Topical Retinoid
Reviews
3.4
1972 Reviews
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
50%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Retinoid
Side Effects
Low
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.
Read All About Tretinoin
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.1%
4
32%
3
21.6%
2
14.9%
1
9.4%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

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August 4, 2011

Pros:

Peels skin, lightens scars and makes skin softer.

Cons:

Can cause chemical burn

I like this stuff, but I got a chemical burn around my mouth after a while and now I have some extreme hyperpigmentation there. So be careful about that, otherwise it's great.
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July 27, 2011

Pros:

Softer Skin
Shrinks Existing Acne in a matter of days

Cons:

Some Peeling

I've been using Retin A Micro .04% for about three weeks now. I haven't really had the horrible IB everyone has been talking about, I'm not sure if I'm not far enough into it yet. As of now, I have already seen positive results. My acne is clearing..slowly, but surely. Just stick with it! I know it's going to take time but it's worth it in the end. My Dermatologist said results may start within the first two weeks, full results by week seven. Stick with it! Your skin will be beautiful in no time! As for the peeling aspect..nothing a good moisturizer can't fix! I wear make up and I was very nervous to put it on because I thought the peeling would make it look horrible- but it didn't!
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August 15, 2011

Pros:

Gets rid of current pimples quickly
Cheap with insurance
Use at night
Purges skin (also sort of a con)

Cons:

INITIAL BREAKOUT
Dryness
Redness

ATTENTION: Read this, it really may help. For those of you who are thinking of starting or who have started and are not seeing any results after a decent amount of time: Before you start retin a, start eating healthy because the skin will be purging itself and if you are not eating healthy, you will definitely have a bad break out because it is removing those toxins through acne on your face. Think about it, if you don't have toxins in your body creating new blemishes under the surface, there won't be as much to purge out of your skin. Continue to eat healthy throughout this and then reintroduce your favorite snacks slowly back into your diet to see what causes break outs for you. Yes, it's hard to do but I have been on retin a for almost two months, eating all sorts of fast food and junk food and getting nothing but a constant break out and it has been awful. Then i decided to try to start eating healthy and here I am, on the 4th day of eating healthy and I've already noticed a big improvement. It is actually getting better now!! No more new pimples every morning, I just have a lot of hyperpigmentation. There are those people whose diets don't affect their skin apparently or this either works for them regardless of diet, but don't chance it, new beginners! Just cut out your chips, pops, ice creams and the such and you should experience great results sooner. This will take care of your acne topically, and your healthy diet will greatly help reduce the acne waiting to pop out. I hope this helps you all, I will do another review when I have seen greater results, but it seems that eating healthy has been the only thing that has helped so far.
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April 26, 2011

Pros:

Get rid of pimples quicker than other products
Fades hyperpigmintation i think
Helps with scarring too i think

Cons:

Dries out skin
Takes for ever to work
Makes skin uneven if you dont put it all over your face.

I bought this for 10 dollars since it is covered by insurance and before it i had not much acne just lots of hyperpigmintation and hypertrophic scarring and i have been using tretinoin 0.01 for a month now and im pretty sure its working. I got an initial breakout around the 2nd week and i think it lasted for about 2 weeks and now im starting to see better results. Im not getting pimples as much and my hyperpigminatation and hyper strophic scarring is fading i think. The weird thing is that the first week i started using it my skin looked pretty good, i thought the tretinoin was working really fast but i guess it has to get worse before it gets better. My doctor told me to wait at least 6 weeks for best results but i doubt it will work that fast maybe a few more months like everyone else on here. Hopefully by the second month my scars will fade, sucks i got acne about a year ago at age 18!! Wish i got it earlier like normal people when they were young.
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February 17, 2011

Pros:

Skin is soft and clear

Cons:

Some dryness but not bad

I started with .5% but it didn't work. Then last month I switched to .1% cream and it has worked wonders. No pimples, cysts, anything! I also upped Spiro to 100mg so that might have helped too but I think the .1% tretinoin cream has made my skin look so much better. I didn't have any problems with this product except on the lower dose which was ineffective. Follow the directions on how to use it and you shouldn't have any problems!
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November 15, 2010

Pros:

Makes skin smooth
Made pores smaller

Cons:

Made face extremely red, itchy, flakey
Burned whenever I applied it
Initial Breakout never went away!

I was on this retin-a for over 9 months and it never fully cleared my acne. My initial breakout lasted about 5-6 months and I still broke out after that. It did however make my skin smoother. My skin went through cycles, it would be smooth for a week, then itchy, red, and flakey, and it would repeat. Also, my skin would become extremely dry halfway through the day and it was embarassing. Overall, I had high hopes because of the positive reviews but it didn't work for me. If your acne bugs you enough I would say try it, but your skin will never return to its original state :(
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November 8, 2010

Pros:

brightens skin
healthy look to skin
makes skin smooth

Cons:

dries skin
redness of skin

It works but it takes time. I have had very bad acne all of my life and I tried everything. I was starting to lose hope and my doctor prescribed me tretinoin and deoxycycline. It was so amazing. My skin got really clear. It took time like 3-5 months but it is very clear now. I cannot remember the last time I had clear skin. My acne was very very bad and those two medicines worked wonders!
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March 14, 2010

Pros:

* It worked for me the first night I tried it
*My acne is gone and my scars going away
*It got rid of my redness due to sun damage

Cons:

*My skin is a little flakey around my eyes
*It may not be perfectly safe if you get preggos

I've tried many different acne systems since High School and this is the best medication. I finally feel confident to look strangers in the eye and smile. I love it!
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December 2, 2009

Pros:

It really works and I have tried quite a few products. ProActive being one of the many and it sucked.

Cons:

My acne def got worse before it got better

Retin-A is wonderful, I am 24/F never had acne in my life until about four months ago. I used ProActive and saw no results what so ever!!!! I began using the Retin-A around three weeks ago and I have seen huge improvement!!!!!!!!!!
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November 25, 2009

Pros:

really and truely clears up the skin on face, chest and back! reduces scars, smooths skin out and has make my sun damage forehead wrinkles disappear!!! magic!

Cons:

drying, can sting; especially in cracks near nose and on spots / broken skin, makes me redder than usual!!!

I think the bottom line here is no pain no gain. All acne treatments work by drying the skin, so this is unavoidable, though this topical did dry my skin more than the many others I have tried. If I dare to go a night without using, I sometime wake up with a spot, so I have to be comitted. Drying and can be painful but incredibly affective, I found it better than a course of Roaccutane I tried years ago, with far less severe side affects. Try it
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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.

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.