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
March 28, 2011
Cons:
*burns if you apply to much (first degree)
i love retin a but had a bad experience when it burned an area in which i applied to much but healed with aloe neoporin and vitamin e :) and i think it works by burning layers of skin. but anyways it has smoothed and lightened my skin & redmarks and i'm very happy love it
March 26, 2011
Pros:
-IT Works .
- very easy to use
- insurance covers it
- it would also do a little for scars. and smooths out complexion.
Cons:
-expensive without insurance but one tube last about 3 months
- works slowly
-dryness
-not 100 percent effective
- Got initial breakout the first month but it subsided with time.
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It didn't work for cysts that well but i was about 80 to 90 percent clear all year and there were even instances where i was clear all the way.
but my graduation is this year so i insisted my doctor to prescribe me antibiotics along with retina to clear me up totally. btw if u dont get cysts then this alone would be the best thing.
March 24, 2011
Pros:
Shrinks zits overnight
Effective
Cons:
Extremely drying
Makes skin peel
Harsh
Good for spot treatment, but is too harsh to use all over so it doesn't really help to prevent acne from forming, but really useful on trouble zits
March 8, 2011
Pros:
This def worked on my cheeks and jawline
Smoothed skin
Helped hyperpigmentation from old breakouts.
Lessened wrinkles.
Decreased pore size a bit
Used for about 8 weeks so far...
Cons:
Doesn't work on my hormonal acne on my chin. But cleared everywhere else on my face.
Used in combination with Doxycycline which didn't work at all...so now on combo with clindamycin lotion.
This is a good cream, I would recommend but still have breakouts on my chin
March 7, 2011
Pros:
-Increases self-esteem!
-Reduces pore size, especially on my nose.
-Hyperpigmentation (acne scarring) fades incredibly fast.
-Turnover rate (amount of time for pimple to appear and be gone) for new breakouts is less than 2 days.
Cons:
-Takes a significant amount of time to see results (over 2 months for me).
-Skin is very sensitive, dry.
-Initial breakout is painful and makes acne worse than before using the cream.
-Must be very patient when using it.
THIS PRODUCT WORKS! I have been wanting to write on this blog for over 2 months because I've used this site as a way to monitor my progress and also see how the product worked for others. It was comforting to know that other people were dealing with the same things as me and that IT WOULD GET BETTER with time! I suffered with acne in middle school (mostly on my forehead b/c I play hockey), but it cleared up during high school and into college. I had been using Proactiv since age 15 and I am 20 now. I enjoyed smooth, glowing, healthy skin with minor breakouts from time to time until August of 2010 when my eyebrow waxer told me to try an Aveda line of products to fully clear my skin. That was the biggest mistake I have ever made. In less than a month my skin had done a 180 and I had never had that much acne in my entire life (on my forehead, hairline, jawline, chin, around my mouth). It was a sad thing to look in the mirror and see that my skin was no longer smooth and clear, but covered in red bumps, blackheads, and white pimples. My self-confidence took a dive, hovering on the edge of depression. I didn't want to go to the store or class b/c I knew that people only saw the acne and didn't see me. I felt as though people were looking at me and wondering how my skin had gotten so bad in such a short time. I went to my doctor in December and he prescribed antibiotics (Tetracycline), birth control (Ortho-tri-cyclen lo), and topical medication (tretinoin/retin-a 0.05%). I have been using this combination for at least 2 months now and things have gotten much better. The initial breakout was hard to handle physically and emotionally b/c my acne got worse than I ever thought possible. My skin is almost back to it was before I had all this acne. (I would say 85% clearer). The hyperpigmentation is mainly the only thing I'm dealing with now, which will pass with time. PLEASE STICK WITH IT BECAUSE IT DOES GET BETTER! YOUR SKIN WILL CLEAR UP WITH TIME! BE PATI
February 27, 2011
Pros:
Really does improve skin
Evens out skin tone and texture
One bottle lasts a long time (3+ months!)
Cons:
Takes a long time to see improvement
Dries out skin (invest in a good moisturizer because the dryness doesn't seem to ever go away)
Expensive (I buy the brand name as I've heard the generic doesn't work as well)
I've been using Retin-A for several months now and I'm amazed. I've had acne for 10+ years. I didn't have any luck treating it until I started using Proactive along with birth control (Ortho-Cyclen). For a few years, that seemed to have solved all my acne worries. Unfortunately, my skin started to revert back to its teenager days. My dermatologist recommended that I use Retin-A and for a few months, an oral antibiotic (doxycycline). After I came off the antibiotics, my skin broke out again (but nothing compared to before). I kept using the Retin-A and now, about 3 months later, my skin is almost clear! I still get very small pimples but these go away in a day or two. My skin continues to dry out and flake. This is probably the most annoying side effect by far. I also find that it gets worse if I forget to use it for more than two days. So, invest in a really good moisturizer. If you just started using Retin-A, I really recommend that you bear through it for a few months. It does give you amazing-looking skin but you have to be patient!!!
February 18, 2011
Pros:
PLEASE READ!
helps get rid of acne faster
seems to reduce the oilies
gets rid of dark spots much faster than waiting!
Cons:
horrible if used improperly. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
when i had bad acne, i hated this stuff. i felt like i had no hope. when you have new inflammatory pimples popping up every night, this product is useless. it doesn't stop them from coming. i had to quit dairy completely and start drinking tons of green tea to slow down my acne. what this stuff IS good for is damage control. make SURE you wash your face at night, dry it completely, wait about 20 minutes for your skin to feel really dry, THEN apply the medication. start with a small amount, and THEN move up if necessary. it says use a pea size for your entire face, but i use a pea size for each cheek, and i use the .1 gel, so it's some pretty strong stuff. i used to follow this routine and then wake up with dry skin that would peel horribly and in patches (sometimes deeply, to the flesh, UGH!!! PAIN)...but now, i've learned to slather a thick layer of cetaphil cream on top of my medication, about 30 mins after applying the tretinoin. the damaged skin still sloughs off, but much more evenly and more safely since the cream seems to decrease the strength.
this routine works like a dream, but it does kinda ruin my sleep at night, b/c i'm conscious to not roll over on the side of my face...but it's totally worth it. my dark marks are fading so quickly, and my acne seems under control. i do still get pimples every day, but small ones that are barely noticeable (for the most part). my skin isn't perfect by any means, but i'm much happier about it, and i suggest you try this product along with playing with your diet and seeing if it's causing your acne. quitting dairy was a face-saver for me, and i highly recommend a trial period of no-dairy if you're at your wit's end. best of luck! sorry this is so scatterbrained and disorganized...i typed it up really quickly while watching tv. ALL THE BEST!
February 18, 2011
Pros:
helped more than anything else I've tried
pimples heal faster
scars fade more quickly
reduced oiliness a bit
Cons:
Initial breakout– don't expect results sooner than 12 weeks!
still have mild/moderate acne
expensive (for me)
dryness/flakiness
I have PCOS and have struggled with adult acne for 8 yrs. I've tried Duac, Benzaclin, Finacea, some oral antibitoics, and I can't even remember what else. I have not yet tried the big guns' Accutane, Spiro, etc. My acne has ranged from moderate to moderate-severe. It is inflamed but not cystic. I've been on Retin-A off & on for several years. The only time I stop it is when I'm pregnant. Each time I start using it, I have a bad initial break out. It takes a solid 12+ weeks for me to see results with Retin-A, but I eventaully get them. For me, Retin-A brings my acne to a tolerable/manageable level. I wish it did more, but my acne is hormonal so I think there's only so much topicals can do. Retin-A did clear my forehead completely and almost eliminated blackheads on my nose. It also makes pimples heal and scars fade much faster. But I also battle a lot of dryness/flakes, despite the fact that I've used it for so long. So there are pros and cons. For me, the results I have are worth it even though my skin is not perfect. I wish I could say it worked wonders, but I think Retin-A is about as good as topical treatment is going to get for me. P.S. I started using jojoba oil 3 weeks ago and that has helped a lot with the flakes, so you might consider adding a few drops of that to your moisturizer if you are on Retin-A.
February 5, 2011
Pros:
-clears up acne and scars
-as well as even skin tone
-changes life :)
STICK WITH IT!!!
Cons:
-takes a long time to work around two moths to see and real improvement
-may look worse at the beginning
-May look bad with sunscreen (oily) but ignore that
- low self esteem when starting
Well for everyone here I'm here to tell you I have struggled from acne and have had acne since my 8th grade year and have has oily and scar skin due to acne. I have tried alot of products On tv and they have failed me and many other people. So I went to my doctor and received 2 products TRETINOIN AND CP 1%. Use both once daily and use sunscreen in the mourning before you go outside always!!! It takes 2 months to see improvement so be patient !!!! And remember to put a pea size amount .. Wash ur face before applying and wait 20-30 min ....it will work for u like it worked for me :)) I hope u have success
January 17, 2011
Pros:
-evens skin tone
-makes skin soft
-reduces pore size
-so far it seems to be working
-cheap if insured.
Cons:
-increased redness first weeks
-can be somewhat irritating
-initial breakout
I've had enough with my acne a few months ago and I went to the extremity and ordered a bunch of unnecessary garbage that didn't work for me and in between those months my face went from light-moderate to SEVERE I mean pimples galore! all over my cheeks and jaw lines, painful cysts. The whole works. So I went to derm and I was prescribed Retin-A, Clyndamicin, and some doxycyline pills. So for Retin-A seems to be doing it's job and I have noticed improvement overall but I made the mistake of playing soccer without sunscreen! So my face has been red and itchy these past few days but either way the creams seem to be working and I only have two weeks so I'll make another review in two more.
Pros:
*lightens marks from acne
* speeds skin turnover
*gets rid of dead skin to reveal new nice skin