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

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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!!!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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May 3, 2011

Pros:

None found in my experience.

Cons:

Very long IB.
Does not help.
Creates red marks.
Very oily skin.
Very drying also - peeling, etc.

Taken with Doxycline for a school term (10 weeks). Absolutely Pathetic. Turned light-moderate acne into moderate-severe acne. IB is horrible and lasts for many months. Now on Accutane.
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May 2, 2011

Pros:

none

Cons:

Made my skin peel very badly.
Very irritating.
Did not clear skin.
Made skin break out.

This product was one of the worst acne products I have ever used. I have very severe acne, and this product made it even worse. So bad, that I had to swich dermatologists because the doctor that prescribed this denied that there was any relativity of the negitive effects and the Retina. The new Dermatologist that I saw was appalled that the previous doctor acted like that and did not take the severity of the reaction seriously. She put me on a steroid to help reverse the reaction. This was a very bad product for me, but everyone is different and there are many people that this product works wonders for.
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April 29, 2011

Pros:

nothing for me

Cons:

serve break out
dry skin
depression from all the bumps
swollen face full of cysts

i used retin-a since jan. by march my face was unbearable to look at. before i started using it i used Differin which did nothing. My acne was mild but enough to get a rx from march until today my face is covered in cysts. i had cysts before but one at a time. i went to the derm today and got 12 cortisone shots in my face. i read everyone else's review and they said they had an IB but it didnt last 2 months like mine. now i'm going on accutane which i'm scared to do but i think i had a bad reaction to the retin-a. now i have to deal with all the scars left behind. yay me! :[
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January 8, 2011

Pros:

For me, None honestly.

Cons:

Do not use this please unless you are emotional ready to go through the very horrible initial break out.

Within the first day of having applied the .05% cream, my face was covered with zits, my pores were enlarged, and I had blackheads I did not have before. It was hard to believe that the initial reaction started so abruptly. My acne was not terrible, and the ones I had on my face were exacerbated by the creme. I was already emotional and depressed about the old scars I had, so those coupled with the extreme redness and new severe acne covering my face I couldn't help but sob. I tried to give it time but it just became increasingly worse.Reading other reviews and seeing it could take up to six months for this subside, I wasn't ready to put myself through that. When reviewers say they initial breakout is bad, they mean it. If only I had seen the reviews before my dermatologist offered Retin-a I would have nicely declined and opted for something less harsh. Now the acne that retin-a gave me has scarred, remains obscenely red, and is showing no signs of fading. Harsh product and certainly not for sensitive skin or mild to moderate acne. Please bare this in mind before starting the regime.
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January 3, 2011

Pros:

none!

Cons:

left skin rly red and dry. broke me out real bad!

i thought that this would help me but it didn't! i started using it and it broke me out where i didn't even have any acne at all! i used the 0.02% and i read all the reviews where it states that it starts out bad but then gets better... i never saw the better.. would not recommend.
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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