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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22.4%
4
33.8%
3
21.3%
2
13.9%
1
8.6%

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November 20, 2012

Pros:

Deep acne lesions heal faster.

Cons:

Breakout in areas I didn't breakout in before
Red marks/scars

I went to the dermatologist with mild/moderate acne and was prescribed retin a micro. I was keeping under control with epiduo but was looking for a way to control it even more. I was informed that it may get worse before it gets better and have now been on it for 4 months. I have used it every night within the four month but I still have yet to see any improvement and have red marks from the retin a breakouts and scars that I have never experienced before. The initial breakout doesn't seem like it will ever stop. My skin is very tight during the day as well. I am going to continue for another month to see if my skin is just taking a while to respond.
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November 12, 2012

Pros:

Cleared up acne on chest completely
Cleared face
Glowing skin
Better texture

Cons:

Smells bad
Too much can make skin flaky, and irritated
Interacts with other face washes and medications
Reddens face and makes me more prone to blushing

You have to use this product consistently and as directed. Wait 20 mins after washing your face before applying. Use a mild face wash with an exfoliation. I use St Ives, apricot scrub for sensitive skin, it's cheap and gentle. I had no initial breakout. I was afraid this would happen and it kept me from trying it for a long time. I didnt want additional scars. I'm really glad I finally tried it! I saw results in about 2 weeks! It hasn't really helped with hyper pigmentation... But overall it has cleared up my face dramatically. I now only get a few pimples on my chin vs. whiteheads, and pimples everywhere that where painful. My chest is completely clear, but a shade redder than before. I think it's worth the trade off. If you are curious about this product and have bad acne it def. worth a try. I'm not nearly as self conscious anymore. I tried everything else. Medications and natural remedies. This had worked the best.
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November 11, 2012

Pros:

It will have great results in the long run
Rids of blackheads completely!

Cons:

Initial breakout is HORRIBLE
Hyper-pigmentation
Patience is a virtue

I am on week 5 of tretinoin .05% cream. I was also prescribed Finacea cream and an antibiotic. I do not recommend any of these products (that is how I feel so far). My dermatologist did NOT warn me of the initial breakout of the tretinoin and I am LIVID. I have horrible skin now. I was on Epiduo for years before this and had a few break outs a month and just wanted to try something new to be 100% clear. BOY do I wish I could take it back and have those few break outs a month... I was being picky. NOW my skin has severe hyperpigmentation, I have at LEAST 2 new pimples a day on my cheeks, and I am breaking out on my forehead now which I never did before... On the small bright side, if I do not pick at any pimples (the picking is my fault, I get that) I see mall improvements in the lightening of the discoloration. At week 2 I was getting several cystic zits at once which I never had before either, but now at week 5 that has subsided (thanks goodness). So yes, at 5 weeks there are small changes, but if I could go back in time I would not have tried this, it is ruining my self confidence. I cry about it a lot and I avoid going out. And I just turned 21! I should be going out and feeling great! I will continue to use tretinoin (and switch out Finacea cream with Epiduo on my follow up visit in a month) until the end of the year, and see how it looks. If it has the "amazing" results I hear about, I will be sure to follow up with you guys here and tell you if would recommend it then... But for now, I am headed to Sephora to buy hundreds of dollars of fancy makeup to cover up this mess on my face I never had before. Good luck to those in their first weeks with this devil cream.
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November 8, 2012

Pros:

Scars are slowly fading.
Patience is required

Cons:

Initial breakout was really bad.
Still breaking out

I started my treatment in August and its been three months. Scars are slowly fading and skin around the mouth along with my nose peels the most. On 0.05% the generic form. My skin is getting smoother and feels like a baby. I can't wait until I am finished to see the amazing results. Warning: Initial breakout is really bad i had at least 5 new pimples every day with the head coming out it was horrible but I kept on. You know what they say when the going get rough keep going.
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November 4, 2012

Pros:

None right now, to early in treatment!

Cons:

-skin peels HARDCORE, especially around scars
-oily but dry skin
-supposed to break out?

This summer my acne became unbearable. I refused to leave the house. So finally my mom took me to the derm, and he put my on .025 every 3 days, since I'm a redhead at high altitude. He also put my on clydamicn lotion, which is a miracle in a bottle, and I also stated to take zinc. At the time, my skin is peeling really bad so it makes it hard to wear foundation. My skin has improved tremendously, but I think it's from the zinc and the lotion. Acne is a long process, don't give up! Everyone complains about a Horrible initial breakout, but I just had a Jew more black heads. Either way, I'll update once treatment is over.
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October 30, 2012
This is my very first review about any type of acne medication. I probably shouldn't since I am only a little 2 months into using the Tretinoin 0.025 cream, but I want to anyways. I will be straight up. The initial break out sucks. I am a very outgoing person and this breakout is making me just want to stay home and cry. It is hard to look in the mirror honestly. But I keep thinking to myself that all of the bad stuff under my skin is just being brought to the surface to be taken care of. I am not going to give up. I am sick of having acne ruin my life so I am going to take care of it. I am very determined and have faith that my skin will eventually get used to this cream and my skin will FINALLY clear up. I am not a quitter and even though I really want to give up on it, I refuse to. So to all those who may be in the same position as me, please don't give up! We can do this. And if this medication is making you feel ugly, do not let it. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. :) Good luck, xoxo.
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October 27, 2012

Pros:

It works!
Perfectly clear, smooth, even-toned skin
Smooths wrinkles

Cons:

First two months are bad
Need sunscreen all the time
Not most elegant texture

I have used Retin-Am Micro Gel 0.1% for two months. Before that I used Tazorac Cream 0.05% for four months. Both are prescription retinoids. As with any retinoid, your skin will look worse for about two months, on average. There is no point in writing a review during this time because your skin is not supposed to look good. You just have to be patient and let the medicine do its thing. Your skin will turn red, hurt, flake, peel, itch, and develop lots of bad pimples. This is all part of the process. You can minimize this by starting slowly - only apply the medicine every second or third day for a few weeks, and slowly work your way up to every night. Use a good moisturizer (with Retin-A Micro, you cannot use the moisturizer at the same time as the medicine) and many people will also need something to kill bacteria to help reduce the breakouts at the beginning. I hate antibiotics because they always stop working, so I used benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in the morning and the medicine in the evening. Tazorac was great, and gave me really smooth, glowing skin that was not red at all, but it didn't kill all the pimples, and even after four months, I still had one nodule at any time. My doctor switched me to the Retin-A Micro, and that got me completely clear. I have zero pimples. Zero. My skin is perfectly clear and I don't need makeup at all. The only drawback is that I am slightly pink, unlike with the Tazorac, which made me totally white, but I have grown to like that bit of color and choose not to wear foundation as it kills the rosy glow. It also smooths wrinkles, which is nice as I am 34 and vain as ever. You can see it working - anywhere on your face that there are old acne scars will peel more, as though the medicine somehow can target those damaged areas and peel them away. I do use SPF 30 every day to prevent sun damage, and a good moisturizer in the morning. I highly recommend this product to anyone who can be patient and wants
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October 22, 2012

Pros:

Pimples gone
Improved skin texture
Confidence

Cons:

Patience is required
The first 6-7 weeks were extremely difficult, i was breaking out like crazy and was about to consider accutane.

It WILL get better, it took about three months to see great improvement. Ive had acne for 6 years so i still have red marks but no more breakouts :-D
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October 12, 2012

Pros:

-Incredibly fast acting
-Immediate evaporation
-Covered through Triax

Cons:

-Can burn like crazy
-Burns the eyes
-Major peeling/redness

I've been dealing with moderate to sever acne since the age of 13, I'm 22 now. About two months ago I was fed up with over the counter treatments and went to see a dermatologist. She found me the best regiment that would work with my budget and most of what I received was covered under a Triax Care Plan and I didn't have to pay a dime for the actual medication. I started off with just a morning and night wash with Oxy 10% Benzoyl Peroxide and an application of Clindamycin Phospgate Gel 1%. I would occasionally use a moisturizer but often times it would react badly with the Clindamycin and cause a mild flare up. I saw some decent results with one months worth of this regiment; but I wasn't seeing my acne completely disappear. Five weeks ago I received the Triax package which included a face wash, Tretin-X Gel (Tretinoin 0.01%) and a soothing moisturizer as well as a three month supply of Minocycline. I've been taking the Minocycline twice daily, but when I first received the Tretin-X I was only using that every third day for two weeks and then every other day for two weeks and now I'm on daily application. Also with the regiment of night and day Oxy 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash and an application of the soothing moisturizer afterwards. As far as the Tretin-X I was a little weary at first. It can burn like crazy when used with the Benzoyl Peroxide and drys your skin up like the Sahara Desert; I noticed my skin was peeling within minutes of the first application. I also noticed my face was a little more red in the first month. But as I pushed through and upped my usage and adjusted to the medication I've had incredible results. I noticed last night that, when silhouetted in light, my face no longer has the bumpy texture I've had for years. The acne is disappearing all over my face and my confidence is rising drastically! It's still not completely gone but I still have about two months of treatment left. All-in-all I'd recommend this treatment, its worked wonders
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October 11, 2012

Pros:

Haven't seen any yet but I'm holding on to hope.

Cons:

+++Oily Skin!
Terrible initial breakout

I have tried nearly everything and after almost 15yrs on Diane 35 (controlled with light acne) I have had my acne return; along with chest and back acne. I refuse to use birth control and have tried everything short of Spiro and Accutane over the years. My derm gave a rx for Retin A micro (gel) and suggested to start by applying it for 1hr/night before bed x1wk, then apply it nightly. I experienced no flaking/drying and instead my face turned into an oil slick!!! So incredibly disgusting. I could literally see oil dripping out of my pores. Needless to say, every doc I've talked to states that this is "very uncommon" and they have not heard of this side effect. I was switched to the Retin A cream at a lower concentration and advised to moisturize immediately following my am and bedtime wash, with the rationale that my skin was irritated and over producing oil (I've always had dry skin). The oil has been cut in half after 2wks use, however I have not experienced the peeling/drying effect that is supposed to happen with the cell turnover. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience? I am currently experiencing an initial break out which has worsened my acne from mild to moderate/severe. I expected that and am hopeful that it will improve in a few months. I am willing to purposefully go through a difficult time in the short-term, for long-term gains, but it is not easy. Reading the other reviews has helped in knowing what to expect; aside from this oily side effect. I plan to give it another 2 months and hope for some improvement.
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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