Tretinoin
Results
Side Effects

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

...

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.

 [more]
3.5
1649
5
22.4%
4
33.8%
3
21.3%
2
13.9%
1
8.6%

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
Number of Stars
Choose All That Apply
Clear All Filters
Done
May 24, 2012

Pros:

clears up acne
clears up any new acne very quickly
face is brighter

Cons:

flakey skin
sensitive to sunlight
red tint to face

I am 19 years old and have never had any issues with acne until i started college a year ago. I also never had any issues with back acne either until college. I was very discouraged about my change of skin and my doctor recommended 3 seperate products. 1) an antibiotic to clear up my acne 2) tretinoin cream .05% 3) and erythromycin mix. I took all of the antibiotic and began the tretinoin cream (night time) and was supposed to take the erthroycin during the day (twice). I began this regimen one month ago but forget after one week of beginning to take the erythromycin. I stopped using the E gel and used tretinoin only. First 2 weeks: worst ever! my face flaked everytime i washed it and looked horrible when i would try to cover it up with makeup. My face also burned and was sensitive (RED all over). I tried several different mosturizers until hearing that cetaphil ultra hydrating worked best (it does!) Week 3: break outs! not very badly (i had light acne to begin with) Week 4: my face is starting to clear up and hopefully will continue. I have many acne scars from my breakouts and hope that the tretinoin will take care of these like it says! Recommendations: stick with it! it is the most embarassing this for the first 2 weeks or more, but the pros outway the cons for me, so hopefully they will for you too!
This Was Helpful

Report
May 23, 2012

Pros:

Gave skin a nice glow
Helped control body acne

Cons:

HORRIBLE initial breakout. Left me with scars.
Caused me to grow ALOT of "peach fuzz" and a moustache( im female so it sucks)
stung very badly when I first began
Made skin extremely sun sensitive.

I wouldn't reccomend this for women at all. Maybe if you are a guy. Defenitely not worth the money..takes a toll on self esteem. I would never use it again
This Was Helpful

Report
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.
This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 5, 2012

Pros:

Definitely exfoliates
Very, very few new pimples.

Cons:

Dry flaky skin
Sensitivity to sun

I have been using this for a week, and thought I'd review now, and then after a couple of months. I have mild-moderate acne... primarily just little comedones that bump up my skin and look unattractive. Eventually most of them turn into a full fledged zit, but they are always so tempting to pick and try to squeeze out. Doing so caused more acne and cysts, and so I've decided to seek professional help. Benzoyle and Salicylic Acid alone were not enough. I tried mild cleansers, harsh cleansers, Alpha Hydroxy... everything. Nothing really helped. It's been a week on Retin-A (PM) and Clindamycin+Benzoyl (AM) and I haven't had much new acne... The bumps are still there but I'm assured that in time they will go away. My doctor recommended combining the Clindamycin with the Benzoyl in the AM as the Benzoyl helps keep your body from developing a resistance to the Clindamycin. This is combination with the Retin-A seems to be doing good things, but dealing with all of the peeling is a lot to handle. Reading these reviews is the only thing that is keeping me going right now!
This Was Helpful

Report
February 28, 2012

Pros:

Don't see any yet

Cons:

I have been using this product for 7weeks now and my face is a disaster. I have such painful acne now that I have to take Advil to reduce the swelling in my face. Will this ever stop? I read mixed reviews about when the bream out period stops . It is so depressing , someone please let me know

It has not helped with any of my whiteheads
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 9, 2012

Pros:

-cleared up 70% of my acne
-insurance covered cost(s)
-lightened dark spots
-brighter complexion overall

Cons:

-doesn't COMPLETELY clear up everything (at least for me it didn't)
-takes at least 4-6 weeks to see results

Retin A is a good starting point. For some, it'll be the only medication they need to clear up their skin. For others, its a starting place to try others topical creams or oral pills. For me, I had moderate acne. The first week of Retin A and Clindamycin I didn't notice much. Oh, the 3rd day, I felt like my skin was smoother. But, of course I got the initial break out from week 3 to week 7. Then, slowly my skin starting improving. I recommend using it every night, I wouldn't skip. That's not going to help you in the long run. It will just slow down the healing process. Bottom line: Retin A does work! It will have a positive affect on your acne, if you use it correctly and for long enough. It might clear you up, it might somewhat clear you up. If I had to do it all over again, I would. By no means, at 4 months am I satisfied with my skin, but I know now a little bit more about my skin than I did before!
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 2, 2012

Pros:

Clears a little acne
Red marks fade slightly

Cons:

In the long term, didn't do much
Peeling

It is good for a while, spots get less big and red. However, it did sting a little and it hasn't really helped my acne.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 24, 2011

Pros:

-Less oiliness except for in the t zone
-Much less acne than previously starting
-More confidence

Cons:

-Dryness
-T zone oiliness by the end of the day
-Pricey
-Take a long long time to work

It is a great product but if you have hormonal acne like me you will still break out. I am going to go on ortho tri cyclen lo in about a month and think pairing them together will be perfect but for now I am genuinely satisfied with the results but am not as clear as I would like to be.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 15, 2011

Pros:

I think it works.

Cons:

It may take a long time for this stuff to really kick in. It is also expensive without the discount card.

This is a long-term solution. It may work well if you have a persistent trouble area.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 13, 2011

Pros:

Helped improve skin tone and texture

Cons:

Doesn't help much with acne, irritates skin A LOT, and dries it out pretty bad even though I use lotion and have been using it for months.

A nice product to use in conjunction with others, but not much of an acne treatment.
This Was Helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 26
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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