Acne.org Products
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 25, 2010
Cons:
-Dryness
-Makes my eyelids a little red and irritated (although most acne products do that to me at first so I guess I really can't complain)
First of all, I should mention that I've already been taking Bactrim for about 3 months, taking birth control for almost 5 months, and using BenzaClin nightly. My skin is, except for 2 small but painful pimples and 3 almost invisible bumps, clear. But that's only if you don't count the endless red marks all over my skin because any pimple I do get, I get a lasting spot on my face. I used this last night (Put on BenzaClin first, waited 15 minutes while I curled my hair, put this on, then 5 minutes later put on a sensitive skin lotion), expecting nothing but dry and painful flaky skin, like what happened last time. Wrong. Already after one day, my red marks are starting to fade, and my two ouchie pimples came to a head so I was able to pop them. One is already flat, the other slowly shrinking. Looking in the mirror this morning was a beautiful thing. I didn't look like someone had splattered me with red paint. Just pinkish spots. Beyond happy right now. I'm not saying this stuff is a miracle cream, because I have already been actively fighting my acne and I am using Atralin .05% for red marks only. So I'm not sure how this works if you have lots of acne. If you have light acne like I do, and are just trying to get rid of the marks, USE THIS PRODUCT. My skin is smoother even after one day. Try it. Use a pea-sized amount. You will love. I'm only going to use this 2-3 times a week for two weeks, then every other day for 2 weeks, and finally to daily. I don't want to shock my skin into hell. But really, guys. With Tretinoin, happiness is only an application away ;)
May 2, 2010
Pros:
-Skin clearing after about 2 months
-Any acne clears up relatively quickly
-Still get some break outs during pms
-Red marks are fading
Cons:
-peeling all over face and neck especially during the first month
-can't use it on more sensitive areas like cheeks and chin
-red blotchy marks on skin (usually clears up after a few days
I had moderate acne on my forehead and blackheads on nose. The tretinoin made my face hell the first month but it's now the 2nd month and I only get a few pimple but the black heads aren't really going away. The red marks from past acne is definitely clearing up. I found that if you're getting irritation and flaking on the areas where you don't apply the tretinoin, try applying it in the morning a 1/2 hour after you wash your face. If you use it at night, the medicine may be rubbing off onto your pillow case and getting on the other areas of your face. In my case it was my cheeks that were affected.
March 30, 2010
Pros:
Basically it makes my skin peel a lot but my scars are almost all gone. My skin feels smooth and soft after a week of using it.
Cons:
I still get huge cysts under the skin but they go away quickly.
I would recomend using a soft cleanser like Biore exfoliating scrub. It helps the 'peelies' go away sooner and leaves my skin looking better. At first with this treatment my skin felt horrible and nasty, but I found that by using it about once or twice a week my skin has been getting less irritable and my friend has also been using it and her skin is perfect now.
November 30, 2009
Pros:
fewer breakouts (especially cystic)
scars seem to fade faster (I mean sometimes I just can't resist popping!)
Cons:
it did dry out my skin pretty bad the first few weeks
I was prescribed this product (.05%) with minocycline for pretty regular cystic acne breakouts. The first few weeks I was really dry, but then I would just not use it for a night and use a facial scrub and lotion in the morning. Now (a month later) my skin is clearer and my old acne scars are fading quickly.
October 26, 2009
Pros:
do what it claims
Cons:
the usual side effects (dryness, redness, initial breakouts, etc).
I am currently in my 8th week of micro retin-a (.04%) and i'm starting to see improvement. The key to this product is keep it simple. Do no use other harsh chemical on your face while on Retin-a. Do not exfoliate! wash your face with a mild cleanser, follow the instructions (pea-sized amount or less!) and most importantly, stick it through! Do not pick on it..you can try use Eucerin redness reduce lotion during the day. I know the initial breakout can be hard but you must preserver! good luck!
July 21, 2009
Pros:
Cleared whiteheads and pimples
Cons:
breakouts
it depends on how you apply it if you use it as a daily moisturiser then you will breakout i discovered this the hard way , i changed my routine and then started applying it nightly the would wash it off the next morining and use an oil free saylic acid cleanser and toner with an oil free medicted moisturisr.
February 5, 2009
Pros:
cleared my skin, made my skin smoother, stopped some of my oil production
Cons:
redness, drying, peeling first few weeks of treatment
this product really works if you can take the first few weeks. i used retin a 10 years ago and loved it and just went back on it. i told my dermatologist i have a love/hate relationship with retin a because of how badly my skin hurt the first few weeks. however, i smartened up my second time around and it hasn't been nearly as bad as my first treatment. just a few tips that have really helped me.1) cetaphil face lotion is a DREAM 2) only use this product every OTHER night for atleast the first 2 weeks of treatment then use daily 3) use a humidifier in your bedroom every night for extra moisture to the skin 4) if you can afford it try DERMALOGICA mutivitamin power recovery masque and DERMALOGICA daily microfoliant. most exfoliants are harsh and cannot be used with retin a but the daily microfoliant is a powder and very gentle on the skin and also exfoliates very very well. 5)use clinique redness relief mineral powder to cover redness. hope this helps some of you out and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
November 15, 2008
Pros:
Clears skin (kinda) after about a month of usage
Cons:
smells, expensive,
This is a product where you MUST be patient when using. It WILL make you break out really bad the first 2 weeks, so don't give up!
August 8, 2008
Pros:
works after like 15 weeks. does improve the size of your scars to make them very small and does smooth out bumpy imperfection on your skin such as my nose which has scars from picking and bumps from acne prone skin. i am clearer now than when i first
Cons:
you will get owned first 6weeks.
you better be on the right antibiotics or you will get super owned.
you get dry, mega red, pustules, and will gain some more pimples in other areas even if they dont have them yet :D.
Does work but takes a lot of time! first 2 weeks things were going smooth and i was like ok ok ty i didnt get pwnd like everyone says you will, after that i got a bunch a cystic-like acne, pustules up in my cheeks, acne in my jaw line which i never had, acne on my forehead which was acne prone but cleared up at that time and basicaly i didnt dodge the beginning pwnage lol.
than i started taking the right antibiotic (first was doxycycline and than i took minocycline where minocycline save mah life) and than my postules immediately went down and my face was clearing up fast. (within 3 weeks of mino i was looking okay) the redness went down, the pustules went down, the ammt of more pimples a day went down, and now i just got blemishes f where acne used to be because thats how my skin reacts anyways.... it works!
Without the right antibiotics for you and taking retin-A you will get owned LOL.i was super red, super messed up looking, and before retin a i had many whiteheads on my chee
September 25, 2007
Pros:
evened skin tone, prevents wrinkles, cheap with insurance, easy to use.
Cons:
it TAKES time and demands our patience.
This is my second review about Tretinoin and I feel that people who haven't used this product for at least 4-6 months should not write anything on Retin A. It takes time and beggs for our patience, but it is worth it. It is also important that we don't use any other irritating products along with Retin A as it will make things worse. One time I exfoliated my skin and the next day I had major breakouts. My doc told me not to use anything else with Retin A as it is doing its job slowly but surely. I use a gentle cleanser (Cetaphil) twice daily and use a good quality sunblock year round and I am happy to say that my skin is now clear and glowing. I had to force myself to stop fretting over my bumps and put my energy somewhere else and one day I woke up with clear skin. Obsession and impatience will aggravate acne. We live in a time where we want instant gratification and this attitude doesn't work with Retin A. Obsess less, be patient, be gentle and one day you'll wake up with clear skin.
Pros:
-Fades red marks
-Makes my pimples come to a head