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
April 15, 2011
Cons:
Takes some time
I started using Retin-a about 8 weeks ago and until last week i didnt see any change but this week i have almost no acne on my face just scars left.Its amazing.Just give it time and dont give up.Be patient.It boosts up self esteem so much.Im gonna continue using it for 3 more months and hopefully never get acne as much as i used to.Only a person that went through a stage of acne will understand each others problem,i know how depressing it can be.Dont give up using this medicine and hopefully all of you will see the results.
March 28, 2011
Pros:
-Exfoliates skin well
-Helps with acne
-Works great to fade old marks
-Is also anti-aging
Cons:
-Can be drying if you have sensative skin or too high a dose
Retinol is amazing. I first went on it a few years ago in combination with a few other things to help my acne and it really helped. It works by exfoliating the skin and getting deep down into pores so they dont get clogeged up. Also, I was going to get lazer skin resurfacing for my acne scars that I had all over my cheeks, but I don't have them anymore!! When my skin is going good and my acne is gone, my skin is beautiful with no scars and I owe it all to retinol. I started with the lowest dose and went up to the middle one, in the cream form, which is actually moisturizing for me. To get rid of acne you might have to go to the highest dose, but after you are just maintaning, stick with a lower dose and you won't get dry, irritated skin. I had a skin scan done, where they look at the under layers of your skin, and the dermatologist told me my skin is in the best condition she had ever seen. Other than the pimples, my skin glows, and I owe it to retinol and sunscreen. I'm not sure how well retinol alone works on acne (I used mine in combination with an antibiotic), but it sure helps a lot, and works wonders on those post acne red marks. Ive had bad acne all my life but you'd never know it after retinol. No scarring.
March 22, 2011
Pros:
-AMAZING, significantly better for severe acne than non-prescription treatments.
-Cleared up all of my cystic acne.
Cons:
-Results take 6-8 weeks
-Should be used sparingly to avoid redness
-Expensive without insurance
This stuff is amazing. I had very severe acne and tried virtually every over-the-counter treatment system out there including Proactiv, Exposed, and Neutrogena. All delivered absolutely no results. I then saw a dermatologist and had only wish I had seen one sooner. After being prescribed Retin-A micro .1% and duac I saw my acne vanish in about 8 weeks. Truly amazing.Be patient...this stuff works. Make sure you take this and other products as prescribed by the dermatologist. My prescription included an extremely small nightly dose (pea-size) using a cleanser before and moisturized after.
March 22, 2011
Pros:
BEST ACNE PRODUCT EVER!
-CLEARED 99% of acne scars
-FRESH and CLEAN look of skin
-NO odor
-NO more zits
I am a 20 year old female who has dealt with acne for as long as I can remember. I have never found a product that completely cleared not only my skin but my scars too. I have always picked my skin and left very dark nasty scars. Retin-a has cleared practically all of them in just 12 weeks. Yes, it is rough in the begining but it is SOOO worth it to stick out the 12 weeks! B
Cons:
-First few weeks took a toll on my skin, leaving it very dry BUT there is a solution to that people! Its called...USE A FACIAL SCRUB IN THE MORNING AND IT WILL GET RID OF THE DRY SKIN!
-I still get pimples here and there but its because I endure alot of stress in my life so I guess I cant really blame the medicine !
Retin-a has given me a face clear of break outs and scars. Best acne product for serious users only who would stick with it until the end.
March 19, 2011
Pros:
Reducing pores, fading sun spots, and treating and preventing fine lines
Cons:
Does make your skin look worse before it gets better.
My story... I had a couple of sun spots show up right on the apple of my right cheek. I have others, but the location of these really bothered me. So I went to my Derm who performed Erbium Yag laser treatment just to the 3 spots on my cheek on 2/7/11. I'm happy to report the spots are gone! Still pink from the laser though. So anyway... My derm also prescribed .025% Retin A to help fade other spots and prevent new ones from forming. I started using it on 2/28/11 every 3rd night to begin, last week I bumped up to every other night. I was getting some flaking mainly on the cheek that was treated with the laser and had an initial breakout (been acne free for years) but this is all improving now. My routine... Wash my face with Cerave Hydrating cleanser, apply Cerave PM lotion immediately after washing, wait 30 mins and apply the retin A. I am already starting to see some improvement in the pores on the sides of my nose that were noticeably large. In the morning I wash again with my cleanser and put on the Cerave AM lotion with SPF 30. I have also tried Cetaphil cleanser, nutragena extra gentle and purpose. I find the Cerave really helps to reduce the side effects of the Retin A. So far I am still having some flaking, but I'm starting to see improvement in my skin already, so I will continue to use the Retin A :) Don't give up!! You have to push through the initial weeks of your skin looking worse and then it will get better.
March 3, 2011
Pros:
improves skin texture / tone
rapidly exfoliates skin for new cell growth
a little goes a LONG way
clears skin after a period of time ( no product is immediate)
Cons:
sun sensitive
dries face (buy a good moisturizer i recommend Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 and Aveeno's Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer)
I have been using Retin A since November of 2010, and my acne has subsided durastically. I apply the topical ointment to my entire face ( about a pea sized amount on my forehead, each cheek, nose, and chin) at night after washing my face with a light cleanser ( I use Cetaphil). It takes roughly 2 weeks to see improvement - but after a month I saw a tremendous turn over in my skin's appearance. Four months later my skin is radiant, clear, and even my dermatologist (who i see bi monthly to monthly) has commented on the drastic change this has brought to my skin. It's the only alternative to Accutane I would recommend - I suffered from moderate/sever acne and I now have very light acne problems (which I get injected with cortisone.) I pay $5 with BCBS of Illinois Insurance.
February 27, 2011
Pros:
Fantastic skin
Reduces acne significantly
Cons:
Takes time (time which you would have spent with acne anyway)
Initial breakout (again, this would have happened naturally, albeit at a slower rate)
Having posted a review last september after only 3 weeks of using retin-a, I now realise I was hasty in doing so. I claimed there was no IB for myself, however there was about a week later, lasting up to week 10. Around the following weeks was nothing short of a miracle, though. I now have so few spots I can allow myself to get annoyed at just 1 small blemish. My skin glows, and more importantly the ladies are noticing! :p So overall I'd say stick with this treatment and it will get you clear!
February 23, 2011
Pros:
Works.
Cons:
Makes skin super sensitive. Can be drying.
I've used it for 3 months. And I take cephalexin, also. I take cephalexin every night, and I use the retin-a every other night. I've found that when I use it every night, my skin starts flaking. It takes a long time to work, I've been on it for 3 months, and my skin just cleared up a week ago. But it's amazing. I use Basis bar soap, (3 dollars at drugstores), once in the morning and twice at night (to remove makeup/oil). And I use Dickinson's Witch Hazel (4 dollars at drugstores) as an astringent. I used to have terrible cystic acne. Now I have smooth glowing skin. Amazing turn-around. =]
February 18, 2011
Pros:
It worked for 3 years, my skin never looked better
Cons:
After 3 years it sadly stopped working, like other products I have used successfully
Within 2 weeks of using this my skin had cleared up ! people kept on telling me how well I looked, not only did the spots go, but my skin had a healthy fresh glow to it. If I started to run out or stopped using it for a few days the spots would return. I had no adverse reactions, but then again I have never had sensitive skin. I loved it and it was fantastic whilst it lasted.
Now sadly it stopped working and I have gone onto BP 10% in quinoderm. it seems to be working but not stopping all spots, and very drying and my skin has lost its healthy glow.
February 17, 2011
Pros:
Fast acting!
Eliminates cysts and small bumps
Cheap
Cons:
Peeling
Burns
Office visit
I have used this product before for a whole year. I use to glob it on and I didn't wait 20 minutes after wash to apply the medicine. HUGE MISTAKE!!! My acne never cleared up and my face use to be so oily and red. After reading the reviews I now only use a small pea size. I wait to apply the medicine after 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing. Now that I followed the recommended usage my face is now 90% clear and my skin looks shiny and new. I wish I had done this sooner!!!
Pros:
Actually works
cleares up 90% acne