Tretinoin
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Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

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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.

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3.4
1941
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Compare To Other Treatments
5
21.8%
4
32.3%
3
21.6%
2
14.8%
1
9.4%

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April 30, 2007

Pros:

Gets rid of past scars (minor to moderate)

Cons:

i guess price if you don't have insurance

Make sure you get RETINA-MICRO this stuff works miracles and is the only thing that is healing my scars in fact 2-3 more weeks and i will be FULLY CLEAR. i'm on my 3rd tube and loving it. its really cheap for me since my parents insurance covers most of it 20 dollars is all i pay :)
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April 16, 2007
Fantastic results. I have had acne and am now at an age where some wrinkles are developing too. My skin hasn't looked this good in 10 years. I did not have the burning or drying side effects many have discussed on this forum because I think my derm has a winning routine. 1.) in the morning cleanse with a mild product like Cetaphil. Wait 20 minutes and then apply this great product called AQUA GLYCOLIC. It moisturizes and sloughs off the dead skin. Your skin will feel fantastic. I also use a mild moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. 2.) p.m. routine is to cleanse with the Cetaphil and then wait 20 minutes before applying retin a. 3.) After you wait apply a nice moisturizer like Oil of olay (nothing fancy) 4.) If you are having dryness or some wrinkles around your eyes apply Stri vectin eye cream. This routine has changed my skin completely. I think I have a good combination of products and the Aquaglycolic product is really a fantastic addition
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March 8, 2007

Pros:

Clears acne like nothing else I've ever used, diminishes scarring, has anti-aging effects as well, easy to use

Cons:

you need a prescription to get it (which annoys me), you must use it consistently over a period of time to get results

Retin A has been a miracle for me. When I use it consistently (every night), I do not get a SINGLE pimple anywhere on my face. The only times when I break out are when I slip up and forget to apply it. I had a lot of redness, peeling and irritation for the first 3 weeks, but I am SO glad I stuck with it. Now I don't even need an extra moisturizer, my skin has adapted really well. I would recommend using the gel formulation rather than the cream, the cream contains some irritating ingredients that can make breakouts worse if you're sensitive to them. I have used Retin-A for over a year and I now have normal skin.
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January 14, 2007

Pros:

works

Cons:

same effect as differin, but with more redness and burning

I stepped up to Retin A after using differin for a few months, hoping to see more results. But even though my acne didn't get any worse, I had to deal with a red, painful face which was never an issue for me when I was on differin. After using Retin A for 2 months, I realised it was getting me nowhere and gave my face a medication break for 2 weeks, using only manuka honey as a face mask ( I really recommend this). Then I went back on differin and my face improved. I have recently found out about LIZ Earle organic face products' manuka honey face mask and together with differin ( and loads of aerobic exercise in the gym), my skin has never been better.
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August 16, 2017
Strong, works fine
I have a higher dose prescription for this, and have been using it nearly every night for 4 months. It initially dries your skin out very badly, and then within a few days the pimples are pretty much gone. However, I found that after a month or so it stopped working and was pretty much pointless. I wouldn't recommend it for those who have moderate to severe acne.
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July 24, 2017
Don't regret
I was prescribed Tretinoin .025 cream in November, the cream almost completely cleared my skin within the first two weeks with just a few tiny spots. However, lots of redness in the cheeks, and dry lips came along with this. The cream worked very well for the first 8 months but I started breaking out a lot in the summer for the past 4 months and it's just not working for my hormonal acne since I'm a 17-year-old a boy I have a lot of that around my mouth and cheekbones in this season. I think the cream works well in the winter and the gel formula will be better in the hotter months. during this time on the medication, my forehead, nose and temple areas have been completely clear. this is a good product but not for me so I will be changing now, I don't regret going on this and I recommend you try it for yourself.
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March 5, 2017
Tretinoin/ Retin-a Review
So I have been struggling with mild acne since I was a sophomore in high school (I am now a senior about to graduate in a few months) and have had it pretty under control with the occasional break out. I had been using proactiv for about a year now and have only seen very mild improvement. In November 2016 I had a bad break out and finally decided to go to the dermatologist. I wasn't able to get an appointment anytime soon so I went to my family doctor to see if he could schedule me an appointment which he did for late December. In the mean time he prescribed me Retin-a gel .01% and doxycycline pills to take once a day. Before taking these drugs I read reviews online and saw YouTube videos about the results and they looked pretty good so I decided to try it out. A lot of these reviews have talked about an initial breakout or "purging stage" when using tretinoin or retin-a but I had no idea how bad t would be for me. My face went from having a few pimples to my entire face being covered in acne for about a month and a half to two months. I'm late December I finally saw the dermatologist and she told me to use less of the retin-a (I was only supposed to use a pea sized amount but wasn't, hoping to see faster results... bad idea.) She also bumped my retin-a to a .025% cream and prescribed me clindamyacin phosphate at 2%. I have been using these products for about two months now and have definitely seen my face clear up. I now longer have any active acne, only the occasional pimple which I get about once every week and a half to ever two weeks which is a lot better than what I would get while using proactiv as I would get a new pimple every other day or so. I have stopped using the doxycycline now and only have scarring left from my purging stage. My dermatologist has now recommended me to use a dermaroller at 1.0mm to help with the scarring. I hope to be free from acne by the time of my graduation in 2 months. Retin-a has completely changed my face for the better as I am now acne free :)))
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February 4, 2017
Works when combined with the right medication
I have used Retin-A cream for roughly two years now and it has really helped with the scarring on my face from previous break-outs. When I first began using the cream, my face broke out so tremendously for two reasons: the first is that Retin-A is designed to bring out all the clogged acne under your skin, this could take months, and I also stopped tanning at the same time, so I didn't have the UV exposure killing the bacteria on my face anymore. My doctor told me that acne is primarily caused by only two factors: hormones and genetics, and unfortunately topical treatments by themselves will rarely give you flawless skin. Benzoyl washes help kill bacteria ON the face, but for most people like me, the real problem lies beneath the skin! After about a year of Retin-A use, I finally paired it with doxycycline and it was honestly a miracle for me! Retin-A is really a pain as far as drying out skin, but believe me when I say the good definitely outweighs the bad. I worked my way up to 0.1% but use what works for you since I have combination/oily skin. It's worth a try!
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July 19, 2016
Eh
It cleared me up for about a week. It's great for Anti-aging, but not for my stubborn, hormonal acne.
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October 1, 2015
It really works!!
I have struggled with acne as an adult for years. At first I thought I could treat it myself however it quickly became evident I was loosing the battle. My dermatologist initially prescribed me onexton, which helped at first but then seemed to stop. When she prescribed me retin A I was nervous because I had read about the "purge" that users experienced. Retin A has been a miracle! I did not experience a purge and although it makes my skin dry, it has cleared my acne completely!!!
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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.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website