Tretinoin topical and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• rya...
• April 29, 2020

Tretinoin topical 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."

• Aut...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2019

For Acne "I am 18 years old and have been on tretinoin for over a year now. I have moderate/severe acne. I first got put on a 0.025% dosage. At first, I did experience a breakout due to everything coming out, but over time it got so much better. Pimples never really appear on my face like they used to since I started it. If I do get them, they are very small. However, tretinoin never helped with the accumulation of blackheads all over my face. So I just recently got put on 0.1%. :) Hopefully, 0.1% will fix my problem! I’ll let you all know what I think of it."

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

Tretinoin topical 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."

• Hik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2019

For Acne "I have hormonal acne, am EXTREMELY oily, and very acne-prone around my period. Three months ago, I went on Yasmin for my moderate acne, and it ruined my skin: terrible cystic pimples all over, irritated red/brown marks, and even some scars. Once I stopped last month, I was desperate for a quick solution. After 1 month of tretinoin cream (apply once per night of 0.025%), my acne has cleared by 85%. I also had no initial breakout phase, so don’t get scared to try because of that. If my skin sounds like yours, TRY THIS. Make sure you get the cream version, though."

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

Tretinoin topical 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!!!!!"

• Amo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2017

For Acne "I have had acne since I was 12 years old; now I'm 22 years old. I have tried every OTC product, I tried Proactive, Acne.org, natural home remedies, antibiotics, Murad, Clinique, etc., etc., etc. About 2 months ago, my PCP prescribed me Tretinoin Cream 0.5%, and I have been using it every day since then. I have to say that this lotion is a lifesaver; my face looks so much better, and I can finally go out without makeup. Even my family and friends see the results. I'm very happy to finally find something that really works for me. The only sad thing about this cream is that it can dry up your skin very badly, and sometimes moisturizers make my acne worse, but honestly, I prefer a dried face than a face full of ugly, nasty, red pimples."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2017

For Acne "I am an 18 y/o female who has never had severe acne before. But in August of 2016, I broke out like crazy. I got incredibly painful cystic acne. In December, I was prescribed tretinoin 0.05%. I was on both doxycycline pills and the tretinoin for a couple of weeks. The first 2 weeks were pretty bad. I didn't want to touch my face from how much the acne hurt and because I was peeling so badly. But after the first couple of weeks, my skin started to clear up. It was nice to be able to wash my face without it hurting or feeling all the unevenness. I've been on it for about 3 months now, and I get breakouts on my period, but that's it. The scarring is fading away slowly, but I can't get over how smooth my skin feels. Just wait it out. It really does take time to work."

• pnw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2017

For Acne "I've been using the 0.05% tretinoin for 4 months now. I would apply a pea-sized amount every single night 20 minutes after washing my face. I read a couple of pages of the reviews down below, and the people who've complained about their acne getting worse or not seeing any improvements are the ones who haven't been using the product consistently and only reported their 'results' after a couple of weeks of using it. YOU MUST BE PATIENT AND DEDICATED. My acne got a lot worse and fluctuated quite often during the first 3 months, but I stuck with the medication. I used to have clusters of closed comedones and whiteheads that would sometimes turn into hard, painful bumps. As of now, my face is 80% clear! I just have to deal with the hyperpigmentation."

• pnw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2017

For Acne "I've been using the 0.05% tretinoin for 4 months now. I would apply a pea-sized amount every single night 20 minutes after washing my face. I read a couple of pages of the reviews down below, and the people who've complained about their acne getting worse or not seeing any improvements are the ones who haven't been using the product consistently and only reported their 'results' after a couple of weeks of using it. YOU MUST BE PATIENT AND DEDICATED. My acne got a lot worse and fluctuated quite often during the first 3 months, but I stuck with the medication. I used to have clusters of closed comedones and whiteheads that would sometimes turn into hard, painful bumps. As of now, my face is 80% clear! I just have to deal with the hyperpigmentation."

• pnw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2017

For Acne "I've been using the 0.05% tretinoin for 4 months now. I would apply a pea-sized amount every single night 20 minutes after washing my face. I read a couple of pages of the reviews down below, and the people who've complained about their acne getting worse or not seeing any improvements are the ones who haven't been using the product consistently and only reported their 'results' after a couple of weeks of using it. YOU MUST BE PATIENT AND DEDICATED. My acne got a lot worse and fluctuated quite often during the first 3 months, but I stuck with the medication. I used to have clusters of closed comedones and whiteheads that would sometimes turn into hard, painful bumps. As of now, my face is 80% clear! I just have to deal with the hyperpigmentation."

• Roy...
• September 1, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Absolutely amazing product! My face looked like a 14-year-old boy's does when he is going through puberty. I began putting Atralin on nightly along with taking a probiotic (instead of taking an antibiotic, which is so bad for your gut), and my face did appear to be worse during the first week and a half, but then all of a sudden it began clearing up so quickly! I've been using it a little less than a month and still get a few pimples, but it is so much better. Can't wait to see how it works within the next 3 months! I already see fine lines and acne scars improving! Amazing!"

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

Tretinoin topical 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!"

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I had clear skin up until about age 18 when I went on birth control, and my skin got pretty out of control. I'm 20 now and finally went to the doctor. They gave me Atralin and 14 days of 100 mg doxycycline once daily. I've been using Atralin for about 2-3 weeks now, I started seeing results immediately. My skin did get a little dry and flaky, but finding a good moisturizer really helped that. I quit using Atralin for about a week after getting really sick, and I did break out with some whiteheads once I started applying it again. Those went away pretty quickly, though. This stuff is AMAZING. I look forward to using it every night, and I don't get upset when I look in the mirror anymore! Definitely recommend this! I love it!!"

• Anonymous
• January 21, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Stick it out. How long? 3-4 months is the magic number! It takes 3-4 months to see any improvement. Up until then, expect more acne, dryness, peeling. However, the results are worth it. Good luck!"

• GEE...
• December 3, 2015

Tretinoin topical 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."

• Nic...
• October 17, 2015

Tretinoin topical 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."

• Hal...
• October 11, 2015

For Acne "I just want to say that I read all these reviews when I first started using Tretinoin 6 months ago, and it gave me hope that my skin would be normal. And I can honestly say that it worked wonders on my skin. I was having trouble with my acne again, I've always had skin problems. I've taken Accutane, and it worked for a little, but my acne came back with a vengeance. When I first started tretinoin, it was rough, my skin was very dry, and I broke out really bad. It lasted for about 3 months until I stopped having bad breakouts, and my skin started feeling smooth, and my scars were fading as well. If you are on this cream and wanting to stop, just keep going! Now that I have been on it for 6 months, my skin is normal, and I'm happy with the results."

• Ann...
• August 7, 2015

For Photoaging of the Skin "I have been using Retin-A (Tretinoin) 0.1% cream for a little over a year. I had used milder products prior to using this to even my skin tone as well as diminish some enlarged pores but wasn't getting the result I wanted. Within weeks of using the Tretinoin, my skin tone evened out and pores began to shrink. The first week, I did experience some breakouts which for me had never happened before but I was informed this could happen by my doctor because the skin is expelling all impurities. The breakouts cleared and beautiful skin appeared. I've read horror stories but in each it's been clear that either their doctors failed to properly counsel them on this medicine OR they purchased online with little to no knowledge of how to properly use it."

• Mas...
• November 10, 2014

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Amazing! It was very difficult at first - had a lot of peeling, dryness, and breakouts but I stuck it out. After about 4-5 months I started seeing a major improvement and now my skin is very smooth. Not only does it take care of acne but it smooths out fine lines. Great product, highly recommend. Try to stay patient through the first couple of months."

• AvG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

For Acne "I was suffering from moderate acne from when I was 16, but I did nothing, and they cleared up in about 8-9 months. Then, after a year, my acne flared up again, and they were more bad cystic acne on my cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and small whiteheads all over my face. The doctor gave me tretinoin cream with a cream called Fusate-B for a month. I have been using it for 2 weeks, and it has made my 70% pimples vanish. Yes, I get breakouts, but very small with small pimples. I have a wheat complexion, so those pimples left me with black spots, and they have also faded about 20-30%. I have never imagined this good results in 2 weeks. I will continue this for months and see what happens."

• AvG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

For Acne "I was suffering from moderate acne from when I was 16, but I did nothing, and they cleared up in about 8-9 months. Then, after a year, my acne flared up again, and they were more bad cystic acne on my cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and small whiteheads all over my face. The doctor gave me tretinoin cream with a cream called Fusate-B for a month. I have been using it for 2 weeks, and it has made my 70% pimples vanish. Yes, I get breakouts, but very small with small pimples. I have a wheat complexion, so those pimples left me with black spots, and they have also faded about 20-30%. I have never imagined this good results in 2 weeks. I will continue this for months and see what happens."

• EPP...
• March 9, 2014

For Acne "I started breaking out when I got to college. I decided to address the problem before it got worse, even though the acne wasn't that bad. She gave me a prescription for Tretinoin cream. I put it on every night. The first week, I felt like someone had rubbed sandpaper across my face. It was AWFUL. My skin was red and irritated, and it hurt like hell even when nothing was touching it. The next week, the pain and irritation slowly subsided. The following week, my face erupted in pimples. That lasted into the fourth week. It was worse than it had ever been. After that, my face magically cleared up. It was amazing. Except for a very few minor spots, my skin is nearly flawless. The beginning sucks, but STICK IT OUT. You won't regret it."

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

Tretinoin topical 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!"

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

Tretinoin topical 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."

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

Tretinoin topical 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."