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
December 7, 2011
Cons:
- didn't really work
- made skin more oily
- still get acne, maybe worse than before?
I'm 14, and I've been using this product for about 9 months, and there has pretty much been no improvement. I stuck with it because everyone said BE PATIENT! And it's been nine months.....and nothing. I thought I was supposed to see improvement after at least like 4 months... At first, it seemed like it was working, but then after a while, my acne just came back, and in places I don't usually have acne (my forehead). I have good days and bad days with my skin using this, mostly bad. Probably going to try something else. :
August 29, 2011
Pros:
A few less pimples than usual
Unlike Clindoxyl it doesn't dye fabrics
Easy to use
Cons:
Dries skin
Red face
Didn't have significant changes
When I get breakouts, I get breakouts that can amount to around 20 pimples all in the chin area, including cystic acne. I used .04% Retin-A for a few months. I started with once a week than up to 5 days a week. I lowered the dosage because I'd have to scrub the dead skin off every day. It dried my skin out big time and it was very red. Someone even commented that I must have gone away to get such a tan. Sometimes my skin would burn to the point of tears in my eyes. I didn't think the product was worth it. I still got pimples, maybe aorund 15 instead of 20. I'd rather use Clindoxyl to help get rid of pimples than burning my skin off.
August 29, 2011
Cons:
Not working well
I've been using this for 7 weeks and my skin in worse than ever. I wake up with hard pimples and have hyperpegmentation all over my face and neck. Very gross. But I'm going to keep with it.
July 2, 2011
Pros:
-In the beginning stages, it helps clear up acne
-Gives your skin a smooth appearance
-Only have to apply it at night
-Mostly keeps your acne under control, until you are on it too long
Cons:
-Irritation
-Hyper-pigmentation
-REDNESS
-Dryness
-Nearly burns off your skin
-Peeling
-Have to reduce your sun exposure
-After a while, it will make your skin peel and look REALLY red and irritated
My derm put me on tretinoin 0.5% to combat my acne. At first, it worked really well. After I was on it about a year, it stopped working, and made my skin red and irritated. In the begining stages of using this medication, some days are fine, and your skin looks smooth and clear. Other days, you wake up with your skin peeling off looking like you stepped out of a zombie convention. While it did help me keep my acne under control for a time, it's very hard to deal with the peeling and redness. Once, my skin was so dry and burnt from this cream, it took me nearly a week (without using it anymore) to get my skin back to normal. This topical might work for you. If you have sensitive skin, I'd be wary. If you can deal with the peeling and the dryness, it's worth a try. Even though I mixed tretinoin with some non-comodegenic moisturizer, it still didn't work to help the dryness. Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this medication, because in the long run, it just doesn't prove effective.
June 13, 2011
Pros:
-In the long run, got rid of 50% of my most severe pimples.
Cons:
-Side effects
-Burning
-Made me even more sensitive to the sun
-Redness
-Peeling
-Expensive
This medication took a long time to make any positive on my skin. I've been useing it for 10 months and only got good results after 6 months. The side effects were horrible, and painful (both physicaly and emotionaly). After almost a year of treatment I still have acne. People would ask me if I had a sunburn, then give me advice on sunburns AND acne.
May 23, 2011
Pros:
Prevented breakouts. At least I hope it prevented my breakouts.
Cons:
Didn't do much at all for my spots.
Worked ridiculously slowly.
Initial Breakout, although it wasn't that much for me.
Made my face very red.
I've been using Retin-A for almost 9 months now, and I haven't seen much improvement at all. I was very consistent with it, and only missed one night out of 9 months, and didn't apply too much or too little. The pea sized amount rule was followed. It didn't fade any of my red marks considering I've used it for so long. I think I'll start over and use Differin gel because that seemed to work for me last year.
May 20, 2011
Pros:
-Helps acne marks
Cons:
-Very drying. Skin began to flake
-Initial break out
This product did not work for me however do not be discouraged to try it. It did work for me at first but then stopped. It also made the color o my skin darker for some odd reason. I recommend staying consistent. Keep using this product for three months before making a final decision in it.
May 13, 2011
Pros:
Fades red marks
Cons:
-I suspect that it continuously caused more acne for me
-Redness
-Initial "purge" of acne never subsided
I was prescribed a combination of tretinoin 0.025% cream and finacea gel in mid to late February. I experienced an initial purge of acne a couple weeks into the regimen. I went on a vacation in early march, and due to sun exposure I felt it necessary to cut back on the use of the creams during my trip. After I got back from the trip, I have been using both since about March 16th (today is May 12th). My dermatologist told me it may take up to 6 weeks to begin seeing results. Well it's been over 6 weeks, even after my trip, and I'm continuing to get new acne on a very regular basis. I had virtually no acne before I started this regimen, only redmarks that didn't want to fade away. I quit using both creams two days ago and immediately my face is less red, and I haven't had a breakout since. I honestly believe my skin is naturally healthier without the use of these creams. I'm going to use this website's recommendation of BP regimen, because in the past my skin has done well with BP. This website has provided me with more information than any dermatologist has.
April 26, 2011
Cons:
dried out my skin
didn't work for me
March 21, 2011
Pros:
The fact that it seems to have worked for some people
Cons:
-Extreme redness and peeling at the start
-Initial breakout
-Overall, made things worse
-Skin becomes paper thin
-Old marks stick around for weeks
Had a lot of hope for this, but wish I'd never tried it. Tried for about 5 weeks and just couldn't do it anymore. Overall, made things worse
Pros:
- cleared up scars?
- honestly, not really any...
- no initial breakout for me