Tretinoin
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Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

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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.

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3.4
1941
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Compare To Other Treatments
5
21.8%
4
32.3%
3
21.6%
2
14.8%
1
9.4%

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June 2, 2009

Pros:

clear up blackheads

Cons:

horrible breakout, getting more horrible each day as everyone is staring weirdly at my acne.

i surely regret i tried this. i start with mild - moderate acne and end up in SEVERE acne! in 2 days my face was like a monster and keep getting more and more coming, many pimples under skin is showing up.
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May 26, 2009

Pros:

Works after long-term usage.

Cons:

DRY SKIN!!!

If you are patient enough to wait it out and go through the worst and make it in the end looking gorgeous then you should use it. The first few weeks it is absolute hell. It dries out your skin horribly. But it is all worth it in the end!
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May 24, 2009

Pros:

regular is great micro sucks and gives you oily skin

Cons:

just doesnt really do what it's meant to do

Make sure you get the right brand for you and the right percentage and the right vehicle (gel or cream). I started with Retin-A gel .01% and after a few months it was my best friend. Worked wonders. all i had was light scars then i ran out, and my dad or pharmacist gave me Retin-A micro cream .1%. a different brand (micro) different vehicle (cream) and a different percentage (.1%) It's terrible. Worse skin of my life now and super oily because it's a cream and so bottom line don't be fooled-micro doesnt mean its better and neither does a higher percentage. Personally, I can't wait to get my old medication back when I go home from boarding school for the summer.
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April 10, 2009

Pros:

clears face over time
good spot treatment
very effective against the volcano acne that never surface and are completely under the skin.

Cons:

PEELING EVERY NIGHT/MORNING
still oily skin.
occasional break outs. about 3-4 pimples at a time every 2 months.

best thing that worked for me. differin did nothing for me. over the long-term, this medicine has reduced my scars to almost non-existent. peeling is an issue. every night before i wash my face and stuff, the areas around my mouth peel and when i wake up after applying at night, my face is a peeling mess. i use moisturizer every morning so that my skin is moisturized for the day/most of the night. if i plan a long night out/sleeping out anywhere, i take my moisturizer with me. absolute bottom line: BE PATIENT.
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April 5, 2009

Pros:

worked to a point....after 3 months

Cons:

terrible initial breakout after 3 weeks, another bad breakout after one month, another bad breakout at 6 weeks. takes FOREVER to work.

in the end it woulda made more sense to jus start on accutane and have 3 months down the drain but this did move my acne from moderately severe to mild moderate...after 3 months
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March 26, 2009

Pros:

during the first month nothing really changed. it's supposed to start working after about 8 weeks, currently in the 6-7th week so i hope it starts improving soon!

Cons:

burning, irritation, redness, little bumps, more breakouts, peeling
decreases confidence! :(

my skin looks worse that ever right now due to the redness and rawness of it. i don't really break out anymore but my skin is so sensitive and i'm on the verge of giving up but i'm trying to reduce usage to every other day and hopefully it works. going to see the derm in a week so we will see! hopefully things start to improve soon. get a good moisturizer and build up your confidence because it will for sure bring it down!
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March 18, 2009

Pros:

skin is ohhh soo smooth, reduced pore size, fading scars

Cons:

skin is starting to peel

ive only been on retin-a micro for about a week, but im seeing major improvements in my skin's texture. It feels so smooth as if im constantly exfoliating my face. im starting to enter the intial outbreak period because im experiencing some new cystic acne, but im going to hang in there and see if it improves. My skin is peeling, but ive talked to my esthitician and she had said that its not really due to my skin being dry....its more due to the fact that my skin is trying to replenish itself with more healthier cells. eventually your skin will adjust to the product and will cease to peel as badly as it did when first starting the product. if peeling or dryness is your main worry just buy a really really good moisturizer. I think the benefits outweights the risks with retin-a micro, soo if you can tolerate a few weeks of the adjustment period and have patience then give it a go.
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March 11, 2009

Pros:

Has cleared my face completely. I have no more scars and skin is smooth. This is due to how the product peels your skin.

Cons:

First couple of weeks acne became worse.

I really love this product. I've been having acne since I was 9 and finally now that I'm 17 I'm proud to say I have clear skin. I started using Retin-A about 2 months ago and I've never had such clear skin till now. At first I did break out. Luckily for me I had no "burning" sensation and no "redness" as others have had. I actually find it quite relaxing having the product on my face. But everyone is different. However in the first couple of weeks my face did break out since it was adjusting to the new product. In the end, the cost of the product was all worth it.
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March 10, 2009

Pros:

clears up acne well, affordable and easy to use

Cons:

takes a while to work , bad initial breakouts and severe irritation at first

I started out and experienced frustrating bad breakouts for about 2 months , but as i was about to give up , my dermatologist paired Atralin with a strong antibiotic and then it steadily got better. I found that the Aveeno calming cleanser and moisturizer with feverfew work WONDERS and clinique redness reducer makeup are amazing when dealing with the dryness and redness. I also cut out dairy products and my skin is finally looking great after about 3 months. DONT GIVE UP my dermo said that he sees an 80% improvement within 4 months and this has been true for me. I have used many things in te past and finally I feel like this product is thorough enough to end this for good.
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February 27, 2009

Pros:

Works great reduce inflamated bumps on face..

Cons:

peeling, burning sensation with redness

I was having daily breaks ups on my face due to- i really dont know what.. lol. But this is helping.. with the use of erythromicin during the day and some acne pills. I only use the retin a every other night to avoid irritations. good product try it.. I feel much better about myself.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website