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Side Effects
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.
Used Tretinoin? Rate It:
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May 16, 2012
Cons:
Initial breakout
Takes time to work
Oily skin
I am 23 and had adult ance for nearly 2 years. Lots of deep cysts on my jawline and pimples on cheeks, along with constant black heads all over the face. I have been using the 0.025% cream along with clindamycin and minocyline for 4 months. I have had completely clear skin alomost 3 weeks now. There was a pretty bad initial breakout and I continued to break out daily up until a few weeks ago. It was frustrating but worth it in the end.
May 13, 2012
Pros:
makes skin healthy
prevents breakouts (sometimes)
doesn't dry skin out
Cons:
can make skin oily
inconsistent results
I have been using this at 0.025% for 7 months. I didn't really get a bad initial breakout, and my skin started clearing up. However, after it'd clear up, I'd get break outs again. In the winter, it can be a bit drying, but in warmer weather, it makes my face really slick! It may have even caused breakouts. I have always used this with Cetaphil products because they're so gentle, and at one point, I stopped using this and was getting great skin. Right after, though, I started breaking out HORRIBLY and thought I should go back on this. This did nothing for the current breakouts, and these pimples weren't like the usual ones I get. They were hard, painful, and lasted for weeks. I still have some of them. When I went back on this, I think I got a real IB. I'm going to the derm tomorrow to discuss it, and maybe I'll go up to 0.05 or try Retin-A Micro. All in all, this works OK, but it will not totally clear your skin, especially if you have teen acne. This doesn't really help hormonal acne.
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.
December 17, 2011
Pros:
-Works great for tzone with acne
Cons:
Red + hot face
indented marks
makes my pores look darker (or redder)
I have been using Retin-A .1% for a few months and it's been great, excluding the red and heated face. Chemical exfoliation may be a good thing if you can tolerate it. I used it every day and that was too much for my skin. I tried it once every couple of days and that seemed to make my skin look better (pores look less red). Key is to listen to how your skin will react.
December 14, 2011
Pros:
Cleared pores
Smoothed skin
Cons:
Oily! Oily! Oily!
Dry, but not flaky
Slight redness
This review is for Retin-a Micro 0.04% Microsphere. Name brand, not a generic. I used it for just under 8 weeks before switching to low-dose Accutane. Overall, I think this is a good product, but probably not for people who have oily skin. It made my skin much oilier than normal. I did not--I repeat, did not--have an initial breakout as others have experienced. I believe this was due primarily to the topical and oral antibiotic my dermatologist prescribed (i.e., clindamycin solution and oral amoxicillin, 500mg, 2x/day). So, if your dermatologist will agree, I suggest concomitant antibiotics, at least for the first month of using Retin-a Micro (assuming antibiotics work for you). I used only a pea sized amount as recommended, which lightly covered my forehead, upper cheeks, nose, philtrum area, and chin. I could not cover my lower cheeks, but I have never really broken out there. Bottom line, my skin had never been smoother. But, it had never been oilier either. Please keep in mind that this is just my experience and there are definite individual differences in any acne product's effectiveness.
December 8, 2011
Pros:
Smoothed out my skin completely
Within a week my whiteheads are gone
lightens dark marks/scarring
Reduces pimple size overnight
Cons:
When first using the product I felt tightness of the skin, itching, burning sensatiion
Broke out during wk 2 of using medication (but that's to be expected, my skin was adjusting to the medication)
I honestly began seeing results during wk 1. I felt and noticed a difference in my skin. I had some dark marks on my face that went away during wk 1 of using. As for my whiteheads, as I said w/i a wk they'd be gone. However, I would still break out constantly. It took a total of 12 weeks for my breakouts and whiteheads to fully subside. I love this product and it's inexpensive. I use it every night and it has done wonders for my skin. It's just important to be patient.
December 1, 2011
Pros:
clears cystic acne, whiteheads, blackheads
smoothes skin
Cons:
Initial drying/readness
I really like this stuff. The first week was strange, because it dried my face out. I was peeling, i looked like I had severe sunburn peeling. (also, i think applied too much) Anyways I am on my 3rd month, and I never really had an initial crazy breakout that people talk about. Some hormonal breakouts were worsened, but nothing unmanageable. I have cut back on how often I use it to every other night, and that seems to be working much better. I dont use BP the nights I use Retin-a. Overall, really really like this stuff. :)
November 27, 2011
Pros:
-did a good job of clearing up acne on my chin
-smooths out the texture of your skin, smaller pores
-didn't dry out my skin
-no initial breakout
-one prescription lasted me more than 6months
Cons:
-occasional redness/irritation
-didn't clear up my skin 100%, but I'm still happy with the major improvement
I have been taking Atralin once daily, before bed, for over 6 months now. This gel is very gentle and has never made my skin flaky. Started seeing results in about 2 weeks, but eventually the improvement started to level off, and my skin still gets pimples here and there. Overall Atralin made a big difference in the appearance of my skin and I would recommend it to anyone. Also, with Atralin i would not be afraid of an initial breakout. I never had one and if you start using a small amount, it is very gentle.
November 27, 2011
Product used: Atralin (Tretinoin (.05%) Gel)
Pros:
-helped clear up moderate acne
-not very irritating
-smoothed out skin texture
-didn't make skin dry
Cons:
-never cleared up my skin 100%
-sometimes makes my skin look greasy
-occasional redness
Was prescribed Atralin along with Acanya, a antibiotic. Acne on my chin/jaw area got a lot better with the two. Did not experience an initial breakout, probably because the product is very gentle. Started to see results in 2 or 3 weeks. I have been using it for nearly 6 months and it doesn't seem to be as effective, but my skin is still MUCH better than when I started it. Now I feel comfortable with my skin
October 28, 2011
Pros:
-helps reduce acne scars and less severe acne also
Cons:
-dries skin (but nothing lotion won't fix)
-takes awhile to work
This product takes time to work, I don't know exactly how long but at least a month or two for sure. It has reduced the appearance of my acne scars greatly (I just got off of Acutane). If you have problems with dryness, by a more expensive brand name lotion ( I use Cytaphil or Neutrogina)
Pros:
Cleared acne