Retin-A and Acne: What Users Say

• rya...
• April 29, 2020

For Acne "Prior to using this cream, I checked reviews. I saw a lot of negatives, people complaining about a face purge. I was highly discouraged. After a while, I said, 'Screw it.' I’ve been struggling with acne for a long time now. I’m a 22-year-old African male, been struggling with acne since I was 11, that is half of my life. I ignored the negatives and decided to give it a shot. Week 1 and 2 were calm. The purge started on week 3, and it was horrible! I couldn’t leave my house, my face was a mess. I was nearly compelled to quit but I persevered. The purge lasted through until week 8. On the 9th week, I noticed fewer breakouts. I’m on my 11th week now, and man, my face is as smooth as a baby’s. I honestly can’t believe this. This is the best my face has been in more than a decade. I'd highly recommend. The purge period is absolutely hectic and discouraging, but do not give up. Stick to it, I promise. Advice: Take pictures to track your progress."

• AG1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2013

For Photoaging of the Skin "I'm using Retin-A 0.025 gel version of tretinoin. My review is more of an encouragement rather than a full review. My full review will happen after at least a year of usage. Current usage - 2 months. So, you see, within 2 months of usage already deserves an 8 score rating from me. I could easily give it higher, but I'd rather wait for my full review. Now, I have read many of what the users said here and on the internet. It will be best for new users not to pay too much attention to users below 2 months of usage. Because all you hear is pain, breakout, worries, and eventually the key way they use = give up. It's your choice. But please read those who have actually used tretinoin for at least 6 months."

• MMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

For Acne "33 yo/female. I had acne since I was 13 yo. I was diagnosed with PCOS. I took birth control for about 15 years, also Spironolactone. My acne is very persistent and mainly comedonal, especially on my jawline, cheeks, and upper neck. I stopped birth control and was tired of Spironolactone, as taken alone it didn't do much for me. I went on Accutane, which was a horrible experience to clear my acne, only for it to come back just 6 months later. I have been using Retin-A 0.01% for 2.5 months, and I can see a lot of improvement. My skin is still purging as it's really congested, but I can see it's improving gradually and clearing up. It was a real mess in the first 6 weeks. I'm getting less painful acne around my jaw area now, and my skin is much softer, the scars are also fading. I will continue the treatment for the rest of my life, I believe. I highly recommend it to anyone with hormonal acne who doesn't want to take medication."

• Bno...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2020

For Acne "When I was 5 weeks into using this topical Retin-A, I headed to the internet to figure out why my acne was 5 times WORSE than when I started it. I would honestly just look in the mirror and cry. I picked at all my pimples, and it made it even worse. The purge is real, but if you can make it past it, I promise it’s worth it. Do some research on why the purge happens. I am 10 weeks in, and all that I have on my face is scarring due to the picking, which will go away over time and with the help of other topicals. My advice is to stick with it, do not pick, and trust the process!"

• Edd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Acne "I was put on Retin-A 0.5 gel to help manage my moderate acne. So far, I have been using this medication for about a month and two weeks and have noticed great results. At first, I broke out more and my skin looked worse. But just a few weeks ago, I noticed my skin starting to really heal a lot. I use this in combination with Cetaphil face wash. I do have some scarring from acne (mainly leftover red marks) and it really helps with that. My skin texture is a lot smoother and more even. I have only had a few new pimples arrive since starting this medication. I continue to keep using it for a very long time to manage my acne and for its anti-aging benefits. If you're curious about starting this medication, don’t be, I wish I had started it years ago when I first got teenage acne."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2016

For Acne "2 or 3 months ago, I did a review for this product. It starts off around me saying that 'I'm 18 years old and started using Retin-A for 6 weeks or so.' So this is an update... I'm into my 5th month, and WOW! My skin is so much clearer. Trust me, no one likes acne, I've gone through it. But this cream has been helping me so much. The purging sucks! Whiteheads show up, but don't give up on it. After 1 month, you'll see a difference. When I started, I had red blemishes on my cheeks, and now it's long gone. Just some marks here and there. I still get pimples here and there, but not as much as I used to. This product is the best, I'm so happy using Retin-A. I recommend washing my face morning and night (Cetaphil Soap). Take antibiotics. Mine is (minocycline 50)."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2017

For Acne "I was on Accutane (isotretinoin) from December 2015 to July 2016. I had severe acne all over my face, chest, back, and shoulders. Post-Accutane, my skin was clear as water, and I got so many compliments on my skin. My skin was clear, and I never got one pimple until mid-April 2017. I noticed pimples reappearing on my skin. I got in touch with my derm, and she prescribed me tretinoin 0.025% and a face wash-sodium sulfacetamide with salicylic acid. I am now on 0.05%, and I have been on the gel for a little over 8 weeks. I have seen significant improvement since I started, and I did experience about a month and a half of initial breakout. I highly recommend this gel, and don't give up! It takes time, and my skin is still clearing up. Patience!!!!!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2016

For Acne "I have posted early before about my 1st and 2nd week using Retin-A 0.025 cream. My 3rd week was much better than my second week, some of my acne started to calm down, and my face felt less bumpy. During this week, I started to use the cream 4 times a week because my cheeks were hurting. My 4th week was the most improvement. I started to use the cream every night again since my face had stopped hurting. During the 4th week, most of my pimples disappeared, and my skin felt smoother. I still had some pimples popping up, but not as much. Now my cheeks are pretty smooth with a couple of pimples, but my cheeks are really red from the scars that were left behind from the pimples. I'm hoping they will slowly fade later. Will keep updating!"

• Tan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2019

For Acne "In the first 3-4 weeks on Retin-A, it was horrible, I had horrible acne almost everywhere on my face, especially on my cheeks, and it's painful. But after 1 or 2 months, I noticed a big improvement on my face. Trust me, it's worth trying."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2019

For Acne "I have mild acne and started using Retin A 0.025%. I've been using the cream for about three weeks now, and I didn't see much change in the first two weeks. I'm seeing much more improvement now. I still have a few small bumps and blackheads, but it's not as bad as before. My skin feels significantly smoother and softer than before, so I'm excited to see how much more it will improve."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2018

For Photoaging of the Skin "I began using Retin-A 0.01% approximately 2 months ago. I have dark spots left from what doctors claim is atopic dermatitis coupled with hyper-eczema when I was younger. I have had these marks for over 20 years. I no longer suffer from breakouts, however, I do have the marks (front and back thighs). I started by specifically treating them spot by spot, rather than applying to the entire area. Recently, my husband disclosed that he is having a 'hard time' actually seeing the marks to apply the cream, they have lightened up, but I am not totally clear yet... I am on my second tube. When I complete this one, my intention is to increase to the 0.5 strength and observe those results. Will advise probably in another 2 months' time. What I can say with certainty is that it works, faster for some than others... but it works, consistency is key."

• mpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2019

For Acne "Totally worked, but didn’t like the process. I’m in week 5 of using it, and my acne is still getting worse (but not as much as in the beginning). I can clearly see a difference in my skin’s appearance. My skin got lighter, and pigmentation has diminished. Still have acne coming out in cystic form, but those small, annoying pimples that had been covering my whole face are now gone, and my skin is smooth and shiny. The only problem is those 4-5 cystic pimples that come out at random places, but I think that will come to an end soon. Totally recommend the try if you are brave enough to go through this."

• NAa...
• March 8, 2019

For Acne "I'm in my early 20s and have been applying Retin-A gel once a night for over a year now. Before starting the gel, I had what I would describe as moderate acne. During the first 6-8 months of Retin-A use, I had the most severe acne of my life, all over my face. It was painful and so embarrassing to leave the house. Not to mention the horrific dry skin that would just flake off my face, no matter how much I moisturized. But I stuck with it as the dermatologist suggested, and now my acne is mostly under control. However, I would not say my acne now is any better than before I started Retin-A, and on top of that, I now have deep, ugly scars on both sides of my face (not just a few... a LOT) from the severe acne. I have not had any acne scars in my life until now, and I have had moderate to heavy acne since I was 12. Now there are pit scars all across my cheeks. I have ruined my face by using Retin-A and would have been exponentially better off if I had never used it in the first place."

• Nic...
• October 17, 2015

For Acne "I'm 16 years old. I'm a boy who suffers moderate acne. I have blemishes of previous acne. The downside is that I'm really white. I've been on Retin-A since September 1st. I'm on week 5 or 6, but my face is getting better. Acne decreasing much more. I still have the red blemishes and marks on my cheeks, but I'm excited to see the result people say they see in 3-6 months. I'm prescribed clindamycin phosphate and antibiotic pills with Cetaphil wash. I use Retin-A at night and then moisturize 30 minutes after, then apply clinda when I go to sleep. So stick to this cream, the whiteheads and stuff will suck, but my acne bumps/marks are slowly disappearing even though they are still visible. Can't wait till I can clear up and feel happy."

• Jus...
• May 25, 2018

For Acne "32-year-old female. I'd been on Acanya (benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin) for about 3 years before it stopped working very suddenly. Like, one day my skin was clear, and the next, I had breakouts on my chin and cheeks again. Anyway, I'd ordered a tube of 0.05% Retin-A online a while ago and used to use it as a spot treatment, which worked for a bit. I think that was too strong for me. Just starting prescribed 0.025% Retin-A and the morning after use on my entire face, my skin was less inflamed. I noticed 2 new pimples surfaced, but they were easily extracted. I use Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and then a toner + moisturizer in the mornings. Cetaphil cleanser - wait 20 mins - Retin-A - wait 20 mins - and Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer at night. I have noticed some blemishes come to the surface and minor peeling. But my general skin tone looks so much better than when I was using the Acanya, despite those two drawbacks. Will keep using and see what the long-term results look like!"

• dan...
• February 10, 2017

For Acne "I've read so many reviews about Retin-A being amazing and working almost immediately, but I have been using this gel for about 7 weeks, and my skin is still so much worse than before I started using it! I broke out in deep, painful acne almost immediately, and it still hasn't gone away. Breakouts all over my face, and my skin is red and very, very noticeably dry and peeling. Hoping it will start to work soon, I'm getting pretty discouraged that it's taking so long! :("

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2012

For Acne "Okay, I just switched from using Differin, which helped my skin but didn't completely cure it. I have always had mild to moderate acne. I went to my dermatologist, and I started using Retin-A every other night for the past weeks and few days. I'M BREAKING OUT LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW. This is awful, and I have to go to school during this. I really hope this is just the initial breakout, and I'm not one of the people who ends up saying this left my skin worse than when I started. I'm going to give it another month or two."

• GEE...
• December 3, 2015

For Acne "For me, it got worse before it got better. And it got a lot better! I was prescribed Retin-A by my dermatologist back in July, and have been using it as directed for 4 months already. I'll say, it was very difficult to believe in this product since the first couple of weeks because my skin would just not catch a break. It got really bad, and I was miserable. However, I now attest to the true wonders this stuff can do for you if you're patient."

• Chi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2021

For Acne "My dermatologist prescribed me Retin-A, and I feel like my skin has been the worst it’s ever been. I don’t even know why they keep this stuff in circulation. I literally had the worst breakouts ever on this. I did research, and most people said that you have to wait a few months to see results. But after 6 months of trying this stuff, I’m done. My bottle is almost empty, and it’s been a couple of days since I’ve used it, and of course my skin has been clearing up. If you get prescribed this, don’t take it because it’s going to wreck your skin. I have so many acne scars now."

• Chi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2021

For Acne "My dermatologist prescribed me Retin-A, and I feel like my skin has been the worst it’s ever been. I don’t even know why they keep this stuff in circulation. I literally had the worst breakouts ever on this. I did research, and most people said that you have to wait a few months to see results. But after 6 months of trying this stuff, I’m done. My bottle is almost empty, and it’s been a couple of days since I’ve used it, and of course my skin has been clearing up. If you get prescribed this, don’t take it because it’s going to wreck your skin. I have so many acne scars now."

• Kim...
• March 3, 2021

For Acne "I’ve been using Retin-A for the last 5 months now. The first 3 months were awful as I got the worst acne breakouts of my life, and they came in the form of cystic, pus-filled, painful acne spots. My face looked horrible, I dreaded going out. It was a nightmare, but after reading reviews of people's experiences, I decided not to stop. Fast forward to 5 months now, and there has been tremendous improvement, most especially in my skin texture. My acne is now 80% under control, but I am dealing with intense hyperpigmentation, but overall my skin has never looked better. My skin texture is really amazing now. So my advice to anyone about to start: stick with it and buffer with a heavy-duty moisturizer when you’re about to start to minimize irritation and purging. And lastly, don’t rely on tretinoin alone. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in combination with Retin-A would give you better and faster results, so talk to your dermatologist about what works for you."

• Fra...
• November 28, 2011

For Photoaging of the Skin "This medication may be great for those struggling with extreme oiliness and acne, but it actually caused me to break out! I wanted the benefits of its ability to help strengthen collagen and help with evening out skin tone, etc., but I got overly dry, super sensitive, acne-ridden skin instead. I recently waxed areas of my face that needed it, even after not using the product for a couple of days, and I was bleeding! I've never had this problem before. My skin has always been very resilient and able to handle most anything. But it doesn't seem to agree with this product. I will have to find a different approach to maintaining my youth."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2021

For Acne "Took this for two months (topical cream), and my face broke out the entire time. Tried to wait it out as much as possible, but I have never had worse acne in my entire life. After not using it for about two weeks, my skin cleared up. I will NEVER take this medication again."

• kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2020

For Acne "This was the worst experience of my life. It made my face break out, and I had big red dry patches on my face that burned so bad. I still have red scars from those spots that I didn’t have before. Do not use this, I suggest Accutane. I have done that before also."

• The...
• November 22, 2015

For Acne "So I started with this 2 weeks ago, and it SUCKS. I have had maybe one big pimple on a cheek per month or two, and a little around other parts of my face, but now I have full-fledged acne on my cheeks and jawline. This is terrible!"