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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January 2, 2011

Pros:

- No more acne
- Helps scarring
- Light
- Smells better than most acne products
- Little goes long way

Cons:

- Seems to have "stained" my face red

I'd rather have a red face than have acne. Appears to be working on acne scars but I'm not sure. Good product, only downfall is the red face.
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December 22, 2010

Pros:

softer healthier general look of skin
reducing severe acne
reduces cystic acne quickly
less cystic acne in general
reduces amount of smaller pimples
reduces marks from acne

Cons:

dry flaky skin at times
expensive item

its a great product. ive been on retin-a micro .1% for a few years now. i started on the lower dose. the product definitely helps keep more control that before, it did not clear me up COMPLETELY tho i have tried everything BUT accutane and nothing has. i see a significant reduction in cystic acne and especially the little acne pimples. definitely reduces the post acne marks. and i think the product helped get me less oily. it controls a good amount of my acne and im happy, i wish it were clear completely, but im very satisfied with retin-a and wont EVER be without it! i used regular retin-a once, however, it gave me AWFUL breakouts and slick nasty skin, i hated it. stick with the micro for me. it is an expensive item...i purchase it from the UK its a goooood amount cheaper. its the johnson johnson brand. a tube that is 20G lasts about 2-3 months for me. insurance for me doesnt cover, however some do.
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November 15, 2010

Pros:

reduces acne

Cons:

some redness

It works for me, but I've also been doing a number of other things.. eating healthy, birth control, 10% benz wash, SPF 15 every morning.. I only use RetinA at night, and a very small amount- as directed by my dermatologist. Once in a while I use a nice scrub too. BUT, overall I would recommend it. I had HORRIBLE acne, and with all the things I've been trying, I'm finally starting to clear up! I also had NONE of the side affects other people listed... :P
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November 14, 2010

Pros:

No more cysts!
No more red pimples
Kind of glowy skin
Smooth skin
The bottle lasts long
No IB

Cons:

Can't tan anymore
Sensitive skin
Dryness
Scared that if I stop using it it's gonna come back

I have been using it for about 9 weeks and I am really starting to see the results. At first, it hurts and your skin is crazy dry and when you rub your comforter on your face it's painful. After like 2 weeks it stops hurting but is still dry and at around 6 weeks you wash your makeup off, look in the mirror and just say wow! I had around 10 small pimples and one cyst everyday on my face, especially around my nose and on my forehead before and my dermatologist told me that if I didnt start to do something, it would become adult acne. I am 19 and started having acne in the last 2 years. I only had IB for the first 2 weeks. I was miserable for a few days and i was lucky enough for it to stop on the 3rd week. The only downside that is kind of huge for me is that i cant tan anymore. Its written on the box and my dermatologist told me its would burn like crazy and cancel the effects. I was a huge tan addict before that and feel pretty bad about being so white. Since i have olive skin, when i dont tan i look slighly green and sick. I tried self-tanner but it makes spots when you apply the gel over it since it increases skin peeling. But i guess it's better to be cancer-free, acne-free and white so I am going to keep using the products until my dermatologist tells me to stop and i love the results! ps- dont use a face wash with salicylic acid cause its going to burn pps- exfoliate!! like 3-4 times a week Good luck
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November 8, 2010

Pros:

brightens skin
healthy look to skin
makes skin smooth

Cons:

dries skin
redness of skin

It works but it takes time. I have had very bad acne all of my life and I tried everything. I was starting to lose hope and my doctor prescribed me tretinoin and deoxycycline. It was so amazing. My skin got really clear. It took time like 3-5 months but it is very clear now. I cannot remember the last time I had clear skin. My acne was very very bad and those two medicines worked wonders!
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November 6, 2010

Pros:

- clear up skin
- makes it look healthy
- quickens the cycle of a bad pimple
- gets rid of cysts
- works for a long time

Cons:

- takes a few weeks to see results
- redness in face
- dry, flake skin

I've had sever acne for years now and have tried everything. I finally went to an anti-aging center where the doctor put me on a mix of Retin-A and an antibacterial topical. Retin-A speeds up cell division and brings everything to the surface. I was warned of all the side-effects and the process, which had never been explained to me before by any doctors, so I felt at ease and a glimpse of hope. For the first few weeks, as my skin adjusted, I was broken out, dry, flaky, and red. A friend of mine pointed out that she could see where I applied the medicine because there was a perfect line where my medicine didn't cross. I was determined to go on though because I realized my skin had to purge itself. Within the next month my skin transformed. I no longer had any cysts, no more redness, and I really felt confident. I got off the medicine and my skin returned to it's normal nastiness, so I immediately returned. The process is slow, so you won't see a lot of change, but looking back it's done wonders. I find myself worrying about a spot on my face, but also remembering a time when I would die for just ONE spot. Give this stuff a chance. Give it time. You WILL see a difference.
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November 6, 2010

Pros:

gets rid of your acne!!!!

Cons:

the initial breakout!!!

Well, at first i got it for my pimples on my forehead i wasn't expecting my forehead to look SO HORRIBLE !!! luckily for me ALL MY ACNE ON MY FOREHEAD WAS GONE IN A WEEK AND A HALF!!!! i was extremely happy!! i totally think everyone should use it! the intial breakout made me extremely sad!! but the end was sooo worth it!!!! i haven't had a single pimple on my forehead in about 5 months!!! yay(:
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October 11, 2010

Pros:

I get very dark spots from my acne and after 1 week they are fading :) I haven't had any break outs since I started using this product last week

Cons:

I have sensitive skin so I got a mild rash initially which is now gone. It stings, burns, itches and dried out my skin which then flaked off. It was quite painful. I had to take painkillers. Disclaimer: I started using 2.5% salicylic acid wash and clindamycin solution at the same time per my doctor

great product, I have very high hopes based on the improvement I have seen in only 1 week. Maybe one day I'll be able to leave my house without make-up on!
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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.
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October 2, 2010

Pros:

It gets rid of mostly all acne types. works pretty quick. covered by insurence.

Cons:

no cons from me...yipeee!!!!

The bottom line is it is a great product and does what its suppose to. But I would recomend using minocycline. ( its a pill) Minocycline works from the inside out to ge t rid of bacteria and the tretinoin work from the out side in so that way your able to get the inside and out side at the same tome instead of just one at a time. Hope these products work as well for you as they did for me! :-)
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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