handle it) that gave me .025% tretinoin. The difference was night and day. The lower dose worked better, with no peeling if used every other day, and lite application. There is no need to cake it on (my old 19 yr old habit) cause it will only cause burning and peeling and not work faster. Less is more. Less is more. Less is more. I can't stress that enough. In one day my skin calmed, and the clogged pours surfaced. The flare up many get is because the acne in the deeper skin is coming out. It's healing. Second day, gross as it sounds, everything was loose enough to drain. My skin looked "clear" for the frst time in many years. Third day I applied my second dose (every other day) and my blackheads and whiteheads were surfacing and washing off (peeling but not really). The red spots were smaller. After that, my skin slowed down and took about two weeks t

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clearpro1

July 5, 2011

Pros:

Works!! Smooths Skin; Easy Regimen Addition;
So many compliments on my improved skin appearance'

Cons:

1 Month IB Period; Must use with other products for full effects; Worried about loss of effectiveness??

My regimen for past 2 months: 1. Wash with 10% Oxy Benz/alternated with Benzoyl 5% wash (morning and night) 2.Clindamycin 1% 3. Moisturized with PCA daily moisturizer w/sunscreen 4. Afternoon wash if skin is oily with 5% Benzoyl cleanser 5. Apply Tretinoin nightly/alternate with 5% over-the-counter benzoyl acne medicine This regimen has been making my skin really smooth and I hope that my alternating between other products every other day will keep my skin from building a resistance and the meds from losing effectiveness!

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Ella

July 4, 2011

Pros:

*Cleared my acne up 100%
*lightening scars
*gave me my confidence back
*have to wear way less makeup

Cons:

*At first gives IB but then clears it allllll up wonderfully
*Have to wear high SPF
*sometimes my skin gets burny or itchy when I am out in the sun too long
*takes a long time to work but well worth the wait

Oh.my.goodness. I LOVE this stuff. I have to admit, at first I hated it. It gave me a small inital breakout, made my skin super dry and peely, and since I was an avid swimmer it make my skin sooo dry. I was thinking about stopping this product, but I'm SO glad I didn't. Before I started using this product I had atleast 40 awful zits on my face, and I have been using this since March and my skin is 100% pimple free. I only get like one around the time of my period and it fades quickly. I was sadly left with alot of PIH after my breakouts cleared but this has been helping to fade them rather well. Pleasplease try it, if you notice my acne severity says "very light" that is because of this, I wish I could put "non exsistant" If you use this along with spirnolactone you acne will dissappear! Good Luck!

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Grace18

July 4, 2011

Pros:

effective,I mean really effective
makes skin glow
one of the FDA approved treatments for wrinkles
fade discolorations

Cons:

time , time and time!!! just wait,thats the point
its not like other acne treatments ,it will take time but you will be amased by the results,your skin will be so young and glowing.

1)use COMBINATION treatmenta,like clindamycin or benzoyl peroxde morning and tretinoin at night,you will be SHOCKED with the results 2) after 15-20 minutes after application use a very good formulated moisturizer NOT made for OILY skins ITS FANTASTIC

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Blah

June 22, 2011

Pros:

works well controlling cystic acne
works well controlling inflammatory acne
evens skin texture and tone
might even be helping with my fine lines

Cons:

holy freaking PEELING
takes a long time to work
still get pimples, but it's better

I developed cystic acne on my cheeks and inflammatory acne around my temples and forehead at 23 and nothing (NOTHING) helped. I tried different topical antibiotics and proactiv (eff that stuff) and apple cider vinegar and lemon juice and an enormous assortment of expensive specialty products. I was sick of the useless antibiotics so I switched dermatologists and the first thing he said was "oh, you need some Retin A Micro!" and I started using this product that very night. I was worried about initial breakouts, but my skin was so bad I didn't notice if there were any. My acne did not change until about 8 solid weeks of using it nightly. Now I might get two or three cystic acne pimples every couple of weeks, and it's not perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than having 8-10 all over both cheeks at a time, like I used to have. This stuff does make you peel... TERRIBLY. The area around my mouth and chin gets terrible dry patches, I can not put enough lotion on. The best recommendation I can give is to put petroleum jelly preemptively where you notice you get the dry skin every night. There is still a patch on my left cheek where I will get those one or two cysts every few weeks, so I've started putting it on night and day in that area only and using lots of sunscreen. It definitely has helped! Here's what I do: Morning: -Wash with Mario Badescu seaweed face wash -Azelex all over my face and chest and back (works GREAT on inflammatory acne) -Retin A on my problem area -Renee Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment on both cheeks Night: -Wash with Mario Badescu seaweed face wash -Azelex on my chest and back -Retin A all over my face -Renee Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment on both cheeks -Petroleum jelly on my dry areas I hope this helps, good luck!

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alm

June 13, 2011

Pros:

prevented breakouts
cleared zits fast
lightened scars
made face smooth and glowing

Cons:

redness
flaking

This product has really worked great for me. I was SO nervous about the initial breakout but it actually never happened. The medicine started working instantly and cleared my existing zits. I had scars from a previous breakout and although they are still there, I've only been using the product 3.5 weeks, they are fading more and more each day. I started using less than a pea-size every other night because I was scared of the IB. Then I moved onto a pea size each night (30 mins after washing) and now my face can handle a bit more than that each night. I wake up with great skin but after washing and applying lotion it gets a little irritated and has a red tinge. Nothing that makeup won't cover. Also sometimes my skin will be flakey but I just wash with a facecloth to exfoliate and apply spf face lotion right after. Everyone has seen an improvement in my skin and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon! I hope this helps!

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HEALANATOR

June 12, 2011

Pros:

cleared skin 100%
Scars disappeared
Smoother, supple skin

Cons:

ABSOLUTELY NONE

It worked for me 100%. I Used retrieve cream (tretinoin) and noticed a remarkable change in my skin within 3 months. I suffered with severe adult acne on my face for over 10 years. I am now 30 years old and enjoying my skin for the 1st time in 10 years! People have even commented on my skin. Smoother, clearer, and young looking. I have not had a pimple for months. I use the cream every night without fail. had absolutely no negative side effects and I just cant believe how well this cream works without any pain/side effects. I am SO SO SO HAPPY! I hope you have as much luck as me with this!!!! I do want to have children soon though so am afraid what will happen when i stop using the cream!!

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maew

June 11, 2011

Pros:

-clears acne
-makes skin feel soft
-makes skin look younger

Cons:

-some people have adverse reactions
-makes skin sensitive to sunlight

EXCELLENT! I noticed results within a month. It never dried out my skin because i have really oily skin, and my skin stayed really oily but my acne cleared up pretty fast anyways. I would still get cysts but instead of lasting for a month or longer it cleared up in a few days, less than a week. The cysts are hormonal, I am using Spironolactone to clear them and together with retin A my skin is 99% clear. If your skin can tolerate retin A definitely try it!

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