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
April 30, 2010
Cons:
still smelly
get occasional pimples still, nothing unmanageable
I posted a few weeks ago. Well, now it's been a little over a month and I have to say I am in LOVE with this stuff! Blemishes are gone, and now I only get one or two small pimples that go away very quickly. Tonight, after washing my face, I noticed that my red marks are starting to vanish! My skin is well on its way to being acne-free. I still have a couple small pimples and red marks especially on my cheeks, but wow. This stuff really worked for me. I am infinitely glad I used it. My advice for those who are discouraged: stick with it!! It may not be an instant miracle, but with time and patience this stuff is awesome. Don't be discouraged if you get irritation or IB, that means it's doing its job! **side note: I still think the Nizoral shampoo (as a cleanser) has helped my skin tremendously also! If you haven't yet, give it a try too! Good luck :)
April 23, 2010
Pros:
clears up chest, shoulder, back acne!
Cons:
reeeaally irritated my face. itchy, red, painful..the acne seemed to get worse.
i used this for 2 weeks. my face huurt and itched and was super red. i DO NOT reccomend it for your face..but maybe i just have very sensitive skin. who knows. BUT, works great for back, shoulder, chest acne. now i am using aloe with some lavendar oil mixed in for my face and it was such a relief.
April 22, 2010
Pros:
Its ok didn't do much of a difference.
Cons:
peels skin really bad can cause the skin to become red.
It worked at first with benzaclin, my skin was flawless but after using it and changing from benzclin to benzamycin my skin was no longer the same since then retinA does not seem to work the same.Not that good turns the skin red and dark in some areas and can make skin patchy.
April 22, 2010
Pros:
-No nightmarish IB for me like everyone is saying
-I have only been using this for ten days, and my red marks are fading quickly.
-I'm not developing any new pimples at the moment
-When used consistently, it prevents wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and skin aging! I plan on using this as long as I can
Cons:
-Drying, some inevitable peeling on sensitive areas
-Leaves skin a little raw for a while
-Takes patience, though it's healing your skin extremely rapidly
If you actually stick to this, it can really make your skin gorgeous in the long term. It's cell regenerating properties make this an ideal cream for so many skin conditions. Though, I would not recommend this to someone with light acne; only someone with moderate or higher, and maybe not severe.
April 20, 2010
Pros:
-easy to use
-shrinks appearance of pores
-erased nasolabial line on the right side from smirking all the time
-shorter breakouts
-made existing scars more shallow
Cons:
-initial breakout is devastating
-takes time
-doesn't help much with oil control
This is my 3rd week on this regimen and I'm completely frustrated. I know that the product is working because all the impurities that is has drawn out disappear within 2-4 days. The surrounding skin is AMAZING in comparison to day 1 on this, so I know it's doing it's magic. I have read for some it takes as long as 6+ months to reap the full benefits. It may seem like a long time, but otherwise you'd still be breaking out doing nothing proactive about it. I say give it a go if you're as desperate as I am. What's another few months of zits? They'll be gone and take away the little reminders with them :) BTW I am 23, have super fair, oily, and sensitive skin, dark blonde hair, and hazel eyes... strange combo I know. I blame genetics. Oh, it's already gotten rid of about half a dozen scars, the kind that look like you've poked a needle in your skin or something. Also, when I used to tug at my damaged skin it looked crepey(sp)? Now it looks like it's a lot more plump and ALIVE. Ahh, I'm stoked to see how my face will look at the end of this tube :)
April 19, 2010
Pros:
Cleared up my face!
Sooths skin
Cons:
a lot of money
My doctor gave me this with a perscription and it worked after a few weeks. NOTE: I didn't pay for this, the insurance covered it.
April 17, 2010
Pros:
Easy to put on
Cons:
Very drying
Initial breakout gave me worst acne in my life
My acne wasn't very severe, but my derm prescribed Atralin. She said it would help remove all the whiteheads I had under my skin. I read the reviews on here before I started using it and I thought I was ready for the IB. I was definitely wrong. This product made my acne probably 5 times worse than it had been, no joke. It wasn't bad a first, but the second week it turned into hell. I stuck with it thinking the IB wouldn't last much longer, but 4 WEEKS later my acne was the worst it had ever been and didn't show any sign of improvement. So now I'm stuck. I stopped using it and my face has been improving a little, but I have horrible hyperpigmentation from the IB. Maybe I should have stuck with it longer, but the initial breakout was just too severe and lasted too long for me to handle. I would only recommend this product of you're sure you don't have sensitive skin, and only as a last resort.
April 16, 2010
Pros:
It worked for a little bit
Makes my skin glow
Cons:
Only worked for a little bit
makes skin extremely dry
Acne is now the same as all ways
At first, This product was amazing, All my acne was all most gone that was 3 months ago, Ive been using this product since December 2009 I was hoping it'd work, For awhile It did. But now the product Isn't helping at all, Its good for awhile.
April 14, 2010
Pros:
blemishes are almost completely gone
no IB
skin is smoother and softer
basically cured my acne after only a few weeks
dries up my oily skin
Cons:
smelly
wish the red marks would go away faster
I never had completely flawless skin, but my acne was never so bad of a problem that I needed to see a derm or anything. I would get the occasional pimple but nothing horrible. Well, I decided to go on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo birth control pills to get rid of the mild acne I had...BIG MISTAKE. After 3 months of taking the pill, my acne had gone from mild to moderately severe. I had huge blemishes all over my face and got pimples in areas I never had them before, like my cheeks and jawline. It was horrible :( After going off of the pill, my acne was still pretty bad so I decided to see a derm. She prescribed Retin A along with brevoxyl, minocycline, dove soap and nizoral shampoo.
After almost 3 weeks, my acne is WAY better. No more blemishes at all. I use the Retin A every night before bed and it has helped me so much. The peeling is the cell turnover, which indicates that the skin is healing - and it shows. My skin is softer, smoother, and most importantly, acne free!! I think I got lucky on the IB front because the birth control pill had done a "great" job of bringing all my pimples to surface already, so that's probably why I didn't get the IB.
The only thing is I still have PIH marks (red marks left from the acne). It's only been a few weeks so I'm still hopeful, and they have definitely started to fade a little. I'll post again in a few weeks. Bottom line, Retin A did wonders for my acne and once the red marks are gone my skin will be looking better than before I went on the Ortho. P.S. my derm told me that Ortho Lo is really bad for acne, and that the only FDA approved BC pill for acne is Ortho Tri Cyclen (regular, not Lo). P.P.S. I know this is a review for Retin A, but using the Nizoral shampoo as a facial cleanser every couple days has worked WONDERS on my acne too! Good luck everyone :)
April 12, 2010
Pros:
Smooths skin texture, reduces blotchiness, prevents pimples, helps pimples heal faster
Cons:
Takes a full 3 months to have effectivenss and causes initially breakout for the first 3 months (the most acne I have ever had at one time), dry and flaky skin but adjustment occurs through time (I used Retin A micro to decrease this), thinner skin which requires sunblock
Did not totally cure my presistant adult acne, but much reduced it, enough so that it doesn't bother me when I wear a little makeup. The acne is smaller and easier to address. My skin is glowing and smooth. It is the best exfoliator out there plus it has anti-aging benefits. It is the backbone of any mulitple regimen acne plan because it helps other products penetrate the skin better.
Pros:
red marks fading!
skin looks AMAZING compared to before the cream
acne is noticeably going away almost daily