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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July 7, 2010

Pros:

Diminished fine lines and acne greatly. Can't even be compared with any other skin care products.

Cons:

None.

Feel sorry for the people who can't use it because this product does miracles for acne and fine lines!
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July 5, 2010

Pros:

Clears up your skin
Apparently decreases wrinkles

Cons:

Initial breakout
Irritating

I waited a full 3 months before reviewing. I read everyone elses reviews and knew the initial breakout would be bad and it was. I took time off work, cried almost daily, hated the way I looked and wouldn't go out for about 8 weeks. My skin was never great but never bad until this year. I'm 34 and my hormones went nuts and made me break out in moderate acne, hormonal, the worst I've EVER had. I saw a derm and was prescribed Retin A 0.05 After 8 and up to 12 weeks my skin became better and better. I now get the tiniest little pimples here and there, nothing to even worry about, they aren't even red. I am taking minomycin antibiotics and am on estelle contraceptive pill as prescribed by my derm. All I have now are left over red marks but I'm sure they must be fading because it's getting easier and easier to cover them with makeup. Most people who don't know wouldn't have a clue I had moderate acne just 2 months ago. I bought Da Vinci mineral makeup and wear it daily and it has been fantastic, doesn't clog my pores so I swear by it! I saw 2 dermatologists after the first 10 weeks for the red marks and both were insisting I had to go on Roaccutane but I refused. Why go on Roaccutane when my skin was steadily improving??? I'm so glad I went against everyone's advice and stuck with the cream because I'm now clear and have better skin than before. My advice is be ready for the initial break out and persevere with it like everyone recommends. Don't give up just because you start breaking out, it WILL pass. You have to be very patient and very strong. All I'm reading tells me it will also work on getting rid of my wrinkles between 6-12 mths so I'm looking forward to that now!
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June 28, 2010

Pros:

-Cleared all my white heads
-Clears dark spots/ acne scars
-Works FAST for white heads
-People noticed the first *week* that I had clearer skin!

Cons:

-Makes your skin easier burned by the sun
-Dries out skin
-Does not work as fast for scars
-Can be expensive

My dermatologist prescribed my Tretinoin Retin A cream and it literally cleared 95% of my white heads the first week! I do still have scars and redness, but they are fading. I have to wear a sun screen everyday, and get burned much easier. I would definitely suggest this product! It has done wonders for my skin, and I hope you can get the same results.
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June 27, 2010

Pros:

-Less pimples than before
-Less comedones than before
-Skin is less red (only after a few weeks thou..coz at the beginning it looks like it's sunburned)!!!
-Make skin look more healty after a few weeks, it glows and I look younger (I'm only 23 lol)

Cons:

-Take a while to work
-IB can be scary but does'nt last too long so don't get discouraged people!!!
-It's drying so be careful...Don't let your skin get to dry, it's not gonna help you in the long run trust me.
-It's not gonna work if you use it irregularly or if you don't mosturize. The IB can be worst if you don't have a good mosturizer because your skin will produce more oil if it's dry...Oil from your sebaceous glands is way more comedogenic than a good non-comedogenic mos

Really work but it's strong medication so listen to your skin, start in a progressive way and don't be scared to skip a day or two even if you used it for a long time, if your skin is too dry. I found out that the cetaphil cleanser and mosturizer really helped combined with retin-a, even thou the mosturizer make my skin look really oily, it's not clogging my pores and I don't break out anymore because I'm less dry! That's cool! I've been using retin-a for 7 weeks. I still get a few pimples but my general complexion looks waaaaaaay better than before. I encourage people with a lot of comedones to try this and it's supposed to be good for almost all kind of acne. It's very strong so it can heal and completely transform your face or completely destroy your face wether you use it smartly of stupidly. By stupidly I mean by applying to often in the beginning, not mosturizing, tanning without sunscrean or anything else irritating for your face. I wish everyone could get the result I got, I used to go on this site and cry a lot and read every review I could to give me courage to go through this and now I'm feeling confident again and I wish I could help you guys, if you need advice on retin-a, please feel free to talk to me. Don't give up on retin-a guys!
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June 19, 2010

Pros:

leaves skin looking and feeling smooth
acne is gone
exfoliates well
makes skin look glowing and younger

Cons:

causes intense peeling and dryness that will lasts from 2 weeks to a month.
it takes quite a while to work.
it gives a burning sensation when you apply it.
makes skin extremely sensitive.
initial acne.

it worked so well for me. the first 2-3 weeks were the worst. I had experienced lots of peeling and extreme sensitivity. I heard a lot of people saying that had really bad initial acne, but I really didn't have any. After my skin stopped peeling, my skin looked and felt so soft and smooth...it looked so pretty. Then I stopped and I started getting acne again. So now I'm back on retin-a, but I realized it also made all my acne scars fade too. I really love this product and I think I will continue to use this product for the rest of my life.
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June 17, 2010

Pros:

*Made my cystic acne go away
*Makes pimples that do come up go away in a day or two
*Made my skin very soft and smooth
*Doesn't dry skin

Cons:

*Initial breakout
*So far, hasn't helped with minor indented scars
*So far, hasn't helped with hyperpigmentation left from deep cysts that I had for months
*If you apply too much, it will cause breakouts

This is awesome and cheap. I use Tretinoin .025%. I had EVERY other facial cream/treatment-even spent about $100 on Dan's regimen and none of that worked as well as this! It does work, I have only had one cystic pimple since starting this. It's also helping the deep,deep hard bumps left from the cysts go away. If you use it CORRECTLY and aren't allergic to it, it will do wonders. Just don't put too much on because it irritates the skin and causes flare ups. My derm told me to use this at night and put hydrocortisone cream 2.5% on top. In the day I just wash and use sunscreen and Maybelline Mineral concealer. Also, the Initial Breakout wasn't so bad-I already had pretty bad skin, so what was the difference of having a few more pimples? It didn't bother me, I just looked at the research and saw that it's part of the process.
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June 13, 2010

Pros:

Lighter Skin Tone
Pigmentation Fading
Clearing of white heads and blackheads
Keep Cystic Acne Away
Firmer Skin
Less Oily skin

Cons:

Dryness
Length of time it takes to work
Peeling, not severe though

I had no initial breakout. It brought all my blackheads and whiteheads up and my skin is almost clear except for maybe a few whiteheads and some pigmentation. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. At first I was scared to use it from some of the bad reviews people gave it but it's AMAZING. It takes time to work so stick with it, in the beginning it may not seem like it's working but it is! Just give it time!
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June 5, 2010

Pros:

Clears acne fast
No irritation
Helps with red marks
Tightens up skin

Cons:

Kind of itchy if you apply too much

It has cleared out my acne in a matter of days! I had severe acne during 2008 and I went on accutane. It cleared me out completely but acne started coming back because I did not have a daily face wash regimen. I did not have one because I have always had bad reactions to different cleansers, etc. So my only regimen was wash face with water. However, I had constant breakouts. I was put on Epiduo but I experienced a really bad initial breakout. It started clearing out, but at a very very very slow pace. Luckily for me, my insurance would not cover Epiduo, so my doctor put me on Tretinoin 0.05%. I was skeptical at first, b/c no acne medication has worked on me besides Accutane. However, after day 2, i noticed a difference. Acne started to clear and marks started to fade. I feel great on this medication. The peeling is not so serious, just moisturize. As a note: I started using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser along with Cetaphil Moisturizing lotion, and it feels great!!! At night I cleanse my face with Cetaphil and apply Tretinoin. I do not moisturize at night. Tretinoin is not like other acne treatments that dry out skin severely, or cause irritation. It sits on your skin very comfortably(make sure to apply only a thin layer of cream). Moisturize in the morning only. :D I recommend this to anyone who has only tried Benzoyle Peroxide or any other treatment, but has had no success. Tretinoin works in a very unique, but effective way.
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May 15, 2010

Pros:

clears acne
fades the acne scars
evens the skin texture

Cons:

initial breakouts
initial peeling and dryness

i never experienced acne as a teenager but 3 months ago i started getting frequent breakouts at the age of 23 years.i did not try to use any over the counter products and went straight away to my dermatologist who prescribed me retin a 0.025%.the first week was a complete disaster as i used too much of the cream and it caused excessive peeling.i went back to my dermatologist who then told me to use only a pea sized amount and wait for at least half an hour after washing my face and then apply the cream....the initial 3 weeks i experienced frequent breakouts for which i even used topical clarithromycin but i did not stop using retin a.i have completed 6 weeks of application and it really works.acne is gone and scar marks are fading.i would suggest every patient who has acne to consult a dermat and see if retin a is the drug of choice for them.it needs patience and time to work but it really is effective.
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May 5, 2010

Pros:

YOU HAVE TO READ THIS, my GREAT SECRET!!!
My skin is better at 45 then it has been in my whole life!!! I wish I knew about this years ago, my skin is positively glowing I am so proud of it, my Mom said (when I put on a touch of foundation) that it looks airbrushed!!!
and I had horrible acne and lots of scarring!!!

Cons:

my whole face was peeling, it looked scaley and flakey beyond what I can describe.
BUT that all cleared up when I used Neo Strada over-the-counter'exfoliating peel' and 'microderm abrasion' to help with that (otherwise I would have NEVER been able to live through that stage).
note I have used these 2 products for yrs and love them both, and they made my skin smoother, but I was getting leathery skin and lrg pores as I got over 40!

I started with .025% for one tube then 3 months later went to .05% (good to do!) BUT the flakey, scaley skin would not go away until I used both these OTC NeoStrada products. Now my skin is glowing and I am proud of it. Note: I did have a huge set-back when I touched my chin for long period of time while doing a project and broke out, then stupidly put oxy10 on it, then it flaked so I (very stupidly) put moisturizer so broke out more!!! this makes your skin so thin that any upset like this really has to be handled carefully! LOVE LOVE LOVE this though - It literally has changed my life!!!
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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