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 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
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 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 3, 2011
Pros:
none
Cons:
chemical peel
red, really red
huge zits
burned
left my scars pink
terrible product, in the first 3 weeks my skin was looking like i had a chemical peel, i almost wasn't able to go to prom in my dress due to this product, i will never use again glad i stopped before it got even worse, it ruined my skin
July 2, 2011
Pros:
-None so far
Cons:
-I have gone from mild acne to severe acne
-I have so much scarring now
I started using this because i had about 5-6 pimples on my face at the time, but after 2 and a half months of treatment my skin has gone from mild acne to severe and i have soo much scarring now that my confidence has dropped dramatically!! i hate going out and seeing people because i know there staring at my skin when they talk to me and my skin just looks so horrible right now. My IB started a week into the treatment and hasn't stopped!! I went on this to get better skin but my skin is 10 times worse now and i would do anything to get the skin that i had before i started using this!!!
June 30, 2011
Pros:
-Only had to use once daily
-Easy to apply
-Dont have to use much
Cons:
-Made my skin peel badly
-Skin felt very strange after application
-Product smells bad
-My skin became red, very irritated, and very dry
-It hurt to smile due to irritation and peeling around my mouth
-My moisturizer, sunscreen, WATER, touching my face, or lying on a pillow STUNG!
-Discontinued use after 5 days because i couldnt stand the way my skin felt
I refused to continue using this because it, well, IT WRECKED MY SKIN! I could stand it. Didnt work for me at all! Too strong i guess.
June 21, 2011
Pros:
Insurance covered it
Cons:
Dryness, redness, peeling, did not clear acne, made scarring worse
Retin-A was the first prescription I got from my derm when I started going my sophomore year of highschool (along with Benzaclin). At that point my acne wasn't too bad - a cyst or two a month on my chin and maybe a few small pimples in the same area, but other than that I was clear. I was really excited after the first two or three weeks - my skin started to look really clear and old marks had faded. Fast forward a few weeks and I started breaking out EVERYWHERE. I thought it was just an initial breakout and kept at it. Eventually I ended up at the full strength as directed by my derm, but my skin was never moisturized, and I continued to break out on my cheeks (never broke out there before!). I stayed on this stuff for almost 2 years before I realized that there had to be something better out there.
June 18, 2011
Pros:
None for me
Cons:
Caused more breakouts (and we're talking after the initial 4-6 weeks)
Caused redness and sensitivity
If you don't have good insurance, it's going to be expensive.
I have always had light acne, but when I moved to a bigger city it got worse for whatever reason (worse than when I was a teen actually). My Dr. put me on the lowest strength of Retin-A. For several months I used it with no change and so she increased my strength. I began breaking out more (which is expected initially), but then it never got better. She increased my strength again and then I still continued breaking out and I also began to have redness and sensitivity. All this happened over the course of at least a year. So I'm not someone who used it for 2 months or something and then gave up; I really gave it a try. I decided to stop using it and my skin improved as far as breakouts and redness/sensitivity go. I know this works for many people, but it definitely didn't help me.
June 1, 2011
Pros:
None for me
Cons:
-Dried out skin severely
-Peeling
-Redness
-Irritated acne further
So basically I heard good things about this product and thought I'd give it a try, first day I use it, in a couple hours my skin turned red and stung really bad, and then the next couple of days it started to peel off slowly and apparently this is supposed to happen so I stuck with it. 1.5 months into it my skin's condition didn't improve, I had still had patches of redness that took forever to go away and my breakouts still continued, so I just stopped using it.
May 4, 2011
Pros:
none. you may exchange your acne issue for hormone problems, cancer, DNA damage.
Cons:
TOXIC SLUDGE masquerading as an "Acne Cream" ! cancer-causing additives in it-certain ingredients have been banned in most countries PLEASE READ THE INGREDIENTS BEFORE DECIDING TO USE THIS PRODUCT !
This is TOXIC SLUDGE. This Pharmaceutical company has no conscience when formulating this-Read the ingredients ! IT contains Cancer-causing additiveslike BHT :
FROM WIKI: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as butylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compound that is primarily used as an additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil,[2] and embalming fluid. Retin A also contains:methyl methacrylate( I took this right off the box) Read below what the warnings say about this chemical : The Dangers of Methyl Mecthacrylate
What You Can Do To Prevent Exposure
What is Methyl Methacrylate? Methyl Methacrylate, (or MMA) is a liquid monomer banned for use in the nail industry by the Food and Drug Administration. MMA was used largely in the early 70's as an inexpensive substitute for conventional acrylic liquid. It was banned due to the severe poisonous reactions it caused in customers and nail techs. Where can I get more information? You can contact the Food and Drug Administration at (800) 270-8869, or look up the FDA web page at www.FDA.gov
Pros:
cleared up acne for a few weeks