Tretinoin

It really does clear up your acne and makes your skin super smooth. I went from having about 30 zits on my face before (yes, I counted) to now, where I have 3. But....

Cons:

When you first start using it, your skin feels so dry and itchy, but you can't touch it. Even the smallest touch makes your face hurt. The IB was horrible, with pimples constantly coming up and popping on their own. I also have lots of red marks now.

I have been using tretinoin .05% cream for 10 weeks. My initial breakout started the first week and didn't clear up until about week 8. During that time, I had huge painful cysts and could not even wash my face without having pimples "spontaneously" popping. I used a washcloth to get rid of all the dead skin and there would be blood and pus all over it (sorry to be graphic). Sometimes I would come home and look in the mirror to find dried blood on my face from pimples that just popped on their own. SO yeah, I was super depressed during that time and I would cry alot and pretty much isolated myself from the world as much as possible. So here's my advice: -use a gentle cleanser. I used cetaphil. -don't pick at your skin. If a pimple pops on its own, just clean it up and leave it be. -Stick with it! I know it is hard, but it will get better. My skin is still not perfect, but once you get over the hump of the IB, you start to see positive changes in your skin almost daily. I am at the point now where I feel like I don't have to worry about breakouts and can move on to worrying about the red marks. : Hurray! Also, I think the most important thing is to know that no matter what you look like, God loves you and He wants you to persevere. At times when I was super depressed and crying myself to sleep, I would ask God why why why?! I still don't know why, but trust me, you are going to feel very sad and alone, so just remember that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

This Was Helpful

212 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Inkling

March 27, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up my acne, smoothed my skin, continues to fade scars, reminds me to put on sunscreen before I go out.

Cons:

I have a bit of peeling which is supposed to go away soon.

I love Retin-A. I use 0.05% with Clindamycin 1%, and it has cured my acne. My skin is the clearest it's been since puberty, and the scars are always getting better.

This Was Helpful

24 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Avonlea

March 26, 2010

Pros:

Fading red marks
Softening skin
Promoting new skin growth
Heals existing acne quickly
Easy regimen

Cons:

Peeling
Dry Skin
Initial Breakout

I got this prescribed (.025%) awhile ago, but always was afraid to start it because of the horrible IB I heard about. Finally, I read the reviews about "stick with it, it sucks at first- but you'll get great skin." So, I sucked it up and tried it. I'm going into week 3. And RIGHT ON- I have an initial breakout. Chin, jaw, neck. Blagh. Fortunately, I've never broken out on my checks, nose, forehead, temples, etc. And even with this product, I'm still not breaking out there. It brings ALL the junk to the top of your skin and manifests itself in glorious pimples. Awesome, huh? Well yea....cause once this initial breakout clears your skin, you're in the home stretch to clear skin. Week 1- peeling, drying, breakouts Week 2- less drying, still peeling, still breaking out. Week 3- barely drying, peeling, breakouts are healing and subsiding. I promise to re-update in another 3 weeks or so. But it's getting better. Use a GOOD MOISTURIZER. I can't emphasize that enough. Find one that works for your skin and slather it. Stick with this stuff- endure the intial breakout in all it's glorified suckiness. It'll get better and you'll be glad. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to get up. My acne went from moderate to moderately severe and is now clearing up. You CAN do it. My Routine Morning: Wash face with Carlye's facewash. Wash with Aveeno's Calming face wash Moisturize with Olay Age Defying with ABH and SPF 15 (I'm 20...but never to early to start anti-aging prevention) Night: Wash with Aveeno's calming face wash Wait 30 minutes Put on Retin-A I promise you can do this and you can be on your way to clear skin. Give it a chance.

This Was Helpful

45 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Alissa

March 26, 2010

Pros:

Clears the skin of breakouts

Cons:

Makes my skin flake a lot unless I moisturize daily

This stuff is dangerous but if you keep using it, it works! I broke out like CRAZY for many months and to tell you the truth it was a bit of torture. It hurt for awhile because my skin was so irritated. BUT once I figured out to exfoliate twice a day with a scrub wash (the skin needs to keep renewing or it's going to get worse), it started getting better. It took about 6 months before I saw any improvement at all, and over a year before it got to how it's like today. Now my skin is great. I get maybe one pimple every couple of weeks that quickly goes away. Still have some blackheads, but all the comodones (tiny little bumps below the skin) are gone. I must say I do use a salicylic acid toner and benzoyl peroxide in the morning--I find that it just controls things a little better.

This Was Helpful

15 user(s) found this helpful

Report

pureexpert7

March 25, 2010

Pros:

Clearer skin
Easy to use
A tube lasts a long way (1-2 months)
Cheap where I live
Pimples go away alot faster

Cons:

Dry skin in the first 3 weeks
Peeling in the first 3 weeks
Redness in the first 2 weeks
Initial breakout in the first 1 month

This product is the best, Please guys dont listen to those f*ck heads who say claim this product doesn't work, they try it for 2 weeks then give up because they cant handle it. Guys if you have had acne for so long logically theres nothing that would clear you up instantly.. Just like if you've had bad back pain for 2 years do you think you'll be cured in 2 weeks? Obviously not.. I have been using this for about 2 months now and everyday my scars are fading and my pimples arent coming up (even if they do its normal because im still in my initial breakout phase and they go away really fast anyways). Please give it a try and be patient.. Patience is the virtue. Good luck guys. By the way lol about the price, yeah where I live medicine is extremely cheap P.S. try not to think about your acne so much its normal it happens to nearly everyone :)

This Was Helpful

26 user(s) found this helpful

Report

myra2

March 24, 2010

Pros:

you may see great improvement after 2 months

Cons:

drys skin

I have been using this for a month along with finacea and i have seen very little improvement.

This Was Helpful

Report

lulusta

March 23, 2010

Pros:

Let me tell you that this product will help you in the long run. Of course you must not purchase this and think that this is some sort of miracle cream, because it isn't. My dermatologist prescribed this to me and even warned me that my first weeks of using this won't clear me up, and he was right. I broke out everywhere; almost gave up on it actually but i still continued. I've been on this product from more than a month now and let me tell you, it's getting better and better everyday.

Cons:

It does dry the skin, so make sure you don't overdose on it. Make sure you put on a lotion after putting on Retin-a.

It won't clear you up completely and not right away, but i promise you will see improvement! I cannot stress the word TIME! Give it time! I know acne is a struggle we all face, but this product will bring you a step closer to a clearer face! :)

This Was Helpful

22 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Katie Smith15

March 17, 2010

Pros:

Clears up acne, bumps under the skin
Fades pigmentation in the long run

Cons:

Initial breakout
Dry, flaky skin initially

I have now used Retin-A 0.025% for 4 months already. The first one week was hell.. I broke out a lot, and because I was desperate, I put a bit too much of it on my face - hence came the peeling, burning of my face - so bad it made me cry. So I took a rest for a week to let my face cools down, and started the retin-A again. I wait for 30mins-1hr after I last washed my face to put it on - a pea-sized amount for my whole face. I used to flake a lot initially, but with time I guess my face adjusted to it, and the flaking stops. Retin-A takes it time, but it's worth it. I am now 100% clear of cystic acne, pustules and macules that I used to have on my forehead and cheeks. It exfoliates my skin, and now my pigmentation is fading very well. Just a few marks left, which I'm quite certain that they'll be gone in 1 month or so. Now I only need to put a little bit of concealer on my face, and it looks flawless. For mosturizer, I used Neutrogena Moisture with SPF-15. Bottom line: I'm happy to have found Retin-A, but it is a product you have to be very patient with. Stick to it even if it gets bad initially, because the end result is worth it :)

This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report

shiranami

March 15, 2010

Pros:

no IB, acne would last maybe 2 days, smoother skin, good for post-acne redness

Cons:

made my entire face one big crusty scab (even with moisturizer)

i have extremely oily skin and this definitely dried it out. however, i couldn't even leave the house for 3 weeks after i started it because my entire face was flaking and wearing makeup was impossible. i tried using less, switching moisturizers (i used cetaphil and olive oil), applying it ever other day.. but nothing changed. it didn't reduce my chances of getting acne but it did make it go away quicker, and it was good for the red marks from my cystic acne. i suppose it would be good for anti-aging effects too, but i would only use it for spot treatments.

This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report

Ella95

March 15, 2010

Pros:

None..?

Cons:

My cheeks and face were peeling a lot. I turned BRIGHT RED and even when I stopped using it for awhile, my face remained red. My skin got so sensitive and burned when I put anything on it.

I guess my skin can't handle it. I look 100x's worse now because I am so red and pimply. Maybe I need to wait it out to see the results, but I don't think it's worth suffering through this if you have really sensitive skin like I do.

This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report

1 … 58 59 60 61 62 … 134

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

Prescription acne medications

Used Tretinoin? Rate It:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

Finding a Doctor

Finding a Doctor

Be sure to:

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

Red flags:

New Report

Close