Tretinoin topical and Acne: What Users Say (Page 4)

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

Tretinoin topical 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."

• ros...
• January 11, 2016

For Acne "Ok, so this is an update. I have been on the cream for 1 month, and I keep getting whiteheads. I am starting to think that it does not work... Anyone had the same issue?"

• Hon...
• January 19, 2020

For Acne "I recently talked to my derm about my acne and got tretinoin, clindamycin, and benzoyl peroxide cream, and I'm currently a little over two weeks in. And my face is mad! The first week I had huge cystic pimples on my face and super dry, red, and flaking skin that was so embarrassing, and now the big ones are gone, but I still have a lot of breakouts and a little dryness in some areas. I'm sure my skin is purging, and I just need to stick with it. My acne was pretty bad anyway, so I can deal with it getting worse before it gets better. I'm using tretinoin 0.025 at night, topical clindamycin, and benzoyl peroxide in the mornings, witch hazel toner, and CeraVe face moisturizer. It's only been two weeks, and I do see some slight changes. Even though the breakouts are really bad right now, I used to have little bumps all over my cheeks and chin. Those have gone, and my skin is a lot smoother, and now I just have the spread-out pimples that keep appearing all over my face. I'm hoping I start to see real results soon."

• Hon...
• January 19, 2020

For Acne "I recently talked to my derm about my acne and got tretinoin, clindamycin, and benzoyl peroxide cream, and I'm currently a little over two weeks in. And my face is mad! The first week I had huge cystic pimples on my face and super dry, red, and flaking skin that was so embarrassing, and now the big ones are gone, but I still have a lot of breakouts and a little dryness in some areas. I'm sure my skin is purging, and I just need to stick with it. My acne was pretty bad anyway, so I can deal with it getting worse before it gets better. I'm using tretinoin 0.025 at night, topical clindamycin, and benzoyl peroxide in the mornings, witch hazel toner, and CeraVe face moisturizer. It's only been two weeks, and I do see some slight changes. Even though the breakouts are really bad right now, I used to have little bumps all over my cheeks and chin. Those have gone, and my skin is a lot smoother, and now I just have the spread-out pimples that keep appearing all over my face. I'm hoping I start to see real results soon."

• Ann...
• December 1, 2016

For Photoaging of the Skin "I was prescribed for dark spots on my face. Although the dark spots are still there, they have not grown or intensified. Also, I have less acne and whiteheads."

• Ann...
• December 1, 2016

For Photoaging of the Skin "I was prescribed for dark spots on my face. Although the dark spots are still there, they have not grown or intensified. Also, I have less acne and whiteheads."

• Sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2016

For Acne "I developed cystic acne, I'm guessing as a result of hormones, stress, and genetics. My doctor and I changed what we were using during the second visit, since we were doing some trial and error (figuring out what works). Since my skin is not sensitive, we went from a combination of doxycycline, tretinoin, and clindamycin (I don't know how to spell it) to a combination of tretinoin of higher strength, erythromycin/BP gel, and minocycline. My skin has cleared up in a matter of 2 months with the occasional pimples and some acne scarring. As far as the tretinoin goes, my derm said that it was supposed to clear up my whiteheads and blackheads, but it has only made my pores seemingly smaller, not cleared them up."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2016

For Acne "So I just recently got done being on Accutane for six months. My derm told me to start applying tretinoin cream (0.05%) onto my face every night. I'm three weeks post-Accutane/into using the tretinoin, and it has been awful. I thought after Accutane I wouldn't break out hardly at all. However, that's not even close to the truth. I've gotten at least two cystic bumps/pimples/red marks on my face PER DAY for the last TWO WEEKS. It's beginning to cover my face, and it is getting continually worse. I have never broken out this much in my entire life. I use a Cetaphil face wash and moisturizer. I really thought after six months of Accutane, my skin would finally be clear for the first time ever, but now it's simply worse than ever."

• Mem...
• August 20, 2015

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I have been on tretinoin 0.025 for about 5 days, and I've broken out so bad. I have lots of little bumps by my nose. Is that normal?"

• NAa...
• March 8, 2019

Tretinoin topical 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."

• dan...
• February 10, 2017

Tretinoin topical 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! :("

• ins...
• October 17, 2016

For Acne "I started using tretinoin 0.25 with a face cleanser and Heliocare 90 SPF sunblock, although I didn't have acne after the use it got started. Like my face is ruined. Full of cystic acne. Please advise."

• mqu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2016

For Acne "I'm on my first week of using this. I don't have bad acne, I just wanted the blackheads on my nose to go away. The first week has been awful. My skin is so dry, red, burning, and now I have so many pimples. I never have pimples. My dermatologist said this would make my skin worse, but I'm starting to wonder if this is worth it. My skin is disgusting. The other reviews say to keep using it, and it will get better. I'll keep updating."

• Kel...
• February 5, 2016

For Acne "My self-esteem is non-existent right now! I have been using tretinoin .025% for nearly 3 weeks now for cystic acne on my chin. While it has helped the cysts on my chin, my entire face has broken out. I'm getting pimples on my cheeks, and I have never had a problem with pimples on my cheeks! About 2 weeks ago, my skin was flawless, and I was so excited about this medication, but now I don't know what to think. I am hoping this is just the 'purge' stage that so many have mentioned. And that it ends soon. I am miserable! I am going back to my dermatologist in a week, so I'll see what he says."

• Rac...
• December 17, 2015

For Acne "This medicine has ruined my life. I hate myself when I look in the mirror. I am on my fifth month of 0.05% tretinoin cream, and I am still getting acne and dry skin. During the two- and three-month part, my acne was horrendous. Now I'm left with deep scars and self-hatred. It's not worth the emotional damage at all. I don't even care about acne that much, but this has made me depressed and miserable."

• Hmm...
• August 16, 2014

For Acne "I've been using Tretinoin for a week now, and it has only made my face break out more. Still using it to see if it gets better. My doctor told me it pushes out all of the gunk out of my pores, which makes sense to why I'm breaking out. Hoping it gets better in the next 1 to 2 weeks from now. Will keep updated. Pray for my skin!"

• Fra...
• November 28, 2011

Tretinoin topical 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
• January 18, 2022

For Acne "Could not recommend tretinoin less. Terrible decision to use it. Had a very mild acne issue where I had maybe 4 pimples in total. I was given tretinoin, and it literally just gave me a huge breakout in the first month, and now I've got an acne issue I didn't have before, nor had I ever had in my life. I saw my dermatologist. Just from my personal experience, I would warn anyone with moderate to mild acne to not use this medication. I can see how this would work for someone with severe acne where the 'purge' stage wouldn't be too noticeable, but for me, it was a total disaster, and my acne still isn't fixed after 2.5 months."

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

Tretinoin topical 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."

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

Tretinoin topical 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

Tretinoin topical 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."

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

Tretinoin topical 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."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2018

For Acne "I was prescribed this for my acne, which is moderate but can get really bad at times. They told me it would get worse for about a month and then get better. After using it for 8 weeks, I can tell you it only made it worse. My skin has never been that bad before. On top of the cystic acne, it caused my sensitive skin to be excessively red and dry. They gave me a pill to take with it (Minocycline), though, and it works wonders. 5 days ago I stopped using the tretinoin gel and only take the pill, and now my skin is almost completely free of breakouts. Don’t use this gel if you have the choice."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2017

For Photoaging of the Skin "This stuff is the spawn of Satan. I began using this to reduce minor sun spots and fine wrinkles. This stuff made the amazing skin I had into a housing unit for acne. It literally brings tears to my eyes the damage this has done. If it can be avoided, do not use. I would never recommend medication... ever."

• Hap...
• October 19, 2016

For Acne "I tried this product for about a week, and I had a terrible, terrible breakout. I always hear great stories, however, I could not get past the purge. I discontinued after 1 week."