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Share your experience: submit a drug review
Below are Retin-A (Tretinoin Topical) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence. | | Retin-A review by 25 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | |   |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.5% (dosage frequency: every evening) for the period of One year |
| Other conditions: | | Acne, enlarged pores, rough skin texture |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My acne has completely dminished...i have the occasional break-out, but on a an everyday consistent basis i am now acne-free due to Retin-A! It helps to take a break while using it because your skin will become used to it, however after a few weeks off, the effects are just as wondederful to your skin as when you first began. |
| Side effects: | | Peeling, dryness, sun sensitivity |
| Comments: | | I applied a small amount of Retin-A every evening before bed and washed if off in the morning. If you are able to get through the initial stage which includes the side effects (peeling, dry skin, redness, irritation, and sun sensitivity) your skin will emerge better looking and healthier in the end. |
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| | Retin-A review by 42 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Anti Aging |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05% (dosage frequency: once a night) for the period of about 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | Hyperpigmentation, Fine Lines, Loosening Skin |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The benefits I saw from Retin-A were considerable compared to non prescription skin care. The fine lines especially around my eyes and cheeks diminished and were not as deep. My entire skin tone looked younger, more even toned and my large pores were much less noticeable and more refined. My skin looked much healthier and it looked more soft focus. It took a few months to notice a measurable difference. |
| Side effects: | | The main side effects I had while using Retin-A were drier,flaky skin. |
| Comments: | | When I started using Retin-A I started with the lower strength prescription to aviod side effects while my skin was acclimating to Retin-A. I started with Retin-A .025% strength every other night. After cleansing I wait 20 to 30 minutes and then apply the Retin-A. After another 30 minutes I apply a moisturizer if needed over the Retin-A. After about 2 months I switched to the next higher strength Retin-A which is .05%. I was much more senstive to this strength so I started using it once every 3 nights to start doing the same as above, waiting 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing to apply. Once my skin tolerated this routine after about a month without flakiness I went to every other night. I now can use Retin-A .05% every night but occasionally when I start to see any dryness or skin flaking I will skip a night to give my skin a rest. I love my results. Retin-A is the only skin care I've used where I have noticed a considerable difference in the amount of sun damage that has been repaired. My skin is much more healthy looking and more refined. |
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| | Retin-A review by 24 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | minor acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | .01 (dosage frequency: every day) for the period of a year |
| Other conditions: | | dry skin |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My skin stopped breaking out as often and became much softer and smoother. The color really improved as well - much less blotchy and more "dewy." |
| Side effects: | | Very dry skin. A lot of peeling. |
| Comments: | | After washing my face with a gentle cleanser, I would wait 20 minutes and then put on the cream. I would then wait another 20 minutes and put some lotion on because the tretnoin was just too drying. |
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| | Retin-A review by 29 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | low (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of daily |
| Other conditions: | | acne |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I had some experience with Retin-A when I was a teenager in the mid 90's. My mom and I have the same type of skin - we both have some degree of acne as adults. In the 90's my Mom started using Retin-A to control this and apparently it worked well, so I tried it (her prescription) as a teenager and it just irritated my face , making it red and eventually flaky. The drug is certainly powerful. I am sure I would have benefited from continued use but I didn't. Now, approaching 30, I still have some acne and am starting to think any acne whatsoever is unacceptable. Reviewing options, Retin-A seems top on the list. I have read that retinol is a distant second. However, I am hesitant because of the inevitable initial irritation and flakyness associated with Retin-A. |
| Side effects: | | see above |
| Comments: | | see above |
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| | Retin-A review by 29 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | .025% (dosage frequency: 3 days per week) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I saw almost no benefits to this treatment with re: acne, though possibly there was exfoliation or collagen benefit. I believe it exacerbated my acne. On the mornings after the nights I used the cream, my acne seemed to come out much worse (particularly on the chin & jaw area where the condition was the worst).
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| Side effects: | | Side effects included:
- Stinging & pain
- Peeling
- Pinkness (exacerbated rosacea)
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| Comments: | | The cream was supposed to minimize my acne, but I think it did the opposite. Just putting the cream on was very painful & stung up front.
At times, my face would peel for entire days (again primarily on the chin - or entire jawline area).
As I saw it, the Retin A reacted negatively with whatever hormonal issue was causing the acne.
I was forced to use injestable treatments, because Retin A did not work (antibiotics and birth control). |
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| | Retin-A review by 30 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Aging |
| Dosage & duration: | | 10 (dosage frequency: 1 per month) for the period of 1 year |
| Other conditions: | | n/a |
| Other drugs taken: | | n/a | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I felt the cream was helpful. Once the intitial effects were seen, they seemed to level out. I used the cream nightly as I did not wear it during the day. My skin felt smooth and soft after the first week. |
| Side effects: | | Some redness did occur at first. After the the first week, the redness disappeared. There was some sensitivity, but that too went a way. Other than that, I did not have any other side effects. |
| Comments: | | I went to doctor to find out how to improve skin condition and rejuvenate skin from sun damage. After a long questionaire and exam, she prescribed retin-A. |
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| | Retin-A review by 30 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | improvement of skin appearance/health |
| Dosage & duration: | | .01% cream applied topically (dosage frequency: once every 3-4 days) for the period of past 4 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | inderal, topical salicylic acid 2% | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Improved appearance of skin (improvement of imperfections, reduced pore size, more even complexion, increased glow) and improved texture of skin (smoother and softer). Others have complimented me a lot on my appearance recently. |
| Side effects: | | Dryness/peeling are the most frequent side effects for me, particularly with over application. Redness is less common and only occurs if I have really over applied the medication. |
| Comments: | | Retin-A .01% applied at night in a thin layer after cleansing to my face, ears, neck, and hands (applied every 3-4 days). Hydrocortisone 1% cream is used as needed to treat redness in case of over application. |
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| | Retin-A review by 56 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | ACNE |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.1% (dosage frequency: nightly) for the period of for many years |
| Other conditions: | | Deep wrinkles |
| Other drugs taken: | | Erthyromycen | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | After I built up a tolerance, I had little peeling when I applied it only once a day. Used in combination with Erthyrom. caplets (and also topical, used occasionally), I have been able to control deep acne cysts. While the Erthyrom. is probably the major factor, the Retin-A is a good addition. |
| Side effects: | | Peeling which can chafe the skin and interfer with putting on face makeup. However, I have built up such a tolerance, I would have to apply Retin-A 2-3 times daily to achieve major peeling. It is hard to measure the anti-aging effect, as I don't know what I would look like without having used Retin-A. |
| Comments: | | I use once at night. Because I have built up a tolerance, I have no adverse side effects. If I do have occasional peeling, I remove/stimulate it with a Buff Puff. |
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| | Retin-A review by 25 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Hyperpigmentation |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.5% gel (dosage frequency: once a week) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Reduction in fine wrinkles |
| Side effects: | | Thinning of skin, dryness, burning sensation when applying moisturizer |
| Comments: | | Used to even out discoloration on face, however the primary effect was reduction of fine wrinkles and not much else |
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| | Retin-A review by 47 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Whiteheads |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of 1 Year |
| Other conditions: | | Sagging skin |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | After using the Retin A for several months I did notice a decrease in the amount of whiteheads on my checks. My skin seemed to appear brighter and my complexion was not as splotchy. While I did not get any more whiteheads, it did not completely remove the ones I had. |
| Side effects: | | The worst side effect was the burning sensation I experienced during the first few weeks. The area that was affected was around my mouth. I started to put less in that area and the burning cessation decreased. I had some minor flaking, but not a lot. |
| Comments: | | I put the cream on every night for 8 months. My dermatologist told me that the Retin A should help to unclog my pores. By continuing the Retina A I just sgould not have any new whitheads form. |
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| | Retin-A review by 41 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | skin damage |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05% (dosage frequency: once daily) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Retin-a provided the benefits of reducing sun damage of the skin. It reduced some fine wrinkles and helped with uneven skin. |
| Side effects: | | The side effects experienced were mainly red irritation and peeling. There was also an occasional bout of acne breakouts. The use also led to a couple of times when the skin felt like it had been burnt or had a sever sunburn. |
| Comments: | | Treatment was for sun damage to the skin. The retin-a was applied daily in the evening. It was advised not to use it durig the day since it could lead to excessive exposure of the sun. |
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| | Retin-A review by 40 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne, anti-aging |
| Dosage & duration: | | 1 x pea-size amount aplied nightly (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of 5 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Gradual lessening in severity and frequency of comedonal acne. Gradual slight improvement in skin texture, ie. fine lines around eyes appear slightly reduced, skin tone appears more even and sun damage appears reduced. |
| Side effects: | | Slight increase in skin sensitivity, with stinging and mild redness experienced only after washing, and occasional slight flaking around mouth and eye areas. Increased sensitivity to UV light, necessitating daily use of high PPD sunscreen. |
| Comments: | | I started applying a pea-sized amount of the Retin-A cream on every second night about one hour after washing. After two weeks, because there were no adverse effects for me I started using the cream nightly. With nightly usage I experienced very slight side-effects of sensitivity, slight redness after washing and occasional slight flaking. None of these effects were severe so I continued with nightly treatment. After approximately one month I experienced gradual lessening in severity and frequency of comedonic acne. Comedones still formed, but were less likely to become inflamed/infected. Slight reduction in surface oiliness noted. After about 10 weeks I noted a slight improvement in sundamage and skin texture. Overall I was very pleased with the efficacy of this product, but may in the future switch to the Retin-A gel to see if this results in a further reduction of comedones. |
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| | Retin-A review by 38 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.025% applied nightly (dosage frequency: every day) for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | n/a |
| Other drugs taken: | | n/a | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | it cleared up my skin not just from acne, but also from hyperpigmentation |
| Side effects: | | driness of the skin |
| Comments: | | applying nightly around the face |
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| | Retin-A review by 23 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | once every night (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of 4 months |
| Other conditions: | | face broke out bad! |
| Other drugs taken: | | clindymacin | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Face cleared up in weeks.About 3 mths. I started in the end of November and by mid February my face was extremely clear. I stop using it after my face cleared up, WRONG THING TO DO. Once your face has cleared you still need to continue using it so your face can remain clear. |
| Side effects: | | I got a whole lot of bumps on my face from using heavy amount of retin-a on my face. You only need to use a little to get the job done. It's very strong and needs to be put on very lightly on the bumps. Excessive retin-a will cause you to look worse! |
| Comments: | | I love rein-a only because it grabs everything from underneath the surface and brings it out. It really works but takes time and patience. I would always stick to retin-a and never change because it gets the job done and theres no turning back. |
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| | Retin-A review by 28 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | melasma, unevean skin tone, ocasionally pimples |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% tretinoin (dosage frequency: 2-3 times x week) for the period of 4 years |
| Other conditions: | | skin irritation, sensibility |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The skin tone got better, more uniformness, got rid of part of melasma and freckles. Reducing oiliness and minimizing pore size. Getting rid of acnee spots very fast. |
| Side effects: | | Sun sensitivity, sensitivity of the skin, dehydration, tightness - they disappear after several months of constant use. |
| Comments: | | 2-3 times x week |
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| | Retin-A review by 35 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | sun damage |
| Dosage & duration: | | 1.0 (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of one year plus |
| Other conditions: | | wrinkles |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | sun damage (freckles on forehead) have gone, wrinkles are less |
| Side effects: | | red, sensitive, reash on eye lids, very red in sumlight |
| Comments: | | once a night small amount with vitamin C |
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| | Retin-A review by 37 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.025% (dosage frequency: once daily) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | N/A |
| Other drugs taken: | | N/A | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Smoother skin with no pimples present. Lessening of fine lines. More even and radiant skin tone |
| Side effects: | | Slight peeling and redness when treatment began |
| Comments: | | I began taking Retin-A because my skin was having breakouts at a very frequent rate. I began by washing my face with a mild ceanser. I alternated between Dove senstive skin and Cetaphil. The face must be washed gently with NO manipulation, scrubbing or washcloth!! After this I rinse with warm water to make sure all soap residue is gone. I then LIGHTLY pat my face dry with the softest towel I can find. Let the face AIR DRY for 15 minutes, then a PEA size amount of Retin-A can be applied to the face. This little amount is for the WHOLE face. Once the whole face is covered with the Retin-A , let it sink in for 5 minutes, then apply a moisturizer. I like to use Cetaphil cream for this or Moisturel. Remember that Retin-A should ONLY be used at NIGHT!! You must wear an SPF 30 sunscreen during the day as it makes the skin sensitive. |
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| | Retin-A review by 16 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | Do not remember (dosage frequency: applied once a day) for the period of 3 months |
| Other conditions: | | Acne only |
| Other drugs taken: | | Antibiotics for acne | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Occasionally, acne would subside slightly. |
| Side effects: | | Excessively dry skin and irritation |
| Comments: | | I was to apply the Retin-A cream twice a day but the side effects outweighed any effects of treatment. |
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| | Retin-A review by 24 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05% (dosage frequency: every day) for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | improved skin texture and tone |
| Side effects: | | none. well sun sensitivity |
| Comments: | | take once every night, topical for two years |
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| | Retin-A review by 21 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | keratosis pilaris |
| Dosage & duration: | | thin layer (dosage frequency: once every three days) for the period of 2 weeks |
| Other conditions: | | peeling |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | reduced the bumps somewhat! |
| Side effects: | | lots of peeling =( |
| Comments: | | after shower wait 1/2 an hour. Then apply lightly on problem areas. wear sunscreen when using this! |
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| | Retin-A review by 33 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Skin Correction |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05% (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 1 1/2 |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The benefits were clearer skin with more radiance,skin didn't seem so dull, but some discomfort througout the process. |
| Side effects: | | There were some side effects,over drying of skin and flakeness. If not careful with dosage possibilty of chemically burning your skin in some areas. I would not reccommend thsi to anyone with sensitive skin and must be very careful with over applying. |
| Comments: | | Went to a dermatologist for acne and was prescribed the retin-a cream as well as a topical benzoyle peroxide.
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| | Retin-A review by 30 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne and sun damage |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05% (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of year |
| Other conditions: | | wrinkles |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | when applied correctly (i.e. minimal amount and mixed with a lotion that spreads well) it has been great for controling breakouts and reducing wrinkles and sun spots. |
| Side effects: | | red face, if applied correctly and use a tiny amount then not so bad at all. |
| Comments: | | once a night mixed with Vit. C serum |
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| | Retin-A review by 66 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Fine lines around eyes and mouth. Between the brow |
| Dosage & duration: | | pea size twice a day (dosage frequency: each day) for the period of 4 months |
| Other conditions: | | Small brown pigmentations |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Helped with condition of skin around the eyes, mouth and between the eyes. They did appear less noticable. The brown spots were greatly improved, lighter, less noticable |
| Side effects: | | Slight redness for the first couple days. Very small amount of peeling or skin loosening. Which was easy to remove each day. |
| Comments: | | Washing your face each time before each treatment..appling a very small amount, pea size of the cream. At night before bed and washing and reappling each morn. a very small amount so that it would soak right into the skin...After a few days the skin looked and felt better..After removing the loose skin. Which was not a great deal but there was some skin that would began to leave the treated area. |
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| | Retin-A review by 53 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | fine wrinkles |
| Dosage & duration: | | .05 (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 1 year |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The benefits were smoother, more evenly-colored skin. I have no deep wrinkles. I developed no blemishes and I tended to stay out of the sun since it makes skin photo-sensitive. I am mistaken for being younger than my age, however, whether it's heredity or product, I'll never know for sure. |
| Side effects: | | Photo-sensitive to the sun. In the beginning, a burning sensation. Not to be used around mouth area. |
| Comments: | | I used the Retin-A at night and a regular moisturizer during the daytime. |
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| | Retin-A review by 28 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | initially, acne; later, anti-wrinkle |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.1% (dosage frequency: 2 times a week) for the period of 4 years |
| Other conditions: | | acne scars |
| Other drugs taken: | | Accutane | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My acne scars continued to get better and better and eventually completely disappeared. |
| Side effects: | | Peeling, dry, irritated skin. |
| Comments: | | Initially, I applied the cream every night. Then after my acne went away, my dermatologist told me to continue using it if I wanted to for anti-aging benefits. |
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| | Retin-A review by 49 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | adult acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% (dosage frequency: once a day at night) for the period of using for over 10 years |
| Other conditions: | | allergies, joint pain in knees |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | After weeks of use, I did see a considerable decrease in pimples on my face. Being in my 40's, I saw a benefit in my skin tone also. |
| Side effects: | | The cream is very drying, despite putting a moisturizer on after it. In the winter, I sometimes cannot use it on a daily basis since my skin will peel. In addition, I have to make sure the cream goes no where near my eye area, since my eyes will tear the next day if the cream gets within 1 inch from my eye. The cream makes a person more sun sensitive also; however, I always wear a 45 sunscreen. I cannot use on my neck since I got a rash every time I tried. The side effects are far less than any of the oral medications my dermatologist tried with me. |
| Comments: | | After washing my face and allowing it to dry, I apply the Retin-A in small amounts over my cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. I use it every night, except when my skin is peeling too much from use. Then I either switch to every other night, or put a moisturizer on first (incidentally, my dermatologist said the Retin-A should be put on first, under the moisturizer). I rarely ever get pimples in the areas I use the product. Even though there are some side effects, the benefits outweigh that. |
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| | Retin-A review by 46 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Sun damage |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% (dosage frequency: daily application) for the period of 12 Months |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The benefits were a very gradual reduction in the appearance of sun spots on the skin. The spots themselves never disappeared but lightened over a period of time. The general appearance of the skin also improved slightly but it did not prevent new spots from appearing as I noticed that they did, although I suspect that the cream probably kept them lighter than they would have been. Discontinuation did make the darkness come back into the sun spots after about 4 to 6 months however. |
| Side effects: | | There were really no side effects; perhaps the tiniest of tingling at the ery first couple of applications then none after. |
| Comments: | | Topical application of the cream daily, usually at night. The recommended amount was "pea sized" but I found it too thick to get this amount to massage into the whole face. |
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| | Retin-A review by 46 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Sun damage |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% (dosage frequency: daily application) for the period of 12 Months |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The benefits were a very gradual reduction in the appearance of sun spots on the skin. The spots themselves never disappeared but lightened over a period of time. The general appearance of the skin also improved slightly but it did not prevent new spots from appearing as I noticed that they did, although I suspect that the cream probably kept them lighter than they would have been. Discontinuation did make the darkness come back into the sun spots after about 4 to 6 months however. |
| Side effects: | | There were really no side effects; perhaps the tiniest of tingling at the ery first couple of applications then none after. |
| Comments: | | Topical application of the cream daily, usually at night. The recommended amount was "pea sized" but I found it too thick to get this amount to massage into the whole face. |
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| | Retin-A review by 28 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne and anti age benefits |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.025% (dosage frequency: once a day, evening) for the period of been on it for a month |
| Other conditions: | | I had some oilyness |
| Other drugs taken: | | on a skin rejuvenation system, MD Forte | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I have seen a reduction in breakouts and a fresher,more even complection with a rosey look, and my skin is starting to normalize |
| Side effects: | | some mild flakeing,dryness, and debris combing to surface that has been clogged in pores - but that is actually a good thing and a temporary inconvenience |
| Comments: | | I combine it with my skin care system and apply it once in the evenings. I will move on to a higher concentration when I finish this tube |
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| | Retin-A review by 38 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | cystic acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% cream (dosage frequency: 1x daily) for the period of several years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Reduced incidence of cyctic acne. Supposed anti-aging/reduced wrinkles are widely published. I can't confirm these benefits, as I treated my whole face and don't know what it would have looked like without treatment. |
| Side effects: | | skin drying and redness occasionally, higher sensitivity to sun, can't have brows waxed when taking Retin A |
| Comments: | | pea-sized dallop of creme rubbed onto face nightly |
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| | Retin-A review by 48 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | adult acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | .025% cream (dosage frequency: once per day) for the period of off and on for three years |
| Other conditions: | | large oily pores |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | It was fairly successful for the acne. I found it especially good at spot treatment if I felt a cystic type coming up. |
| Side effects: | | It did dry my skin out and there was peeling in some places, like the sides of my nose. I had to be very careful about not getting it any where around my lips, because if I did I would quickly get a fever blister on my mouth. I don't know why this happened, but it was bothersome. |
| Comments: | | I applied it after cleansing skin at night and made sure my skin was completely dry before I put any on and I used a small amount, which was sometimes hard to spread around. |
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| | Retin-A review by 27 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.25% (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of still using it |
| Other conditions: | | redness, peeling, burning sensation, dryness |
| Other drugs taken: | | Accutane | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Since using the Retin-A along with the Accutane, I have noticed a great improvement in the look of my skin. There are less clogged pores and it definitely more smooth and even in skin tone. Any fine lines around my mouth and on my forehead have diminished but it hasn't helped much with fine lines around my eyes. |
| Side effects: | | It does cause the skin to flake and peel but this can be counteracted with a good moisturizer. Also, my face gets red or flushed easily with the slightest irritant. Lastly, not being able to stay in the sun is a downfall. |
| Comments: | | I use Retin-A 0.25% every evening along with 70 mg of Accutane a day. I will have to continue the Retin-A for at least a year. |
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| | Retin-A review by 39 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.1% (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 12 years |
| Other conditions: | | NA |
| Other drugs taken: | | NA | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Regular use of Retin A cleared my acne dramatically. Initially, I experienced and increase in the presence of acne pimples and moderate redness and irritation. This lasted for a couple of weeks as my skin adjusted to the medication. Within about six weeks, I would guess my skin was 75% clearer. Over the past twelve years, I have experienced only rare pimples which resolved quickly with little or no discoloration. One important note: do not scrub the face with washcloths or any other abrasive products, and use plenty of moisturizer. Scrubbing makes the irritation and pimples worse. |
| Side effects: | | Redness and mild to moderate irritation initially. Photosensitivity (use a moisturizer with a high spf sunscreen). Seasonal changes can increase dryness. |
| Comments: | | Cleanse face with a mild soap each night. While skin is still wet, apply Retin A (pea sized amount will cover entire face). Allow to air dry completely. Wash off in AM, pat dry, and apply moisturizer/sunscreen. |
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| | Retin-A review by 51 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne and wrinkles |
| Dosage & duration: | | .1 (dosage frequency: 1 x day) for the period of 7 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | It had a dramatic impact in terms of reducing how often I would break out. My skin was smoother and more clear. And the fine lines around my eyes were reduced dramatically. |
| Side effects: | | I would get some peeling or redness if I applied too much. If this occurred, I would stop using it for a day or two, and the problem would go away. It was more of a concern in the winter months when my skin was more dry. But having oily skin, it usually wasn't a big problem. |
| Comments: | | I was told to use it at night. If redness or peeling occurred, use it less frequently. |
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| | Retin-A review by 43 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne, anti-aging |
| Dosage & duration: | | .01 & .1% (dosage frequency: used daily) for the period of have been using approx 5 months |
| Other conditions: | | n/a |
| Other drugs taken: | | n/a | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The retin-a seems to have minimized some of my fine lines, and has helped clear my pores, greatly reduced blackheads and minimized white-heads, and almost erradicated cystic blemishes altogether. I believe the product does actually promote quick cell turnover based on the results I have seen thust far. |
| Side effects: | | I have been fortunate to have only experienced minimal irritation. Initially, I had tightness, dry feeling on my face, with some peeling or shedding. This subsequently caused some itching, but, again, no irritation or pain. I noticed when applied to active blemishes, the blemish seemed to worsen, become redder,and seemed like it wouldn't heal, but I have combated that by adding a good, natural moisturizer into my routine after the application. |
| Comments: | | I started using .05 % retina-a every evening after cleansing, but making sure my face was completely dry. Only a small amount of the cream was needed. I applied it carefully, avoiding lips and inner eye area. Afterwards, I used a non-greasy, non-comedogenic moisturizer to minimize dryness, flaking and irritation. |
|
| | Retin-A review by 30 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | I Had blotchy skin in the form of freckles and sun |
| Dosage & duration: | | Thumbnail size (dosage frequency: every other night, then nightly.) for the period of 3 weeks |
| Other conditions: | | Combination skin, large pores. |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I did not experience benefits as the medication was too harsh, forcing me to have to stop application. |
| Side effects: | | I experienced significant peeling of my skin all over my face. |
| Comments: | | I initially applied a thumbnail size dab every other evening as advised before bedtime and then after about two weeks I began applying it daily. The medication was too harsh. |
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| | Retin-A review by 44 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | flat warts |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.05% (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 2 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | skin cell turnover increases |
| Side effects: | | painful skin sloughing |
| Comments: | | For flat warts on the face, was prescribed Retin A by a dermatologist. I started out every other day for 2 weeks and then increased use to daily. The skin area did improve however there was painful chapped skin that would crack and hurt. Moderate improvement seen but return to condition after stopping the treatment. |
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| | Retin-A review by 28 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.01% (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Reduced acne. I had mild/moderate acne, and Retin-A did decrease the amount of ance I had. I liked Retin-A also because it reduces wrinkles. I am only 28, so I don't have many wrinkles, but used it as prevention. |
| Side effects: | | My skin would become too dry. It seemed that even after months of usage, my ance would not completely disappear. If I used more Retin-A, my acne would get better for a week or two until my skin became too dry and then I would have worse acne |
| Comments: | | I would apply Retin-A to my face once a day at night |
|
| | Retin-A review by 33 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne and wrinkles |
| Dosage & duration: | | .050 (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of 3 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My skin is now smoother with less acne. I still get a pimple here and there, but for the most part, my skin has been very clear. |
| Side effects: | | My skin had slight burning the next day as well as a lot of flaking and dryness. It is very difficult to control the dryness. I put a lot of moisturizer on it in the morning, but need to reapply it throughout the day. |
| Comments: | | After wasing your face at night and letting it completely dry, you apply a thin layer all over your face and go to bed. In the morning you need to wash your face and apply a lot of moisturizer. Stick with it, it will provide resluts after about 6 weeks. |
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| | Retin-A review by 33 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | fine lines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.1% (dosage frequency: every other day) for the period of 4 months now |
| Other conditions: | | Oily skin, Fine lines, some pimples |
| Other drugs taken: | | Tagament | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My face looks fresher and i feel so much better, I can tell that the lines are already disapearing. |
| Side effects: | | My face got a bit dry and peeled at little bit at first. Stings a bit when i started to put it on. |
| Comments: | | I put a very think layer on before bed every other night. In the morning I use a Daily Repair lotion called Nicel Daily Repair retinol cream that i mixed mixed with SPF 15. |
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| | Retin-A review by 52 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | sun damage to skin |
| Dosage & duration: | | a dab or two (dosage frequency: every night) for the period of 6 years |
| Other conditions: | | no other conditions |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Retin-A smoothed out my skin and reduced fine lines. It particularly helped the kind of lines that radiate from the corner of my eyes down my cheeks. They virtually disappeared, and people remarked within a few months that I looked healthier, less tired, and younger. I was happy with the results of using this product. |
| Side effects: | | Irritated skin, dry skin. When I first started using this product, they gave me a weaker strength and I gradually was given stronger formulas as my skin got used to it. The only problem was that if I used a little too much, even later as my skin was used to the formula, I would wake up with red skin that looked like a sunburn. I eventually moved to using topical ascorbic acid instead of Retin-A, which works well and doesn't cause the skin irritation. |
| Comments: | | I spread a dab or two of the cream on my face at night before sleeping. It took several weeks to acclimate to the cream. It did improve the appearance of my skin. I noticed that it also made what the dermatologist called pre-cancerous spots disappear (these were a couple of small spots that the doctor wanted to treat with topical vitamin A). |
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| | Retin-A review by 25 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | Daily pea size (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | wrinkles, fine lines |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | It cured my acne and reduced my wrinkles. This was really the best product I ever used. Common over the counter products and benzoyl didn't work, which was very frustrating. However, the effects are only temporary. As soon as I stop using it, after a few days I will get blackheads again. |
| Side effects: | | I really did experience redness and flaking, like most users did. But that was mainly around the soft tissues, such as my mouth. So I decided to use it more on the trouble areas and less on the other parts. Side effects were reduced after combining with Jojoba Oil. |
| Comments: | | I applied a pea size every day. You really do have to wait 20 minutes after washing your face before applying, because otherwise you will really have an increase of the side effects. Then wait a bit longer to let it absorb and use a moisturizer which is non comedogenic, like jojoba oil. Worked fine for me! And I have very sensitve skin. |
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| | Retin-A review by 26 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Acne/dull skin |
| Dosage & duration: | | light application (pea-sized) (dosage frequency: every other night, on average) for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Cleared up my acne and brightened my skin overall; slightly reduced fine lines. Aside from acne, it seemed to help my skin in general. This is by far the best acne treatment I've used. Now I use it for overall skin appearance (not just for acne). |
| Side effects: | | Thinning of skin leaves more sun sensitivity. Also, it cleared my acne, but didn't seem to "treat" it - if I stop using it, my acne comes back within a few weeks. |
| Comments: | | Very easy - simply applied a pea-sized amount every other night before bed. |
|
| | Retin-A review by 27 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | acne |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.25% (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of still using it |
| Other conditions: | | redness, peeling, burning sensation, dryness |
| Other drugs taken: | | Accutane | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Since using the Retin-A along with the Accutane, I have noticed a great improvement in the look of my skin. There are less clogged pores and it definitely more smooth and even in skin tone. Any fine lines around my mouth and on my forehead have diminished but it hasn't helped much with fine lines around my e |
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