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
December 3, 2009
Cons:
first month I had rashes and peeling and, my face looked worse before it got better.
This is a product you need to stick too. At first you will get red and peel like crazy. Your number of pimples will increase and you will be tempted to quick. DON'T BE A QUITTER this product will change your life. After a month you will notice that if you get a pimple it will be smaller and go away quicker. After two months you will notice you hardly ever get pimples and your face will have an overall nice glow to it. After three months your face will look like a porcilin. People complement me on my skin all the time and they just assume it is genetics. Little did they know to obtain my "new skin" I had to go through many ups and downs with a miricle product called: Retin A Note: Use sunscrean, wait 20 minute after you wash your face to apply, dont pop your pimples bc your skin will be thinner, if your face gets irritated skip a day or two and only use a pea sized amount!! Less is more with this product. Stick to it and you will be happy you did!
July 29, 2012
Pros:
Clear, soft, glowing skin
Evens tone
Fades scars/hyperpigmentation
Unclogs/refines pores
Re-texturizes skin
Smooth wrinkles and fine lines
Anti-acne AND Anti-aging... two-in-one product!
Cons:
You MUST BE PATIENT for results
Dryness, peeling
Initial “purging†phase
Sun sensitivity
Retin-A has literally transformed my skin. This product is a miracle, but ONLY if you are patient, motivated and committed. Month 0-1 ½
Initial purging phase- breakouts and white heads, skin is dry and sensitive. I'm not going to lie- this part sucks. I think this is the reason so many people give up and never see results. DON'T GIVE UP! If you are patient and committed you'll be glad you stuck it out and pushed through this bad phase. It is worth it! Month 2-4
Significant improvement. Skin is 95% clear, with only minimal and short lasting breakouts during my period and a few small whiteheads now and then that are easily extracted. Skin appears smoother, softer and clearer. Pores appear less clogged and smaller. I'm using less makeup. I have less dryness and little to no irritation. Scarring and hyperpigmentation is slowly but surely fading. I literally notice more and more improvements with each passing week. It just keeps getting better. Keep in mind; they say it takes 6-9 months for major results. I'm so impressed by the results so far- I can't even imagine how amazing my skin will look in the months to come! Tips
You need a routine and you MUST BE PATIENT!!
I gradually increased my use from 1x/week up to every other day' Start slowly and increase use over time. This minimizes side effects. Base your use on YOUR SKIN's reactions; everyone is different.
Use a gentle, non-medicated cleanser. I like CeraVe's foaming cleanser.
ONLY apply Retin-A at night, 30min after cleansing.
GENTLY exfoliate morning and night to remove flaking. I use a wash cloth made for babies. It removes dry skin but is super gentle.
Use lots of moisturizer and sun block. I also use Jojoba oil a few days a week to loosen dry flakey skin and add needed moisture.
Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet (fruits and veggies). Nourish/heal/hydrate your skin from the inside out.
Omega-3, Vitamin E and Zinc are a
June 18, 2011
Pros:
- cleared about 95% of my acne,no more cystic acne, blackheads, very few whiteheads.
-reduced the size of my pores
-slowly but does get rid of scars
-it feels really soft!
-my skin finally looks health!
Cons:
-takes time to work (6 months for me)
-peeling, burning, redness
-makes skin sensitive
So after everything else failed for me (differin, proactive, etc) even the pills my doctor prescribed which gave me lupus and got me extremely sick, this was my last resource! Bottom line is that you have to be extremely patient to use this medication because it does take time to work and makes your face look like hell the first few months, but since I had no other options I decided to be patient and wait and after 6 months of using it Im GLAD I DID!!! It cleared my face for about 95%, the other 5% it didnt work is due to my hormonal acne which I have to deal with once a month but after I started taking fish oil it has controlled it! My skin looks great though! One bad thing about it is that it made my skin super sensitive but if you are like me that everything else has failed and you are patient I recommend sticking to it because in the long run it will make your skin look and feel great =) Good Luck!
March 11, 2010
Pros:
-Bringing all the crap underneath my skin to the surface
-Smoothing out my skin, and scars are disapearing
-Skin tone looks alot better and less patchy
-Very easy to apply, and dries really quick
-Less drying than BP
Cons:
-Makes the skin flake
-Makes it Red some days
This stuff is the one thing thats finally starting to remove my scars and the spots underneath the skin. It makes my skin flake and regenerate it so newer skin can come through and its also reorganising the skin cells so my scars are fading away becoming less shallow every week. I would say If your fed up with scarring and spots that are stuck there underneath the skin then give this a shot. It makes you look pretty dame ugly for a month or two but Its the long term benefits that will be worthwhile sticking with it. Im planning to stay on this untill my shallow pop marks are complety gone, which at this rate should be about another month or two. I apply my Retin A every night before I go to bed, First I was with a gentle cleanser then I wait about 20-30 mins for my skin PH level to get back to normal.
I then apply the retin a, I just spread a thin layer of it over my bad areas and then thats it. It dries super fast and you dont have to rub it in for ages like I had to with BP. I would recommend this to people like me, that have tried stuff and still have acne underneath the skin and have bad texture/pop marks. Its definatly working for me, the pop scars are improving and all the crap under the layers are coming away. Hope that this works for you, its certainly working for me :D But rember to stay with it dont give up like so many people do on here, It will be worth it in the long run. Goodluck guys xD
November 25, 2011
Pros:
WORKS!!! Clears skin completely
Gets rid of oily skin
Gets rid of scars and spots cause by previous acne
Cons:
It takes a long time to work.
You will break out a little prior to getting better
A bit of peeling.
Redness but it's not so bad
There is just one thing to say: IT WORKS IT DOES WONDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you really want a healthy looking skin, use this product as directed and DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!! It will take up to TWO MONTHS for it to work but I promise you that you will not regret the waiting time. This cream works from the inside out!! You will enjoy of beautiful, smooth and soft skin again!! I extremely recommend this cream. And whenever you want to give up, open up this review page again to help you through it!!!! And please if it works for you, come back and write a review that is going to help your fellow friends who suffer daily with the same annoying and emotional destructive acne. Thanks to all!!!!
February 7, 2010
Pros:
- Clearer complexion
- More even skin tone
- No blackheads
- Severe acne gone!
Cons:
- Major initial breakout
- Very, very dry & raw skin during the first month of usage
I have been usin Tretinoin, RetinA since the end of December. My skin is beginning to look flawless & has a nice glow to it. When I first began the treatment, I had severe acne, I had a lot of under the skin blackheads & cystic, painful pimples. I have been taking Tetracycline, but the blackheads & some pimples still would not go away so my derm prescibed me with Tretinoin. At first when I began it, I wanted to give up right away, my skin became SO sensitive & painful. I also had a few major breakouts, I stuck with it & I am so happy i did, my skin looks amazing now! I get a lot of compliments on it on a daily basis. I am still having a few breakouts & that is becuase the cream brings all that those nasty pimples to the surface so that in the long run, your skin is clear. Adive to those just sarting out with it; STICK with it! You will be SO glad you did. Get a mild facial cleanser, I use Purpose, it is gentle, cheap & not irritating & get a good non-comegedic facial moustirizer, I used Oil of Olay. Dont use anything too irritating. Within a a month or two, yuo will be so happy you stuck with it, It is difficult at first, bc of the inital breakout & it makes you feel like your skin will never look nice but IT WILL! You just have to give the cream time to work & purge your skin. Good Luck!!
November 21, 2010
Pros:
- I actually get comments on my glowing skin!
- Eliminates acne (cystic and pimples)
- Make skin very smooth
- Easy application (be sure to WAIT 20 minutes after washing your face before application!)
- Clears up acne scars I've had for years
Cons:
- Initial breakout
- Makes skin more sensitive to sunlight
I was iffy about starting Retin-A after reading the reviews about the so-called "initial breakout" but I was desperate for change. I decided to start Retin-A over the summer when I knew I wouldn't be seeing my friends a lot and I'm glad I did. The first three months made my skin breakout across my cheeks and chin but the truth is, I was so full of acne that it really couldn't get too much worse. Frustrated, I turned to using Benzaclin in the AM and Retin-A at night which seemed to help and I continue that regimen now. I would advise teens and young adults to start Retin-A during a time such as summer vacation when you'll have a fresh start. The only downside to this was that it was also sunnier and my face did burn a couple times on beach days, but I could have worked harder to avoid them. It is now fall and I have been using Retin- A for about 5 months. I cannot tell you how OVERJOYED I am at the results. Where there used to be acne, I now have clear, glowing skin. A friend of a friend complimented me on my "porcelain doll skin" about a month ago and I actually started crying in happiness when she said so. I never believed I could be that person others look at as beautiful. I have never felt better about myself and this product has 100% changed my life. Overall, this product is absolutely worth the wait. Keep it up, even when you feel like it might not be working. It is so worth it in the end :) Thank you, Retin- A.
March 26, 2010
Pros:
Fading red marks
Softening skin
Promoting new skin growth
Heals existing acne quickly
Easy regimen
Cons:
Peeling
Dry Skin
Initial Breakout
I got this prescribed (.025%) awhile ago, but always was afraid to start it because of the horrible IB I heard about. Finally, I read the reviews about "stick with it, it sucks at first- but you'll get great skin." So, I sucked it up and tried it. I'm going into week 3. And RIGHT ON- I have an initial breakout. Chin, jaw, neck. Blagh. Fortunately, I've never broken out on my checks, nose, forehead, temples, etc. And even with this product, I'm still not breaking out there. It brings ALL the junk to the top of your skin and manifests itself in glorious pimples. Awesome, huh? Well yea....cause once this initial breakout clears your skin, you're in the home stretch to clear skin. Week 1- peeling, drying, breakouts
Week 2- less drying, still peeling, still breaking out.
Week 3- barely drying, peeling, breakouts are healing and subsiding. I promise to re-update in another 3 weeks or so. But it's getting better. Use a GOOD MOISTURIZER. I can't emphasize that enough. Find one that works for your skin and slather it. Stick with this stuff- endure the intial breakout in all it's glorified suckiness. It'll get better and you'll be glad. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to get up. My acne went from moderate to moderately severe and is now clearing up. You CAN do it. My Routine Morning:
Wash face with Carlye's facewash.
Wash with Aveeno's Calming face wash
Moisturize with Olay Age Defying with ABH and SPF 15 (I'm 20...but never to early to start anti-aging prevention) Night:
Wash with Aveeno's calming face wash
Wait 30 minutes
Put on Retin-A I promise you can do this and you can be on your way to clear skin. Give it a chance.
March 2, 2010
Pros:
make skin clear and toned, my skin looks flawless and is unbelievably smooth. Cleared up all the small pimples under the skin. Absolutely love this product
Cons:
flaky around the mouth and my eyes kinda burn when i put on concealer, plus the initial break out was pretty bad
You have to use this medication if you have any type of acne. It will clear up your acne if you give it time i promise. For the first 3 months i was on the .05% my face looked way worse than it did before I started using tretinoin. Then my doctor bumped me up to the .1% and now my face is absolutely flawless. I'm in love with this product i recommend it to everyone who isn't happy with their skin. You just have to wait out the initial break out, I understand it sucks because you think the medication is making everything worse, but it's just bringing all the bacteria up at the same time. It will get better, I suggest starting off on the .05% so that the IB isn't as bad and then move up a dosage. USE IT! and don't give up on it, it won't change over night. But after 4 months your skin will look better than it ever has
September 3, 2009
Pros:
Been using Retin-A for 10 yrs now and yes in the beginning it made my skin alot worse but after 3 weeks my skin was clear and has stayed that way since!! I absolutely love this stuff!!
Cons:
Took about 3 weeks before it started to work, it made me break out before it got better, and made me very sensitive to the sun!!
Im 38 years old and not only has it cleared up my acne but i have no wrinkles what so ever!! Everyone tells me I can pass for a 25 yr old person and not 38 NOW THATS GREAT !!! Wish I could post a pic of my before and after , ive come along way with my battle with acne :-)
Pros:
works great for acne and over all skin appearence.