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:
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October 26, 2009
Cons:
the usual side effects (dryness, redness, initial breakouts, etc).
I am currently in my 8th week of micro retin-a (.04%) and i'm starting to see improvement. The key to this product is keep it simple. Do no use other harsh chemical on your face while on Retin-a. Do not exfoliate! wash your face with a mild cleanser, follow the instructions (pea-sized amount or less!) and most importantly, stick it through! Do not pick on it..you can try use Eucerin redness reduce lotion during the day. I know the initial breakout can be hard but you must preserver! good luck!
October 26, 2009
Pros:
Leaves my skin smooth and seems to help reduce scars over time.
Cons:
Doesn't help with the blackheads around my nose and on my nostrils. Can be drying and leave skin peeling which can make face red.
Suffered from acne off and on since high school and am 35 YO now. Use Solodyn, Benzaclin and Retin-A. Not sure which has done the trick but been clear for a few months now, except for the occ. pimple around my period. Had been using Clindamycin but tried Benzaclin to clear up the whiteheads on my forehead. Benzaclin has cleared them up but my face super dry and even the DML didn't help even though usu. have oily skin. Started to wash my face only at night (Cetaphil for oily skin) and use the Benzaclin as a spot treatment and preventive on my t-zone. Also cut back on the dairy, switched to organic milk for my cereal and stopped eating soy. My acne is hormonal and stress-related so believe it or not but think yoga helps me too. Not only does it relieve my stress but I think the breathing is cleansing. I still have bumpy scars around my mouth but hope they'll reduce over time. Also had two chem peels by Dr. but not convinced they help.
October 25, 2009
Pros:
It works on acne
Cons:
Can cause extreme irritation and redness
Can cause skin to look worse
At first I was using Retin-A 0.01% gel. It was better than anything I had used before! Although it made my skin slightly red and dry, my acne went and I felt like I had been given a new layer of skin. I used it for about a year and was very happy with the results. I stopped using Retin-A because my skin cleared and I didn't feel the need to keep applying it but after about 3 months my acne came and was very painful. I was referred to a dermatologist who gave me Retin-A 0.025% gel and it was the worst thing I have ever put on my face. The burning sensation when applied was so painful and my face looked very, very red and sore. Nomatter how much I moisturized it I couldn't combat the dryness and on some days refused to leave my house. I quickly stopped using it but to this day, about 3 years later, I still have dryness that I didn't have before and my skin is more sensitive to other products now.I
recommend using 0.01% strength and wish I stayed at that!
Be careful when using Reti
October 25, 2009
Pros:
Clears up skin, unclogs pores and gets rid of blackheads
Cons:
Makes skin flaky and sensitive to strong rubbing or firm squeezing.
I love this stuff. I was using BP for the longest time, but this stuff is soooooo much better. I suffered more from blackheads and whiteheads and this was the right product for me. BP was okay, but it really didn't do anything to clear out my blackheads and it even caused the little inflamed acne I would get to be huge and painful. Since I've been using Neutrogena's Retin-A, my skin has had very very very few problems. I first started with the 0.05% cream. It worked well to smooth out my face, but I noticed that I would still get blackheads, especially around the T-zone. After a few months, my derm switched me to the 0.04% gel. The gel really helped to get rid of the blackheads. I've now incorporated the 0.1% gel into my regiment, but only use it once every 4 days and it does add to the effectiveness of my regiment. However, the 0.1% cream alone is way to strong for me. I suffered from light to moderate acne before. I'm a medium-toned African-American male.
October 24, 2009
Ease into medication as directed on the package. I started at once every 3 days and then increased and had no irritation. Waiting 30 min after washing face is also suggested.
I've tried Duac and Differin for 1.5 years and it didnt help. Tretinoin was the only medication that worked on the bumps on my forehead.
October 23, 2009
Pros:
Cheap
Cons:
Worsened acne, peeling, sun sensitivity, itchy.
I went to the doctor in July because I had about five pimples. Now I have over thirty. I waited 9 weeks for it to work and it never did. My face is much worse now. I now have to do damage control.
October 23, 2009
Pros:
smooth skin, scars are slowly fading, 70% clearer at 2 months=way less breakouts
Cons:
Initial breakout was horrible, but I knew the gunk had to come out anyways. It took about a month to nicely go away and I had 2 cysts on both sides of my chin come up twice and then finally clear. (SUCKED!!) IB leaves bad scars!
brings pimple to head faster and heals faster, after the IB - I wanted to stop because my face looked so bad (broke out more than I ever have in my life) my first week of college but I stuck with it anyways after reading about it. I am glad I did because now my face looks SO much better and with some makeup (to cover up scars) I have very mild acne compared to moderate almost severe(?)
TRY IT.. (if you are in school- during summer/winter break)
oh yeah clears blackheads too, wait 20 min after washing face to apply at night
skin is a lot more sensitive though so don't try to squeeze blackheads, it will make those red marks that you can't cover up
October 20, 2009
Pros:
made my skin feel smooth and in the areas of no breakouts skin looks great
Cons:
flaking, redness
I have been using this product a little over a month and of course there is flaking and redness while the cells are turning over to renew better looking skin. The Dr. told me my skin would get really bad before it got really good, so I'm still in the stage of that right now. I have a lot of breakouts, but I think its just from all the junk coming up from my pores. The Dr. said about 6 weeks and skin would start to look better, although I've read articles that say up to 9 or 12 weeks and sometimes even 6 months. I guess I just have to be patient.
October 20, 2009
Pros:
Definitely helps clear skin. New acne turns over quickly.
Cons:
Does not clear 100%. Sun sensitivity. Takes a long time to work (honestly at least 6 months maybe longer for full results)
You have to be extremely patient to use this medication. Initial breakout is awful. I have used this medication for 3 years with a few months off in between (stupid) I had to go through the IB twice!
October 18, 2009
Pros:
my skin loves it. it doesn't go red or peel or dry
Cons:
takes a long time to work im on a month using it and no serious healing yet
new pimples did form but went away prety
im using this for acne scars and pimples and clearer skin because my skin is purple around my scars
Pros:
do what it claims