Tretinoin

I have always struggled with acne and recently started breaking out in giant cystic acne. I went to the dermatologist and he put me on Tretinoin cream along with oral Doxycycline. This product has worked great for me. I didn't have a bad inital breakout like others stated that they experienced. I had maybe 1 or 2 new zits within the first few days and then my skin cleared up completely. I haven't had a breakout since. This product does cause your skin the be dry and flaky. I'd recommend scrubbing your face with St. Ives Apricot Scrub each morning to exfoliate and removed the dead skin and then apply a moisturizer...this has really worked for me. All-in-all a great product and I'd recommend it for mild to moderate acne.

This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Claire

January 12, 2012

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Need a prescription
Makes you sensitive to the sun
Didn't help my acne
Burns

Retin-A didn't work at all for me. It just burned my skin and made me sensitive to the sun.

This Was Helpful

Report

Daniel Brown6

January 12, 2012

Pros:

Chemical exfoliant, meaning healthier looking skin after a certain time period
Helps to fade scars
Proven to be one of the only true anti aging products (scientifically, at least)
Boosts collagen production which helps wrinkles, and very faint pit scars.

Cons:

It takes a while for your skin to adjust to it
Peely Skin
Some redness
You HAVE to keep using it for a long time to get any permanent results (at least a year)
Makes you sensitive to the sun
Extremely expensive (Atralin)

I had fairly severe cystic acne that resulted in scarring over my entire face; chin, forehead and cheeks. This drastically improved the appearance of my skin as far as discoloration as well as texture, too.

This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Jude

January 12, 2012

Pros:

Clears Acne
Smooths Skin
Easy to Use
Speads up turn over of surface skin cells

Cons:

Temporary Stinging while getting used to medication
Temporary worsening breakouts as medication works to push acne causing particles to the surface

Personally a wonderful product. After having undergone having my children my skin started to go haywire after I turned 40. Then got crazy after my hysterectomy in March of 2011! Acne on my face, back, chest and top of my arms. Not what you expect or desire at my age. As I'm on other very strong medications for a chronic condition, the dermatologist couldn't put me on Accutane type meds. He did try a bunch of other things until we got to a dead end and this was the only option. At first my skin dried out and I looked like a lizard, I broke out as it pushed the acne causing garbage to the surface and my face stung. I was also advised (and complied) that I should start out slowly. Applying the gel once every couple of days, waiting an hour and then applying a quality mosturizer. Then after a couple of weeks start applying every other day w/mosturizer after the gel has been on my face an hour. I pushed through the discomfort and acne though as I'd already been warned that I would experience these things and that given a few weeks, I would see the benefits. My doc was so right! Now after 4 months of use, my skin looks amazing. It's actually also taken a few years off my looks...yippee! I'd be crazy not to be thrilled about looking at least 7 years younger right? LOL So I'm happy to take that bonus! I suggest following a moderate application timetable for a few weeks before going to applying it every night and hopefully you'll enjoy the same results. I'm just so thankful I finally found some relief. Mine is covered, at least temporarily, by insurance. Normal cost is $300 w/out insurance. My copay is $40. That's a bargain for something that really works.

This Was Helpful

11 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Anna

January 11, 2012

Pros:

It helped a lot with acne in a short amount of time.

Cons:

It REALLY dried out my skin. I got to the point where my acne was getting so bad right underneath my nose and down to my upper lip, that I put a ton of this stuff on every night. The acne went away days ago, but my skin is terribly chapped. It appears dry, it looks disgusting, and it burns extremely bad. It hurts to move my mouth anymore. This alone makes the medicine not worth it. I would rather have acne than have this.

It's not worth it because of how dry it makes your skin. It is especially not worth the money.

This Was Helpful

Report

Michael

January 5, 2012

Pros:

Making My Face Very Smooth
Maybe Making My Cysts Redness Smaller

Cons:

Takes Awhile I Guess
Redness

Okay so I been dealing with acne for about 2 years now and ever since football season from last year i've gotten it acne. First my acne was just bumps and stuff nothing really huge winter got worst then got better in the summer because i started to use proactive........little did i know this fall got horribly bad bad cysts and my both my checks are now to date red but there no more bumps on it. Its just like a flat red mark idk whats happening but i only been on retin-a 0.5% for about 3 weeks but my skin on the red marks are really smooth now idk if that a good sign just hoping for the best if any have any advice for me i would highly appreciate it ANYTHING!! All people with acne out there i know how you feel i'm always depress and dont even want to go in school looking like this :( so im hoping this will help if not then im on acctuane

This Was Helpful

16 user(s) found this helpful

Report

me1241lol

January 2, 2012

Pros:

Clears a little acne
Red marks fade slightly

Cons:

In the long term, didn't do much
Peeling

It is good for a while, spots get less big and red. However, it did sting a little and it hasn't really helped my acne.

This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report

euroviv

January 1, 2012

Pros:

Acne 90% reduced
Smoother skin
Reduces scars

Cons:

Tough Initial breakout
Dryness (to be expected)
Flakiness

I began this treatment mid November, it is now Jan. 1. My acne was severe a year ago but has gone down with other treatments to a moderately severe type. I get cysts in three main areas of the face and regularly have 3-5 pustules on my face. Not to mention redness and scarring. My treatment is as follows: Apply Retin-A cream every night before bed and then follow with a moisturizer (Avene Clean-Ac). In the morning rinse with water plus apply moisturizer. Additionally receive dermabrasion once a month. In the first month I broke out severely, worse than what I looked like when I began the treatment. It is enough to make you doubt the medicine but stick with it! Now, on my second month, cystic acne is almost non-existent and skin is clearer than it has been in months. My skin is not as sensitive to the cream as others have posted. I find that applying a good amount (more than a pea) is very effective without causing irritation *for me*. I have zero pustules on my face (such a rare yet welcome change). I'm still in the early stages of treatment but so far so good. I'm hopping this will be my answer instead of having to go on accutane. I give this product 4 stars because I am still in the beginning stage of using it, but am happy so far. Best of luck to all~

This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Bianca

December 25, 2011

Pros:

Reduces oil

Cons:

Bad breakouts
Peeling
Redness
Sensitivity

Used the 0.5 cream version alone for 3.5 months and my face actually worsened. I experienced bad breakouts AKA cystic acne that I have never really experienced for a looong time on my trusty sage advice stuff and some peeling and very reddened skin. I also had red, scaly patches that I feared would remain forever if I continued using. Finally after more than three months of cringing in the mirror when I look in my face I knew it was time to throw down the towel. I'm sure my experience would have been different and much better if combined with an antibiotic and/or abx topical cream. I would not recommened this product on its own.

This Was Helpful

108 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Sarah

December 25, 2011

Pros:

-Cleared acne
-Clearing previous scars
-Bright and glowing skin

Cons:

-Redness and peeling
-Takes time, very gradual healing process
-Initial breakout and breakout after 2nd month

I've been waiting to review this product for fear that I will have another breakout, but here goes...I have been using this product for 3 months now in conjunction with 100 mg per day of spironolactone. I started out with Retin-A Micro .04% for 1 month, then moved up to Retin-A Micro .1% for the last 2 months. I have had chronic acne since I was 13, and cystic acne since I was 18, am now 26 years old and have finally found a product that works for me. The spironolactone stopped the cystic acne from returning, but the Retin-A has changed the texture, appearance and quality of my skin. It will take a long time to work, and if you try and use a lot of product at once, you'll get a bright red burned face. Be patient and stick with it, it will be the best choice you ever make for your acne. Few important notes to share with you: -I had a terrible, awful initial breakout, worse than I've ever had. However, I stuck with it and things started improving. I had 2 more serious "breakouts" since starting the product, but seem to be over the major hurdles after about 3 months. STICK WITH IT, it will get better. -I have some occasional redness and peeling, but I would simply recommend using a good moisturizer at night and during the daytime and a little gentle exfoliation to help get rid of any flakiness. -It is clearing my overall skin tone and previous scars, I hope that if I stick with it, they will all fade. -For women with cystic acne, highly recommend pairing with Spironolactone. -Also, my doc gave me antibiotics for the first month and also for the week during my period when I am prone to breakouts which very much helped to reduce additional breakouts.

This Was Helpful

19 user(s) found this helpful

Report

1 … 27 28 29 30 31 … 134

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

Prescription acne medications

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

Finding a Doctor

Finding a Doctor

Be sure to:

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

Red flags:

New Report

Close