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 29, 2008

Pros:

Exfoliates alittle, good for some spot treatments

Cons:

Dry, flaky skin , redness

Works alittle for me but not good enough, i still breakout. Do not put alot because u will have dry skin the next day u wake up and it is not pleasant. Alittle goes a long way and apply every other day because it gets too dry even for people wit oily skin
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January 27, 2008

Pros:

Exfoliates like nobody's business. Baby smooth skin. Lessens fine wrinkles. Millia are quickly expelled. Blemishes die quickly. A little goes a long way.

Cons:

The first couple of weeks was frustrating because I was using a bit more than recommended. I got extremely flaky and red. To put on moisturizer burned.

Use ONLY the recommended dosage (pea size) for the entire face. Patience is key. I absolutely love this product.
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January 22, 2008

Pros:

less acne, eventually clears the skin. Skin looks healthier.

Cons:

Initial breakout was terrible, face was itchy. Left a lot of scars and peeling.

I have been using Tretinoin Cream 0.025% for almost 8 weeks and finally my acne is much better. Starting on the 7th week your acne starts to subside, but the bad news was that it left a lot of scars. I'm just waiting for the scars to fade now. Overall this product is pretty good, but you honestly have to be patient. My acne wasn't that bad but the Tretinoin made it worse during my 4-6 weeks. My face was extremely itchy and flaky, but with some oil free lotion you'll be fine. If you plan to use makeup to cover it up i suggest you put a coat of oil free lotion before you apply any cover up because your makeup will look so messed up and flaky. When you start seeing results it really depends on the skin type, so be patient and drink a lot of water! Good luck if you plan to use it.
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January 15, 2008

Pros:

CLEARS REDNESS

Cons:

MAKES SKIN PEEL LIKE CRAZY!!!!!!!!

MY DOCTOR HAD ME TRY THIS AFTER ANTI-BIOTICS DIDN'T WORK...AND SADLY NEITHER DID THIS PRODUCT. IT DID CLEAR UP REDNESS FROM BREAK OUTS BUT DIDN'T HELP ME ACTUALLY STOP BREAKING OUT AND I COULDN'T GET OVER MY SKIN PEELING. THEY SAY YOU SHOULD STOP PEELING AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS BUT BY WEEK 6 I HAD HAD ENOUGH!!! I COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH MY FACE WITHOUT FLAKES OF SKIN COMING OFF!! ICK!!! PERSONALLY I'D RATHER COVER UP REDNESS THEN HAVE PATCHES OF SKIN MISSING.
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January 8, 2008

Pros:

Speeds up regeneration of skin surface.

Cons:

Achieves the above by causing cells to scale; therefore, it's a lot of work to not look like a fish.

I have dry, quite fine, acne prone skin, and this stuff at .025% strength is too much for my face to handle on a regular basis. I wind up scrubbing away the profuse flakiness, and that only makes things worse; my spots tend to bleed. I suppose if you had the patience/opportunity to live a flaky life for a month, your skin condition could balance itself out. In the end, I can only use it as an occasional 2 day treatment when I have no new acne; it's not worth it for the price.
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December 31, 2007

Pros:

Mixed feelings...
Easy to apply-only a pea size for the whole face
No bad smell

Cons:

Dry lips
Flaky, dry, itchy skin
Some redness
Stinging
It made my skin even more oily

My doctor prescribed Retin A Micro for night and Neo Benz Micro during the day. I don't know if it was using both of them at once but it made my skin even more oily. In the mornings my skin was extremely shiny, like I rubbed olive oil on it... In the beginning it made my lips extremelly dry, my skin was peeling like a bad sunburn (the doctor told me to use a sunscreen as well) it was burning and stinging after I applied it. Three weeks later the burning, stinging and itching calmed but I didn't see major improvement on my acne. Also, I had more blackheads and whiteheads on my face but I was told that's normal since its bringing everything to the surface to be washed away. I'm using Apple Cider Vinegar and it seems to be working better than this. I still have two packs of Retin A left...when my skin gets better I will try using it for my acne scars. Didn't work well for me, but I only used it for a little over a month.
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December 8, 2007

Pros:

Helped with some scars but it took a while for it to heal. It was cheap because I have great health coverage.One tube lasts fairly long.

Cons:

Made my skin so much worse. I didnt see any improvements after the 3 months of consistant usage. I am giving up!

I used proactiv and my skin was great for 3 years! I discontued using it and had a bit of breakouts and scars. Once my doctor prescribed Stieva-A I was so excited and was hoping for so much. I was told my skin was going to get worse before it got better. I never broke out on my forehead for example and now its unbearable. I am still waiting for it to get better and still nothing. I feel like I want to give up. I am even more depressed than I have ever been. I continuely cry myself to sleep. I would never wear makeup unless I went out with girlfriends or to a party. Now I cant go to school without makeup! My skin was so bad one day even when I piled a lot of makeup on I ended up skipping school that day which had never happend before.I now avoid making eye contact with many people including my boyfriend. If anyone has suggestions it would be very appreciated.
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December 5, 2007

Pros:

cleared blackheads

Cons:

i would never recommend this for someone with existing acne. it really only makes matters worse.

i may have been applying it wrong, but i am not happy with the outcome. my acne is the worst it has ever been in my life after using tretinoin gel. my acne usually was just at the surface of my skin, but now it is deep in my pores.
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December 2, 2007

Pros:

helped during the summer, cleared up fine so i quit for a month and went back on it when i started acting up and now its worse again

Cons:

it sucks! such a pain not worth the redness, flakyness, and worsening after the first couple days of use

try something else, its not bad but really not worth it
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November 11, 2007

Pros:

Works, eventually.

Cons:

Works slowly - much worse before better - dry, peeling skin

Worth it, if a little annoying sometimes
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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