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
August 2, 2007
Cons:
Did not remove any acne or redness on my face from old acne. Ha! After I went swimming I could see the Retin-a come out of my pores! Little improvements and actually added acne and then made it go away slowly. There was little peeling too.
SUCKS!
July 24, 2007
Pros:
None for me
Cons:
Broke me out in TONS of spots
Did not work for me at all. It broke me out in a LOT of spots (my acne was quite mild before I used it), made my skin dry and peeling all over. Because I also have very pale skin, when I eventually did get rid of the spots it caused, I was left with many red marks. Definitely would not recommend if you're only trying to get rid of mild acne and have pale skin.
July 18, 2007
Pros:
I have noticed a change in my complexion...I also feel less pimples beneath the surface of my skin, which makes me feel its working.
Cons:
I am quite seriously experiencing the worst break out I have ever had!! However, I feel like my face is purging and my skin needed it! I am very embarrassed by the blotchiness. My boyfriend calls me "Metallic Woman" because I'm so oily. Costly too!
I've tried everything...I am currently doing a sulfer wash, as well as, Doryx (an oral antibiotic). Previous to this regiman, I did Proactive...worked for a year and then suddenly backfired. Perhaps my skin became immune to Proactive...I don't know. I do know I'll be kicking myself if I don't at least try to get through the next couple of months.
July 7, 2007
Pros:
Cleared some acne
Cons:
Made skin VERY sensitive, peel around the mouth
Don't use; makes skin very sensitive and dry
June 30, 2007
Pros:
my dermatologist said he swore by it. i dont know why.
Cons:
at first it dried my skin out really bad, but i kept with it, and now i wake up in the morning and it is so oily and slimy and gross. i dont understand how that is helping it?
im pretty sure it makes my acne worse.
June 30, 2007
Pros:
um i really didnt see that much i think it can help reduce the size of horrible pimples but not by that much
Cons:
it did make my face really oily and gave it read marks after i used it over night
i didnt like it wasnt worth it tho maybe its only for somepeople becuase a few frends i know say retin a worked for them
June 27, 2007
Pros:
easy to use.
Cons:
burning, dryness of the skin, embarrassment!
I have used this product for about a week. It seems as though my skin has gotten worse. The product left dry, flaky, red patches where it was used. Can you say embarrassing? I am going to stop using this product.
June 26, 2007
Pros:
clears mild acne..
Cons:
VERY DRY AT FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS! then MAKES YOUR FACE OILY!!! use sunscreen and have a good moisturizer.
i used it a little over a month but i still had really bad acne. i wanted to continue but the dryness and overall outcome was simply not what i wanted. It cleared out my whiteheads but not cystic acne... i guess if you stick with it for a while it will clear up, however it was not the case for me.
good luck.
May 30, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up blackheads...forever.
Also good as an anti-wrinkle cream applied lightly around the eyes on alternate nights.
Cons:
The burning, the peeling, the redness, the horror!
I started using Retin-A when I was 25, because for some unknown reason I'd started getting acne on my face and on my shoulders/arms! Well, the burning and peeling of Retin-A was lousy enough on my face....but on my shoulders, it was utterly unbearable. It got so bad that I couldn't even wear a bra! And I'd used it exactly as directed! And then to top it off, I got *ECZEMA* where I'd been using the stuff! It was not worth it to me for an acne treatment -- too much pain with too few results. It was like having a terrible sunburn and didn't do a thing to help my acne. I did dig the tube out a year later to rub into a surgical scar after it had healed. I don't have a scar now, so it helped there. And it was good on wrinkles. But for acne? No, thanks.
May 21, 2007
Pros:
after a month or two it works for a few weeks
Cons:
only a few weeks where it works (before and after these it is horrible), intense drying out and flaking-be prepared for a face full of flakes after a shower and that will come back an hour after moisturizer
takes too long to start to work and stops working shortly after, not worth all the drying and flaking and burning. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK AT ALL!!!
Pros:
It got rid of pimples. That's all.