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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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May 10, 2008
Cons:
Expensive without insurance, takes a long time to work so requires patience.
Folks, you have to give it more than a month to work. I didn't start seeing results (well, other than peeling and redness) until 8 weeks and it took 6 months to see a difference in skin texture (softening of scars, etc). You must use a good sunscreen with this as it makes your skin more susceptible to damage when you first start using it. Also, the cream formulation is in a pore clogging base, so you want to consider the gel for acne uses. Bottom line: I intend to keep using this forever.
May 4, 2008
Pros:
I'm on week 11 and parts of my face has cleared up faster than other
Cons:
Takes very long, requires tremendous patience and committment
I'm in my early 20s, began having whitehead problems 6 months ago, went to derm in late Feb and been using Retin-A (along with benzaclin in am) since. It does take a long time to work. The purging process is on and off and scattered, never all at once, which is both good and bad (takes long time, yet allow it to be somewhat managable). My cheeks has on most part improved significantly, but my chin area and jaw line is just starting to purge...so whiteheads are still coming out. I'm on week 11 now...and I guess just keep at it. A tip...after washing your face at night..moisturize your face and wait 20-30 minutes before applying the retin-A. This will help with the peeling and dryness tremendous by the time you wake up, which is inevitable.
April 11, 2008
Pros:
It works well.
Cons:
Dry skin, peeling in areas.
I have been using this for about 5 months, and my face acne is almost gone. I now get one or two pimples every month or so. The bad thing is that my skin has not gotten used to the .04 medication. I do use both .1 and .04 and once in a while I skip a day. I have to use a damp cloth and basically scrub my face to get the peeling skin off, but I will continue to use it.
April 4, 2008
Pros:
IT WORKS! I have awful acne with the black spots and some scaring. I am an Afircan American who has been looking for a product for the longest. Its been 3 weeks and already my skin is soft and the spots are fading. I can look in the mirror.
Cons:
Drying. Thats it and if you have white heads they will began to pop out.
It takes time but don't give up. This stuff does begin to work. I can't wait until its been a year.
March 22, 2008
Pros:
Prevents breakouts, gets rid of freckles, evens out skin tone, makes skin smooth, makes skin look really really nice, like you have the best skin in the world.
Cons:
Initial breakouts bothered me really badly and this product took a while to work, around 7 weeks.
OK, if you really hate acne than use this product it will make your skin look beautiful. I used Retin-A 0.025% and used an amount of about 3 pea's for my whole face. Use a Salicylic Acid face wash like Garnier Pure A twice a day.
March 18, 2008
Pros:
cleared skin for awhile
Cons:
acne came back after 3 months, major side effects that didn't go away
didn't really work to clear acne. caused major dryness even in areas I wasn't putting it, like around eyes, mouth, even scalp near face. little improvement in acne not worth side effects.
March 13, 2008
Pros:
It works and fades marks
Cons:
dry itchy, burning skin..IT WILL get worse b4 it gets better
K..My last post was on March 2nd and i am now on my 4th week and my acne is almost gone..i have about 25% left. I am so exited bc they say it takes 12 weeks and my self confidence is already going up. people have 2 stick in there. my skin broke out sooo bad when i first started all of the acne has to come up. acne starts on the inside ans works its way out so plz dont get frustrated. my initial breakout what horrible and now...its soooo smooth...i luv it!!! and u have 2 be consistent. i use this everynight. and i wash my face with cetaphil anti-bacterial bar. at first i was washing with a salyicic(<-spelling)acid and it really made things worse so se something gentle and i think by the soap being anti-bacterial, that helps kill bacteria.
March 8, 2008
Pros:
Affordable
Cons:
REdness,dryness, BREAKOUTS!
I started using it about 3 months ago, at first it got better and then, BAM! Major breakouts like I never had before, 2 months later it began to improve and then BAM! Again major Breakout! I'm in my 4 month and I seen no improvement, AT ALL!
February 29, 2008
Pros:
I dried up my acne really well and continues to do so
Cons:
dry itchy, painful skin, skin peels, redness
I have had acne since I was thirteen, and I have tried eveything I can think of under the sun, both over the counter and prescribed. Iactually got tired of all the prescriptions and reccommend to my dermatalogist that I try Retin-A. After the first few week, I almost gave up, but then he told me to keep using it. After six weeks or so I started seeing improvements. I have never been so happy to get rid of those acne. An it keeps them from coming back. Great product.
February 23, 2008
Pros:
makes skin very smooth, zits come and go soooo much more quickly, and it helps with wrinkles as a bonus!
Cons:
flaky skin, very bad breakout period weeks 2-8 for me...I almost quit but I'm so glad I didn't!
I am a 24 year old female with moderate acne and very oily skin. I have been using retin-a micro for 10 weeks and I have definitely noticed major improvements in my skin. I have tried pro-activ, murad, differin, tazorac, and just about every over the counter med imaginable. I don't have any zits at all on my face right now, just scars that will take time to fade. I use retin-a micro .04% every night and I wash my face with a green tea fortified cleanser. I use BP in the morning otherwise my face gets super oily. It dries out my face a little but its better than an oil slick. On nights that I sleep at my boyfriend's house I put the retin-a on underneath my makeup and I don't wash my face before bed because I don't like to be without makeup around him just yet. Then I will add a little more retin a over my makeup right before bed. Its not the best way, but it has worked okay for me so far. Things are looking better every day! I use bare minerals makeup and green mineral concealer.
Pros:
Builds collagen over time to prevent and repair aging, keeps my pores clear, and after a year of use the texture of my skin is very smooth.