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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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February 22, 2009
Cons:
It takes a long time to work. You can see results in a number of weeks, but to see the full life lasting results you want, it takes at least a year.
I've used Retin A for the better part of 4 years. During that time, I went from having extremely severe acne, to now very mild acne. If you're a first time user, it really does suck for a few weeks. But i promise that those few weeks and even the first year are worth a life of clear skin.
February 12, 2009
Pros:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!
Cons:
Made me go from mild acne to severe acne within 2 weeks!!!!! I am terrified of this stuff, it ruined my skin:( I used it for 5 weeks before I couldn't tolerate it anymore.
This stuff is awful!
February 10, 2009
Pros:
long term is wonderful
Cons:
the first 5 weeks are miserable. However, it does take this long to get the ick down deep in your skin to come out. Hang in there.
If you can make it through the first 5 weeks, you will be pleased with the results. I have always had acne. Just when it cleared up, another batch popped out. I am mother of 3. I don't need acne! Tretinoin has been a great thing for me. There is a generic so it may be the cheapest in your script plan.
January 7, 2009
Pros:
cheap... 10 bucks for each. clears up skin in a month. fades away dark spots. skin is brighter more even skin tone. works better if taken with antibiotics.
Cons:
skin dries up like crazy. you can see skin peeling for a few days.
would recommend
December 26, 2008
Pros:
Not Sure yet
Cons:
Skin very dry around chin area, but that is common apparently
I am a lacrosse player who struggles with acne because of the sweaty chin strap. When im not in season, i do not have acne but when i am playing i get terrible breakouts. Hopefully this will work for me i've tried basically every over the counter acne medication.
December 18, 2008
Pros:
gives a healthy glow
feels clean and doesnt burn unlike other meds
reduces breakouts and makes them go away faster
Cons:
makes skin dry and peely at beginning
made my skin very oily after constant using
a tad bit expensive
okay, so before going to my dermatologist, i checked reviews on this site. i was hesitant to try tretinoin because of mixed reviews, but agreed to try it after my doctor prescribed it. for the first month or so there wasnt much of a result. after 3 months i noticed acne fading and breakouts werent as bad. ive now been on tretinoin for almost 6 months, and ive gone through 5 refills, and wow, let me tell you, this stuff is amazing! i rarely get new pimples and old scars are fading. of course, when i eat unhealthily i tend to break out, but tretinoin makes the zits go away faster and leave small or no scaring. im using tretinoin along with an organic herbal liquid (made of various plants, garlic, etc). the only complain here is is that the product has made my face oily, i had the dryest skin before using and it peeled at the start of treatment. but now, my skin is as oily as its ever been. despite this negative, i DO recommend tretinoin. it takes time & patience but it really work!
December 3, 2008
Pros:
My skin looks brighter... Has a nice little glow
Cons:
Peeling!!!!!!!!
I've been using this for two weeks now. It might be too early to tell but I have no complaints as of yet. I was on birth control and that helped a ton with my acne but I got off of it and the pimples came quick. My doc prescribed tretonin .025 for me and the only bad thing that happened so far is the peeling. But its really not that bad. I use a great moisturizer and wash. Aveeno's"positively radiant" line. The moisturizer is spf 30 which is really good for your skin while on any acne medication. The wash is very good as well. Its a little expensive though. 15 bucks for a little bottle of moisturizer and about 8 bucks for a nice size bottle of the wash. My routine is to wash my face at night and put a small amt of tretonin on my face 30 minutes later minimum. Then the next morning I wash again and mositurize my face. I use a little vasaline on the sore spots on top of the moisturizer as well. And by sore spots I mean that there will be a point where your skin will feel sun burned. But
November 25, 2008
Pros:
Clearing of the skin after 6 weeks. Best it has looked in the last 10 years
Cons:
Red with lots of flakes after moving up to the .1%
I started out with the .05% and used it for about 4 weeks with okay results, no major flaking and no redness. After moving up to the .1% the last couple of weeks I have noticed red, irritated, and very flaky skin esp around the chin/nose area. I am using a washcloth in the morning after to remove the flakes. I have only had one cyst popup but it is quickly fading. I am very happy with the results so far, my skin is very smooth, its amazing stuff. I have tried everything else, all over the counter "systems" even laser treatments and this is the only thing that has helped. I am looking forward to the next month or so.
November 23, 2008
Pros:
reduced acne, faded the red marks, prevented future break-outs, decrease the size of pores (!) and made skin much smoother, brighter when used properly.
Cons:
dryness and flaky-ness, if I use too much or don't moisturize enough the flaking gets bad and shows through my make-up. Almost gave up on it. Painful irritation if applied to wet skin.
Dr. said flaking only lasts about the first six weeks, found this to be true, esp if I used product every other night there is less flaking. Also MUST let skin dry 20 min before applying or it can be very irritating. Best product ever, nothing over the counter has worked for me but my skin is now clear and looks even better than before I got acne - smoother, smaller pores, younger looking somehow (and I'm only 20). My skin is clear 90% of the time, only the occasional pimple - such a change!!!! Love it!
November 15, 2008
Pros:
Smoother skin
Cons:
peelyness, redness, initial break out
try it
Pros:
dramatic results over time. The most valuable result is scar fading.