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
March 26, 2010
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.
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 :)
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.
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! :)
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 :)
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.
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.
March 14, 2010
Pros:
* It worked for me the first night I tried it
*My acne is gone and my scars going away
*It got rid of my redness due to sun damage
Cons:
*My skin is a little flakey around my eyes
*It may not be perfectly safe if you get preggos
I've tried many different acne systems since High School and this is the best medication. I finally feel confident to look strangers in the eye and smile. I love it!
March 14, 2010
Pros:
Breaks up all the plugged dirt to the surface
Leaves skin really smooth
Easy to apply on skin
Cons:
Pigmentations/scars
Horrible IB
Drying/flaking
In the beginning I was very skeptical about using this because of the IB. Majority of people said their IB lasted around 6 weeks and then their skin started to clear up. For me, I'm usually really unlucky with every medicine I try for my acne. Every medicine I've tried so far has worked well for everyone else but me based on reviews. So I was pretty pessimistic about using tretinoin, especially if i had to go through the IB. But I was wrong. It's been week 3. The first two weeks were horrendous. I broke out with white heads and tiny bumps everywhere, especially my chin area. However, I have noticed a significant difference in my chin area. Most of the tiny bumps are gone. I still have white heads, but I know that I'm still going through the IB so I'm patient with that. The amazing thing that I realized today was that my blackheads on my nose are disappearing! I have never had any medicine that was able to do that. Overall, I'm really glad that I stuck to this. I'll update my review if I see any significant difference in the weeks to come.
March 11, 2010
Pros:
-Bringing all the crap underneath my skin to the surface
-Smoothing out my skin, and scars are disapearing
-Skin tone looks alot better and less patchy
-Very easy to apply, and dries really quick
-Less drying than BP
Cons:
-Makes the skin flake
-Makes it Red some days
This stuff is the one thing thats finally starting to remove my scars and the spots underneath the skin. It makes my skin flake and regenerate it so newer skin can come through and its also reorganising the skin cells so my scars are fading away becoming less shallow every week. I would say If your fed up with scarring and spots that are stuck there underneath the skin then give this a shot. It makes you look pretty dame ugly for a month or two but Its the long term benefits that will be worthwhile sticking with it. Im planning to stay on this untill my shallow pop marks are complety gone, which at this rate should be about another month or two. I apply my Retin A every night before I go to bed, First I was with a gentle cleanser then I wait about 20-30 mins for my skin PH level to get back to normal.
I then apply the retin a, I just spread a thin layer of it over my bad areas and then thats it. It dries super fast and you dont have to rub it in for ages like I had to with BP. I would recommend this to people like me, that have tried stuff and still have acne underneath the skin and have bad texture/pop marks. Its definatly working for me, the pop scars are improving and all the crap under the layers are coming away. Hope that this works for you, its certainly working for me :D But rember to stay with it dont give up like so many people do on here, It will be worth it in the long run. Goodluck guys xD
Pros:
Clears the skin of breakouts