Acne.org Products
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:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
July 31, 2007
Cons:
DRYING!! face wash hurts when i wash my skin but i can deal! MOUSTURIZE ALOT!!
get it, got it, good. it works! I have mild acne by the way~
July 31, 2007
Pros:
-you see results (somewhat) in about a week.
-brings pimples to the surface, to make it hurt less
-it makes skin soft
Cons:
it peels (really bad)
sometimes it cracks my face and its hard to talk
its deff. worth while
July 5, 2007
Pros:
Clears out the face.
Cons:
Makes the skin extremely sensitive. Takes many months to work. Dries up the skin.
Great product if you're following the treatment consistently.
July 3, 2007
Pros:
It helped a lot to clear my acne.
Also it helped fade some post-acne red marks.
Cons:
The side effects: it caused my skin to peel and felt burning but they only lasted about a week. Also it made my skin look red.
I've used Retin-A Micro (.025%) it for about 4 months along with Duac Gel. It helped with my major breakouts and now i have just a few zits. It's better if youget the lower concentration if you do get it so you'll have minimal side effects. Plus Micro seems to work better so ask your doctor about that. i got mine for free b/c of insurance.
July 3, 2007
Pros:
I think my skin looks healthier, clearer, and just nice overall
Cons:
cost, even with insurance it's still about $45 dollars for me. and, I'm still awaiting the much-hyped & dreaded initial breakout
I've only been using this for two weeks, but so far, so good. I started using it every third day, to decrease irritation, and am now moving to every other day. I've had minimal pealing/flaking, which is alleviated by gently exfoliating with a washcloth and using moisturizer. I must admit, I used Retin-A micro before, but didn't stick with it long enough to see results, and I'm a compulsive picker, which makes your skin look bad regardless of what products you're using. Now I'm using Tretinoin cream, which so far is not as irritating as the Retin-A micro. I plan to stick with it this time for at least 6 months to see real results of clear & smooth skin & less blackheads! Plus, this also helps peel off the top layers of sun-damaged skin, and prevents wrinkles-- perfect for those of us living in the desert!
April 28, 2007
Pros:
Works like a charm! Nothing has been better for my skin.
Cons:
Insurance does not cover this (for me). So, the cost is high, $90. But, when I look at all my abandoned tubes of acne meds and anti-aging creams, I know I am saving money by using Retin-A.
Yes, Yes, Yes! This product works for me. I have mild acne and have used various products over the years. I finally asked my doc for some help and he prescribed this. My mother (now 63) used it years ago for acne and wrinkles and has BEAUTIFUL skin now. I think she still may use it off and on. My skin is smoother, clearer and more radiant. I can almost go without makeup. I did experience redness and peeling the first two weeks, but stuck with it. I will stick with this for years, I hope. BTW, I am 38 y.o. female.
March 17, 2007
Pros:
Just started 4 weeks ago and the dry peely stage is over
Cons:
Not done with initial breakout, but its not much worse than my acne is normally
When i first started this product i thought nothing was happening for the first 4 days, but then i started getting dry and peely. my face did hurt a lot and it was embarrasingly peely. Then i started using it every other night and i used purpose moisturizer like crazy, and in about a week the peely hurt stage was over! now i have been using it every night for a little over a week and my skin has ajusted, so i can really start to use it now. I use a benzoyl peroxide wash at night with it because that is what controlled my acne in the past and my skin isnt dry even with that. i also exfoliate every night lightly so that i dont get peely. i know im not supposed to but it doesnt increase my side effects, so oh well! i think this is going to work, i will be patient and give it time, but i can already tell my skin is smoother even though i still break out right now.
February 2, 2007
Pros:
This has perfectly cleared up my (mild) acne - my complexion is much more even, marks from old spots are fading quickly, and I very rarely get any new ones at all. When I do they generally fade very quickly.
Cons:
You do get a lot of new spots initially, starting about 10 days into treatment and lasting for most of the 3-weeks - 1 month. About 7 weeks in my skin became terribly dry, so much so that it was worse than any breakout, and no moisturiser would help.
You have to stick with it - I'd attempted to use this stuff in the past, but found the drying-out effect too frustrating and stopped, so it stopped working. This time, when I began to experience the drying, I worried that it was permanent and that blotchy, flaking skin was the price to pay for no new acne. Luckily IT IS NOT PERMANENT - I stopped using retin-a every day on the suffering areas, instead using it every three and now every two days - and started moisturising the affected areas 45 minutes after applying the Retin-A at night. Now although I do have some dry skin it's hardly noticeable and goes away with moisturising. It's worth remembering that slight flakiness is a sign that this stuff is working.
I should also say, with regards to the infamous 'initial breakout', that there isn't only one: you continue to get little breakouts, of diminishing seriousness, for a couple months into the treatment. But they're not bad at all, and soon stop. Retin-A works best in the LONG TERM
January 24, 2007
Pros:
Definity Works.
Cons:
Flaky skin, Redness, Burning sensation, minor initial breakout
I went on accutane about 3 years ago and it cleared up my moderate acne completely for about 2.5 years. It started coming back mildly about 6 months ago. The derm put me on
Retin-a for nite and benzclin for morning. My routine: Morning -- Wash with cetaphil wash, wait 20 minutes, apply benzaclin, after benzacline is totally absorbed into my skin, I apply cetaphil moisturizer. Night - Wash with cetaphil wash, wait 20 min, apply retin-A (about a pea size to cover whole face) -I have done this religously for the last month and a half and it has worked wonders. I currently have no pimples and it has cleared up all former scars almost completely. Hopefully this helps, good luck.
January 7, 2007
Pros:
none
Cons:
made acne WORSE, alot worse. HDried out the skin severely. Must wait half hour before applying. WORSE BREAKOUTS EVER, maybe a hgier dosage would work better. I was on .025%. I will get back on this.
Used this for 4 moonths hoping everyday my skin will clear up a little more. IT doesn't and it didn't work. I went back to the dermotologist and she prescribed me minocin pills with a higher opercentage on retina at .05%. I will keep you guys updated on the progress
Pros:
The clearest I have ever been!!