Tretinoin

Began using two months before coming off Dianette bc. As skin became progressively more oily around 5 weeks after stopping Dianette the breakouts began and continued for 6 weeks. At this point begain taking spironolactone as acne getting progressively worse. Will use Retin A again once skin clears from the spironolactone in order to resurface the skin. Apply 20 mins after washing so that skin is dry and this will reduce irritation. For adult women with hormonal acne this is unlikely to work - although will have some use for improving skin texture once acne under control Would only recommend using in conjunction with an antibiotic to help with the initial breakout. Would not recommend use on own as breakout is severe and lengthy and extremely difficult to cope with emotionally. Available on prescription in the UK.

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John

March 24, 2009

Pros:

I use Tretinoin %0.01 for my mixed skin type + eczema. Smooths skin. Repairs fine wrinkles. Dissolves blackheads. Nearly eliminates whiteheads. Fixes in-grown hair and razor bumps (I use it 10 hours after aftershave).

Cons:

Makes skin very sensitive to sunlight, wind and temperatures. While tanning is impossible on Vitamin A Acid (you will burn after 10 minutes in peak sun, even with cream), it does successfully reverse long term sun damage.

Try it. Try to last through the first 14 days of peeling sensitivity and irritation. Use moisturizer and make sure you are not exposed to the sun.

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Diana

March 23, 2009

Pros:

Greatly improves, acne, whiteheads, blackheads, helps smooth raised acne scars, lightens brown spots

Cons:

Takes patience; acne initially somewhat worsens, peeling, sensitivity, dryness, redness. Skin will adjust after 2-3 months.

The only product that has markedly helped my skin in a lifetime of teen and adult acne and I'm in my early 60s. Dilute with aloe vera gel for first month of use and start with low strength 0.01% tretinoin gel. Use Rx topical antibiotics during the initial breakout period. Stop treatment for a day or so if skin gets too dry or irritated. Use very mild cleanser such as Cetaphil. Paula's Choice 2% salicylic acid liquid in AM will remove most flaking but wait until your skin has adjusted to the tretinoin before trying this.

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Kristen

March 20, 2009

Pros:

made skin softer, smoother, pores look smaller, helped breakouts

Cons:

skin peels a bit (especially during cold, dry Iowa winters)

This is the only topical medicine I have ever used that helped to prevent some pimples forming. It also helped my skin look smoother, and the pimples I did get seemed to heal faster. It was a definite improvement, but my skin was still not completely clear which is what I wanted. So now I am experimenting with other medications to see what works for me. All meds work differently for different people. I'd recommend this to anyone, since there are no serious side effects and it does help acne. So give it a try!

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SK48

March 20, 2009

Pros:

about to try it for the first time

Cons:

...

I have had acne since I was in grade 6 (age 11) and now I'm 24. It was never that bad until I got to highschool (grade 10). I tried using home remedies such as lemon, yogurt, tumeric powder. Nothing helped. Then I started using Proactiv. I used it from highschool until my 3rd year in university. My acne was very much controlled and in terms of foundation, I only used a loose powder (translucent). I had been in a long relationship with my ex and once I broke up, I not only broke up with him emotionally, but my face started to break up as well. I felt I hit a mid-life crisis. I totally stopped using Proactiv as it did not help my acne. I started getting cystic acne all around the sides of face. I finally consulted a derm and they put me on Clindamycin. I used it for about 5 or 6 months until I noticed (and everyone else me) that I started getting darker. Continued on next post

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Hannah W.8

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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aruna

March 17, 2009

Pros:

smoothed out my skin

Cons:

peeling like a snake, sometimes itchy, tighntness, skin is so thin, it hurts, one slight itch and i scratch, it becomes a cut

Ive been using this thing now going on 5 weeks, my skin is still peeling like a snake. Im just hoping its worht it. I had to change my cleanser and moisturizer, to help calm the peeling, i have to even use a serum. Its awful make up make its worse with all the peeling. I guess i have to wait and see

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Lee

March 16, 2009

Pros:

Helps acne a little.

Cons:

Made my skin so dry that my whole face was flaking uncontrollably. NO LOTION WORKED. I tried many! I had to discontinue using it, and it took about 8 days to stop being flaky! I applied lotion multiple times a day and it didn't work.

Exfoliating didn't even help. Makes the skin too dry.

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Janelle

March 14, 2009

Pros:

Easy to apply (as compared to a 5 step system), long lasting results, good for anti-aging

Cons:

Dry flaky skin

Ok I have something to share. I've used Retin-a and Differin on and off for years and even though they worked I eventually stopped because I couldn't handle the peeling and dry skin. For everyone else who has the issue I have a great recommendation. I purchased a new lotion from my dermatologist to use with retin-a and the results are spectacular! Aloe-Cort creme used with retin-a (1/3 retin-a, 2/3 aloe cort) has been a savior. Paired together you get all of the positive results of retin-a, but none of the dryness and flaking! I highly recommend it!

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March 13, 2009

Pros:

It makes my skin so much brighter!

Cons:

Well, i'm going through the initial breakout right now and it has done a really good job of killing my confidence :(

I've been on Retin-A micro for almost six weeks. At first my acne seemed to be getting better, but that was a trick. In the past week or two my face has been breaking out like crazy and makeup won't cover it! And i'm in high school which makes it extra embarrassing. I really hope this product ends up working because my acne is really dampening my self-esteem.

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