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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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October 1, 2012
Cons:
Smells a little
I've tried everything for my skin and always been left with several pimples a day. But my new routine is MUCH better. My doctor prescribed it to me to use in the evening. In the morning I use azelaic acid with my Benzoyl Peroxide and since that time I've noticed a difference in my skin. My dermatologist explained that benzoyl peroxide negates retin-a so I use them at separate times of the day.
June 6, 2012
Pros:
None, really.
Cons:
Did not clear up whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules.Also made my skin very sensitive and red.
I have been using Retin-A (0.1%) for a little over a year now, and have seen little to no improvement; however, I recently stopped (about 3 weeks ago) and my skin has cleared up tremendously.
February 25, 2012
Pros:
- dries up swollen pimples within the course of a few days.
- has helped reduce the appearance of bright red scars.
Cons:
- very drying and makes skin peel. Other than that, nothing really.
I was put on this by my dermatologist when I had about 25 bumps on my face. When I first started using this, I noticed that it had a nice "Clean" tingle to it, but now it just burns and leads to dry skin in the morning. I like this product a lot and I use it before bed, after washing my face. When I went back to my dermatologist about two months later, he said my acne had reduced down to about four active pimples and he said that was way better than expected. I use this with mincocycline, which I just started using a few days ago. My scars have also depleted. One side of my face has rolling scars that have a purple hue to them, which is way better than the red that they were. The dermatologist said they would fade to white in time.
January 30, 2012
Product used: Atralin (Tretinoin (.05%) Gel)
Pros:
did not irritate skin
Cons:
made skin extremely oily, hair loss along temples/hairline
The consistency and appearance of Atralin is exactly the same as RAM, even though it's supposedly a gel vs. cream. It absorbed more easily and was less irritating than RAM though it's a bit stronger.
I used it for seven months. About three months in, I had noticeable hair loss along my hairline and temples. I was not ingesting or applying any other medication at the time. This is unlikely to happen to most people, but if you are sensitive to hair loss issues, be aware of this possibility. (For instance, I can't take BC or Spiro because of this sensitivity).
It also made my face ridiculously oily (blotting every half hour) and never cleared. It was so uncomfortable. Given the insane price and ineffectiveness, I can't recommend it. I went back to the .025 gel, which never worked much before but at least it made me less oily, with dietary changes and am waiting for my hairline to recover. Good luck.
January 23, 2012
Pros:
cleared acne on cheeks
cleared small brown marks
Cons:
OILY skin, i know its drying so therefore increases oil production but i kept up w/ moisturizing and it still didn't help. even after stopping for a while my face is still oily by 4-5H after washing
did not help w/ deep dermal hyperpigmentation which is main reason went on it but idk if anything will really
Mild-Moderate persistent acne on cheeks began last dec 2010, went to derm gave me tretinoin cream 0.5 used every other night to using every day at night, dry at first but not as bad as BP i think. maybe a slight initial breakout but nothing terrible that i can remember. acne calmed waayyy down and only got 1 big pimple on my cheek during use, except then i started getting big red consistent lumps around mouth and chin (where i wasn't using this b/c didn't have acne there before), forehead was never a problem. i asked derm to up me to 1% d/t these 4-5 dark dermal hyper pigmentation which didn't really help those and i kept getting several pimples here and there, idk if they healed faster w/ tret or not. d/t intense OILINESS from what derm said wast tretinoin cream, i am now on differin and have been for 1 month, severe initial breakout from differin
still going on that is VERY frustrating! differin has even given me MANY small flesh colored lumps on forehead which i never had before, sticking it out b/c oil seems less but also on spironolactone 100mg every day so that must be helping too, will review both but want to give it more time.
December 23, 2011
Pros:
cleared skin quickly
made skin vibrant, and glowing
easy to use
reasonably priced (with discount card)
Cons:
takes 3 to 9 weeks for results to show
hard to come by
The first time i used Retin-A was over the summer, and the combination of the resulting dryness and the heat made my skin so oily, i wanted to stop using it.I constantly had to blot my face, and i felt that i was just covered in grime. Washing had little effect, as the oil came back in around 15 minutes. but, i kept at it, and the oiliness went away in the fall. I am unsure if this is related but if it is,then the weird side effect only applies for people who have combination/oily skin. eventually, i ran out and had to wait on my doctor to re-write my prescription. I got the retin-A, but i didn't use it for about 5 months because i felt i was fine without it.now i use it once in a while some for maintenance. note: i did get this as a prescription, and as a result it was covered by insurance. the original price was around $50-$60.
December 10, 2011
Pros:
clear skin somewhat
smooth skin
Cons:
acne gone and then back again
redness
I've been using retin a cream 0.025% for about 4-5 weeks. In 1-4 weeks, my skin clears up and it's so smooth, but somehow in week 5, my skin begin to feel very raw and very red, it hurts to touch and use moisturizer. Currently i'm using etude vitamin c 02 white tone up toner and capsule cream in the morning, i don't know if this is supposed to happen while using retin a, but i think I'll stick with it to see if the redness will gone
August 29, 2011
Pros:
A few less pimples than usual
Unlike Clindoxyl it doesn't dye fabrics
Easy to use
Cons:
Dries skin
Red face
Didn't have significant changes
When I get breakouts, I get breakouts that can amount to around 20 pimples all in the chin area, including cystic acne. I used .04% Retin-A for a few months. I started with once a week than up to 5 days a week. I lowered the dosage because I'd have to scrub the dead skin off every day. It dried my skin out big time and it was very red. Someone even commented that I must have gone away to get such a tan. Sometimes my skin would burn to the point of tears in my eyes. I didn't think the product was worth it. I still got pimples, maybe aorund 15 instead of 20. I'd rather use Clindoxyl to help get rid of pimples than burning my skin off.
April 3, 2011
Pros:
*clears up acne
*fades hyperpigmentation
Cons:
*initially, very drying (expect flaking)
*takes weeks, if not months, to work
I'm not sure if it was a new med I started or the tremendous stress I was under, but I started breaking out with bad acne last fall. This shocked me since I'm 40. I finally went to the dermatologist in November; he prescribed Tretinoin Cream .025. In the beginning, I had tremendous drying with flaking so I only used it every other night. My skin eventually adjusted. Still, I continued to have bad breakouts which was incredibly discouraging. I read reviews of the product - they all said to be patient. I also read to wash your face and then wait 20 -30 minutes before applying the cream. I started doing that 2 weeks ago. It's made a significant difference. My skin is now clear and has been for over a week. IIn addition to acne I also have melasma (skin discoloration on my cheeks and forehead). I'm starting to see a slight improvement with it but think it will take more time. My skin gets CRAZY shiney from the cream. I've been using blotting papers from Boscia (you can purchase at Sephora for $10) to keep it under control.
March 28, 2011
Pros:
*lightens marks from acne
* speeds skin turnover
*gets rid of dead skin to reveal new nice skin
Cons:
*burns if you apply to much (first degree)
i love retin a but had a bad experience when it burned an area in which i applied to much but healed with aloe neoporin and vitamin e :) and i think it works by burning layers of skin. but anyways it has smoothed and lightened my skin & redmarks and i'm very happy love it
Pros:
A little goes a long way
Goes on easy
WORKS!