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
July 25, 2011
Cons:
Some side effects - if you use too much and too often, your face peels - which - may not look all that good, however, it's simply doing it's job. If you can't tolerate this, switch to Retin-A Micro, or blend the cream with a moisturizer and use every other day.
I use Retin-A in cycles. A couple years on, a couple years off. It always does it's job. I usually use it for a few years - and get tired of the routine of using it. When I have an acne outbreak (especially cystic) - I use it again! It's the king of medicines for the skin - if you have too many side effects, use one of the retrinol products - they take longer to work, however, they are more mild.
July 24, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up 100% of my moderately severe noncystic acne.
Cleared 100% of my keratosis
No side effects when used properly
Finally, perfect skin
Cons:
Peeling if used improperly.
Sun burn if not using sun screen.
Higher doses work no better than low doses but will burn skin.
Cysts take longer time to drain and will flare up if not fully healed before quitting.
28 yr old guy andstill had acne. I never understood why. I rarely got cysts but always had blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples size of peas on chest, back, and face. My problem areas were never localized, always moving. I barely kept control with over counter products caked on at night and washing throughout the day. Plus everything herbal. When in the army at 19, I got .1% tretinoin. It worked but burned my face no matter how sparingly I used it. But it also was the only thing that worked. If I stopped, my burnt raw skin would flare up cause it was open to the environment and bacteria. I went off it after a year and my skin stayed calm enough to use over counter crap to barely stay somewhat clear. (Meaning it was still bad skin but good enough for me) After hitting 28 and noticing my skin getting steadily worse, not better, with age, I decided it was time to suck it up and burn my skin for another year. I had a civilian doctor (who was much better than the army docs that refused to send me to derm because they wanted to handle it) that gave me .025% tretinoin. The difference was night and day. The lower dose worked better, with no peeling if used every other day, and lite application. There is no need to cake it on (my old 19 yr old habit) cause it will only cause burning and peeling and not work faster. Less is more. Less is more. Less is more. I can't stress that enough. In one day my skin calmed, and the clogged pours surfaced. The flare up many get is because the acne in the deeper skin is coming out. It's healing. Second day, gross as it sounds, everything was loose enough to drain. My skin looked "clear" for the frst time in many years. Third day I applied my second dose (every other day) and my blackheads and whiteheads were surfacing and washing off (peeling but not really). The red spots were smaller. After that, my skin slowed down and took about two weeks t
July 24, 2011
Pros:
-Makes skin more smooth
-Clears acne quickly
-Minimal scarring
-No staining
-Minimal odor
Cons:
-Noticeable initial breakout
-Skin becomes more dry
-Does not clear everything
I was prescribed this by my dermatologist about 6-7 weeks ago. I was instructed to wash my face once in the morning and once at night (at night with BenzEFoam). I was to apply the Retin-A 0.1% at night as well. There was a noticeable breakout, but the acne cleared and began to improve quickly. Minimal redness, zero peeling. Then I noticed a lack of results. Big pimples faded and disappeared, but small blackheads and bumps under the skin remained. At my 6-week visit back to the derm, he recommended using the Retin-A twice a day since my skin isn't sensitive to it. Now I have a worse IB, but it seems as if it's helping to bring everything out so it can be killed off. It's been a week since I began using it twice a day. So far, I have a moderate IB, but I can tell it's improving.
July 24, 2011
I went to my doctor a few months ago and she offered to write me a prescription for my mild acne. I'm prone to acne on my back and a little on my face, so I thought it couldn't hurt to try something. I couldn't have been more wrong!!! She told me that after 10 weeks I should start to see some improvement. I went from mild acne to severe in a matter of weeks. My skin had never been worse! It was red, peeling, scabby, and a mess of bumps. I also had the problem like so many have that pimples popped up where I never put the medicine. I had only ever had a pimple on my chest maybe 5 times ever, and all of a sudden it was a red, blistered mess. Every time I scratched my back I would bleed and my face hurt just to move it. It got to the point where it was just better not to wear makeup because it just made my face look like it was flaking off. I seriously looked like one of those tacky Halloween masks on. It's been a few months and my skin still isn't back to normal. My face is scarred and still doesn't look great, but I can now at least cover it up a bit with some make up. My skin is more sensitive than I realized. So, if you're skin's really sensitive STAY AWAY FROM RETIN-A
July 19, 2011
Pros:
cleared up acne for a few weeks
Cons:
took a few weeks for my face to get use to Retin A
Acne came back worse after stopping the medicine
Interfered with my bowel movements... did a number on my health
Don't use it! Retin A is harsh chemical and has other affects than just clearing your skin. Your body will thank you that you stayed away from it. TRY ZINC. Google "Zinc for Acne" or check out reviews on this website. It won't destroy your intestines & it was the only thing that worked to clear up my acne. Zinc is AMAZING for acne; especially hormonal acne. Retin-A is too harsh, isn't a long term answer and can cause your acne to flare up even worse once you stop using it.
July 17, 2011
Pros:
I think I've been using this for the past 2 years or so and I'm happy it worked out for me. Now, I am slowly getting out of the acne phase but I still get pimples now and then and use this. My Forehead is very oily and I'll will use this when ever a pimple pops up. I try my best to keep my skin clean to prevent outbrakes but I still get them even when I use this. Maybe I'm not cleaning my face good enough? Not sure. But I'm happy with retin-a and I'm afraid to try something else.
Cons:
Dry skin/ Skin Peels
Good, cheap and effective. It seems like this medication has improved my skin in many ways. It now looks smoth and soft. I still get pimples now and then and just apply some of this right on the pimple and it works. Also, when ever i get a pimple there are black spots left behind. This will clear them out very well but it will take some weeks to see resutls.
July 15, 2011
Product used: Atralin (Tretinoin (.05%) Gel)
Pros:
Doesn't dry skin out
No redness
moisturizing
effective at combating breakouts
I'm surprised that this product doesn't have any reviews. This is really a great product. I've used tretinoin in the form of Retin-A and some generic brands as well. Tretinoin is good stuff for keeping your pores clear, and if you're going to use it ATRALIN is the best. It's in an emollient base that feels like vaseline on the skin. Because of this, I've never experienced any dryness or redness; it doesn't take any moisture out of the skin and still does its job. Props to the people who formulated this stuff
July 13, 2011
Pros:
-gets rid of acne fast
-not too hard to apply
Cons:
-stopped working
-kind of expensive
-drying
-leaves pitted marks
I started using the 0.10% gel about 10 months ago. The initial breakout wasn't so bad, maybe because I didn't notice it since I had a lot of acne to begin with. I was surprised that it actually cleared up my cystic acne and my blackheads within a month. I did get a few breakouts from time to time but nothing too bad. I used it every night, without missing a use and without any change in my routine and it suddenly stopped working. I have noticed that it caused pitted acne scars but I didn't care too much as long as it's clearing my acne. But now it's not even doing that! I started to get the same type of acne on my chin like I used to get prior to using retin-a.
July 12, 2011
Pros:
Smooth skin
Cons:
- Constantly red face
- No change in acne
- Massive increase in grease levels
- When stopped, massive cystic outbreaks
I tried Retin-A for persistant moderate acne, which has been ongoing for 15 years, more than half my life. It didn`t work. I was incredibly patient, as I knew to expect initial outbreak, burning etc: I used it every other night, weakest strength, to start with, and my skin went red and greasy with no change to spots (unless you count that they were deeper and harder). I did this for 3 months, and my skin was constantly red and I was getting sores, so I stopped. As soon as I stopped, it went bonkers: my whole face erupted in acne. I waited a month or two for my skin to calm down, and then thought I`d try again, even slower. Used it every THREE nights, and same: red skin, no change in acne. My skin got redder and the texture changed: yes, it was "smooth" and glassy, but it also coated itself in grease within 1/2 an hour and I had to wipe it every hour because it was so heavy I could feel it. After another 4 months I stopped, and the same thing happened: within a week of stopping I got the worst cystic acne of my life. Literally hundreds of red, pus filled spots on every inch of my skin. The derm says now that my skin doesn`t tolerate Retin=a, and it lowers my skin`s defence barrier. It took all the top layers of my skin off, and left them open to all sorts of bacteria which my skin wasn`t strong enough to fend off. As soon as I stop using it, my skin - which has been totally hammered by such a strong product - is exposed to bacteria, infections etc, and every single pore becomes swollen and disgusting and acne-fied. Not for me. Wish it was but no: worse thing I ever put on my face.
July 12, 2011
Pros:
I swear by Retin-A. I use the 0.5% cream at night and love it! I rarely break out now but when I do have the occasional pimple, I dab a bit of Retin-A right on it and it is usually gone within a few days.
Cons:
It took several months for me to see results. I believe I suffered the initial breakout because my acne got worse before it got better which was a bit stressful.
I got so tired of hearing this when I was researching this medication but you really must be patient! I have been using Retin-A for over a year now and I love it. It has faded most of my acne marks and really cleared my skin up!
Pros:
Pros are - it works. Clears acne. Makes the complexion better. All sorts of scientific goodness in a tube. Price is reasonable.