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Side Effects
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.
Used Tretinoin? Rate It:
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July 11, 2007
Cons:
expensive, but a little dab will do ya!, VERY DRYING when used in conjunction with Brevoxyl creamy wash
i think it is worth a try
May 19, 2007
Pros:
Effective. Easy to use. No cost.
Cons:
Sun sensitivity. Initial worsening of condition, which is virtually unbearable. Flaking of skin.
You think you were embarrassed before you got treatment? Wait til you have to keep using it while you watch your face turn into a disaster area. A few times I wouldn't even leave the house. If you can put up with that it is extremely effective but only if you keep using it.
May 14, 2007
Pros:
Firmer skin
Cons:
Broke out worse than ever before in my life.
I started out with just a few zits but wanted them to completely go away. After having this prescribed, I noticed my skin clearing up for the first 1-2 weeks. After that, I entered what they called the "it gets worse before it gets better" stage. My face broke out so horribly...I was so embarrassed but kept with the treatment. Supposedly it should have cleared up after about 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, I still looked awful, but decided to stick with it anyways. 12 weeks later, I still looked HORRIBLE. People would ask me what was wrong with my face and why I looked so bumpy and red. I finally decided to stop using this treatment. I was just too embarrassed to keep going with it, and figured if it didn't work after 12 weeks, it probably wasn't going to work for me at all. I really thought this was going to work well, but it didn't. My patience definitely wore out.
May 13, 2007
Pros:
Slightly helps, doesn't hurt the skin as much as other harsher treatments.
Cons:
Leaves skin feeling oily, doesn't help acne too much.
This didn't help me too much.
January 21, 2007
Pros:
I have been breaking out since I was 13, and I am 24 now. I used this when I was in high school and never used it everyday like required. Now that I use it every night I don't have any acne problem at all. (knock on wood)
Cons:
The initial breakout sucks, but you can handle it. I'd rather have a short period of time breaking out, instead of over 10 years of breaking out from not using this product on a nightly basis.
The only reason I went to this website is to let people know to stick with using this on a regular basis. Whatever instructions are given by this medication and by your dermatologist LISTEN. I could have stopped acne in it's tracks years ago if I would have just followed the directions, and not freaked out when I started the initial break out. People compliment my skin all of the time, and I love my skin as well for the first time in years!!!!!!
I do take Yasmin, and use only Cetaphil and Neutrogena products.
January 12, 2007
Pros:
my skin cleared up in under a week!!!!!!!!!!
Cons:
dries skin out and when you put mosturizer on to make the flakiness go away it burns.
it works sooooooooooooooooooo good, especially if you only have mild acne because it wont make you intially break out very bad
December 27, 2006
Pros:
Works great on acne and oily skin, bonus helps speed up production of newer skin and reduces the look of scars and sun damage
Cons:
some redness, peeling and itching is to be expected, my skin also got more oily because this product expels oil from within the pores and does not allow for it to settle there and solidify into blackheads/whiteheads which clog pores and cause pimples
this is a long term treatment, don't expect miracles overnight, use sparingly and if your skin gets too red and sensitive try skipping a day, wash with a mild cleanser, to save money I buy J&J Baby Wash, 444ml for approx $5.99, it does not contain irritants, dyes or perfumes. I've been using retin A for over a year now, it has flushed all impurities out of my pores, this product is excellent for people with very oily skin but I would not recommend it to those who have acne lesions or cystic acne simply because it would irriate the condition and make it worse, in which case, one should see their doctor first. Now that my blackheads have cleared up, I have switched to a benzoyl peroxide product to keep my skin in check, furthermore, regardless whether or not you are using medications, STAY OUT OF THE SUN OR USE A SUNBLOCK OVER 40SPF !!! Your skin will thank you for life :)
December 22, 2006
Pros:
No known pros.
Cons:
Made acne worse. Burning feeling. Peely.
Only made acne more irratated. Face felt like it was on fire and hurt. Dries out skin, but moisturizing made it worse. catch 22. The tube has about a 3 month supply. Never put on right after washing. You must wait 20-30 mins to apply. Even if its 3 am and you're about to fall asleep. you will get increased side effects if you put retin a micro on after washing your face.
December 2, 2006
Pros:
At first I could feel it working deep in my skin. I thought, Hey! after a few months this could really help!
Cons:
I've been using it for six months and it's not helping. It might actually be making it worse.
I'm looking to switch to something else. Some of my friends use ProActive, but I think it's too much to pay for such a tiny bottle and pimples only on my chin, upper lip, and forehead (I don't get any on my cheeks). I've heard about BenzaClin, and I've never used a topical antibiotic before. Benzomycin also sounds good. These have been used in combination with glycolic acid and have positive effects for a lot of people in online medical journals. Can anyone give me any advice?
October 18, 2006
Pros:
Definitely worth sticking with it.
Cons:
Made skin worse before it made it better.
I a 24 year-old woman -- I began to have moderate acne when I was 19 or so -- lots of red spots around my mouth, chin, and jaw-line. What finally worked for me was a combination of desogen birth control pills, clindamycin lotion twice a day, and retin-A micro once a day. It was a challange to stick with this regemin, as the retin-A really irritated my skin (painful, red, flaky skin). Also, my skin would go through cycles of getting better, and then getting worse (as the Retin-A sloughed off more and more layers of skin) -- but after about 6-8 months, my skin is perfectly clear! I found it is really important to use the cleomycin twice a day (once does nothing). I would wash my face, wait at least 10 minutes, apply cleomycin, wait at least another 10 minutes, and then apply about 2 pea-size drops of retin-A micro. If my skin became super irritated, I would drop retin-A usage down to once every 2 or 3 days. Good luck!
Pros:
i think it is working ( but with a prescribed wash wash AND anti-biotic, who knows what is really doing it!!)