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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21.8%
4
32.3%
3
21.6%
2
14.8%
1
9.4%

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May 30, 2007

Pros:

It's great, I encourage anyone who suffers from acne to try this product!! It does take time though, but stick with it and your skin will be clearer than it ever has been!!

Cons:

It takes a month maybe two to really start working. It makes skin break out at first and causes it to become very dry, but this only last about a month. STICK WITH IT!

It works! My skin is clear, smooth, and radiant! I can actually leave the house with no coverup! It was very hard to stick with it, I was about to give up after about a month and a half of using it, it was making my face so dry, but instead of giving up, I switched to once every other night, and used avveno night time moisture cream, it worked perfect!!
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May 27, 2007

Pros:

Helps skin drastically, insurance covers most of it, one of the best I've used so far (and I've been on differin, duac, evoclin, countless over the counter...)

Cons:

dry, flaky skin-- sometimes bad enough I had to get off it for a few days (what use is acne free skin if it's one big friggin flake?) but if i didnt use it, acne came back, so that's a lose-lose situation. starting to feel dependent on it

It affects everyone differently. You should try it. My skin dries out very very easily, but for someone who doesn't, this may work perfectly.
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May 19, 2007

Pros:

gets rid of acne, helps reduce appearance of scars

Cons:

takes a while to see full results,
irritating to skin at first

I always had acne, since I was 11! After years of trying everything else that claimed to rid me of the zits, I was willing to put up with the side-effects of tretinoin just to see at least SOME improvement. At first my skin flaked and turned red, and then I began breaking out even worse. By twelve weeks my face looked horrible, despite the promise of improvement by this time. Just when I was about to give up hope, I looked to online reviews (much like this one) to see if I should keep up the treatment. Luckily, I stuck to it and after SIX months I saw full results. My face was much more clear, my skin was much softer, my black heads were less noticeable, my scars faded away quickly, and my face was no longer irritated by tretinoin. I still consistently apply it every night, and I'm still enjoying the results. Also, a little tretinoin goes a long way! I'm only on my second 45 gram tube after almost a year! I suggest the generic tretinoin: MUCH less expensive than Retin-A brand and works
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April 12, 2007

Pros:

Clears up acne, dries out whiteheads

Cons:

Takes months to see results, doesn't eliminate acne scars, makes skin super-sensitive to UV rays so always wear a sunscreen when going outside.

Never had acne as a young teenager, then as soon as I turned 18, I began to get moderate acne. I tried EVERY SINGLE over-the-counter product out there (from Neutrogena, Clearsil, Cetaphil, etc, to Proactiv, to some generic products - trust me I have tried over 87 products over the course of 1.5 years) I couldn't take the continued break outs, so my derm put me on Retin-A Micro (Purple Pump) and Duac topical gel (BP) as well as some anti-biotic oral meds. After about 2 months, I am finally seeing results. My acne is clearning up but the scarring is still showing a bit, but not horribly. I'm fairly happy with the results I am finally having but it's still not 100% clear. I give a neutral recommendation for this product because of how long it takes to see results.
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October 13, 2017
Good stuff
Tretinoin cream works pretty well for me when I've used it. I'm fortunate not to get much peeling skin and redness from it- just some dryness, but I don't always use the the product straight up on my skin (I mix it with a bit of moisturizer if my skin already feels a bit dry). It never cured my acne completely but when I've used it I've noticed a big difference in the number and severity of my acne lesions- enough for me to really recognize the difference in my skin.
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Roos
August 23, 2018
Watch out with using it together with a moisturizer! It's recommended to apply the tretinoin without anything else because it could interfere with each other and make the tretinoin less efficient
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July 26, 2016
best cream for acne scars
Retino-A 0.025% Tretinoin Cream for acne scars is best medication, i use it from last 3 years
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OKDERMO-COM
November 6, 2016

You can buy it in [Edited link out]! Regards

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January 20, 2016
Does not work for everyone. I gave it 8 months, after Doctor follow up.
I will keep this brief. This did not work for me, and I gave it 8 months. I keep my washing regimen simple and I barely use makeup. I am 32 and have had moderately bad acne since I was a teen. Skipping forward, what ended up working beautifully for me was hormonal regulation by birth control and low dose spirolactone to block androgens. Perfect. I was on that from age 29-31 and it cured all my acne. Before that, I tried all sorts of topical and oral antibiotics with no success. I read and tried Retin-A. Gave it 4 months, then another 4 months after talking to a doc. My acne got worse, and worse, and worse. One guy mentioned chemical burns on this board. That was actually what I got!!!! At one point, my chin started pussing and scarring. That was at 7 months. I lessened my usage (every other day) and it never got better. Until I completely stopped. My face went back to baseline and I thought that looked wonderful compared to the horrible acne I had suffered while being "patient" on this. Point is, regardless of wonderful reviews from a majority, it does not work for everyone, even with a clean regimen and patience. Another point is, something else worked. I've stopped birth control / spirolactone because of future family planning. My acne is not ideal but manageable with $10 benzoic peroxide. That good old teenager stuff that works ehhh, but I guess I no longer care as much as I once did. Maybe not caring helped my face.
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January 3, 2016
Did not work for 14 year old female
We have tried Tretinoin, Doxycyline, Onexton, and Epi-Duo. None have made a significant difference, thus the dermatologist prescribing all these products. During these trials, we cut out dairy and reduced sugar. Still no difference. Was told to use Cetaphyl and also CeraVe. I believe, if you have hormonal acne which my kid has... no external product is going to cure acne. It really didn't reduce it that much either.
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December 18, 2014
Just started using it..
I am going into my third week with using Retin-A and I am having the hardest time pushing through with this. I am 21 years old and have been battling acne since I was 15. I am reading all the reviews on how it needs to take roughly 6 months to be effective and to see results, but I am fearful that it will continue to make me break out in these purges which is resulting in these left over red spots. People that have cleared up.. is your complexion clear of the red left over spots that these purges create?
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November 28, 2014
Did not work!
At first i was using tretinoin 0.05 for about 3 weeks. Since then my acne was getting worse! So i went to the derm And she than prescribed me duac in the morning , doxycycline hyclate to use twice a day and tretinoin 0.05 (i have mild to moderate acne) using these my face ended up so bad and started to burn tremendously! I then made the decision to accept acne cause i knew god would heal me and send me a sign! I was watching youtube videos and out of nowhere pops acne.org regimen! I ordered the products but in the mean time i still had my duac and pills that i have taken . Watching dans regimen i realize i was washing my face wrong which was leading to irritation! I started using duac everymorning and night 15-30 min after washing my face with cerave gentle cleanser then wait 15-30 min again and put cerave mositerizeur. I also changed my diet stopped puttin make up on and started taking multivitamins. After a week if changing my regimen to dans acne.org regimen allong with doxy my acne has defnitley gotten alot better!! I was at the point where i just wanted to give up but i knew my god had a plan for me! This is workingg i suggest to watch dans regimen it helps!! Im seeing reaults everyday!
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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