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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April 1, 2007

Pros:

works extremely well for scar-less acne that are mild and or severe; results visible in 4 to 5 months

Cons:

temperorily works for treating atrophic/icepick scarring by increasing collagen and tightning the skin; doesnot provide a permanent solution to scarring

after taking accutane my skin became extra sensitive; even a small pimple would leave a mark. Overtime, these marks, later classifed as ice pick scars increased and soon covered the upper part of both of my cheeks. derm put me on 0.025% retin and within 3 weeks, my skin became extremely firm and ofcourse very rosy. This was apparently due to increase of collagen, which gives makes your skin firm and tight. So I continued using it for a good 4 months, but gradually its effects subsides as your skin becomes 'used' to it and I have noticed that the 'firmness' and 'tightness' in the skin is replaced by flakiness and blotichness. this makes the texture of the skin look horrible because all of a sudden your scarring looks so widespread. So I am not sure what the next step is from here, but one option is to increase its strength. One thing is though that while on retin-a treatment there are absolutely no acne breakouts. I took it to treat my scars and have so far not been successful.
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March 18, 2007

Pros:

it makes your pimples less imflamed and they heal faster

Cons:

its dries out your skin and makes your out breaks worse and more often.

Ive been on it for a month...cant see a huge difference :( but I have noticed that if you steam your face, it helps a lot! I wash my face and boil water with lemon drops in it, then I steam my face, when its done I put Retinal Micro and to me, it seems to be working better. I have tried cetaphil in the past, and it worked really well...I will let you all know the update.
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January 21, 2007

Pros:

I can't recall any

Cons:

Made my acne sooo much worse... yet not better

I had moderate acne and my derm put me on Retin-A. She warned me that my acne would get worse, and then better. So, I used Retin-A every night for a month, and I saw nothing. FINALLY after a month, my acne started to get worse, so I was excited that it would get better soon. Every morning I would wake up and my acne would be worse and worse: redness, huge zits forming, soo flaky, and embarassing. The problem? My acne never got better after it got worse! I went back to my derm and she said my acne got so bad she would consider Accutane. I DO NOT RECCOMEND RETIN-A.
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December 30, 2006

Pros:

helps to stop ur skin from breaking out

Cons:

u will continue to get some breakouts, but much less than before retin-a...make ur skin flaky, but just use a mositizrer like aloe vera or get one from ur dermatologist

it really isnt that great didnt really help with the acne marks left from old acne
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December 27, 2006

Pros:

Clears up skin after many weeks

Cons:

too may side effects, skin becomes irritated, red spots, skin flaks off wich is imbarrasing if your in school or at work, takes too much time.

I started with retin a micro and minocline 8 weeks ago... i see very little results but there getting there ...it has many ups and downs and there was no steady improvment at all...just when it appeared to be getting better, it turned just as worse as the first week...my best advice it to follow the directions exsacly how they are written or your doctor recommends...i have tried proactive, differine, and accutane, but what i have had best results with has been bezamycine....that stuff doesnt solve the problem but it controls it
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December 22, 2006

Pros:

No known pros.

Cons:

Made acne worse. Burning feeling. Peely.

Only made acne more irratated. Face felt like it was on fire and hurt. Dries out skin, but moisturizing made it worse. catch 22. The tube has about a 3 month supply. Never put on right after washing. You must wait 20-30 mins to apply. Even if its 3 am and you're about to fall asleep. you will get increased side effects if you put retin a micro on after washing your face.
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December 2, 2006

Pros:

The product does help some small zits on the surface of the skin "dry out" quicker. So there may be a bit of a use as a "spot treatment" (but be prepared, you may notice some redness around the treated area a few days later.)

Cons:

On sensitive skin, causes much redness (irritation) and you will undergo a long period of your skin looking worse before it may (or may not) improve. Also, what they don't tell you, is once the pimples come and go, they often leave many "dark spots".

PLEASE, PLEASE consider strongly whether you want to even begin using this product!! I cannot emphasize this enough. Dermatologists I've been to often just prescribe this right away it seems. My skin type: a) Had mild to moderate acne since high school (now in mid 30's) b) Gets fairly oily during the day c) KEY: Had many subtle "pimples underneath the surface" deep down (hardly even visible until using this product) I thought I would give it a shot for the base 3-month period, only to find (being very honest here) that it: a) Caused a lot of redness b) Took a long time for pimples that did come to the surface to go away c) *** Left many unhealed brown marks on face even after pimple had come to surface and dried out. If you have very "surfacy" pimples (i.e. - not many deep under the skin) then perhaps this may work for you. But I SUFFERED with low self-esteem for 3 months and it took 6 months (with some Aloe Vera help) for my face to return to norma
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November 24, 2006
plz don t try RETISOL-A it s the f**kin' worse product i ve used i started use it about 3 months ago and i notice that my face going worse and red sopt come up and dryness really don t use it
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October 16, 2006

Pros:

Works well for the first month

Cons:

Redness, blotchy-coloured skin, rash, blackheads, sensitivity to the sun

I am happy to hear that it works well for some, because I was starting to think that my dermo is a sadist... Since using a combo of minocycline (50 mg) and nightly retisol-a (.025%) treatment for the last 4 months, my face actually hurts all over. My face is covered with a horrible rash that is a million times worse than the periodic acne that I had before starting. Worse still, I can't stand the sun, or even the brightness of my bathroom lights. This is horrible, horrible stuff!
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October 15, 2006

Pros:

got rid of my blackheads

Cons:

did nothing for my acne and dried up my face

I used retin a micro and the only good thing was that it got rid of my blackheads but other than that it did nothing for my acne. I even got more cysts which has caused my scarring..
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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