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

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2015

For Acne "I've been using this for about 3 weeks now, and at first, there was a lot of peeling. One day I think I used too much, and my cheeks became inflamed and irritated. It looked like I had a really bad sunburn in the fall. As of right now, this gel has only made my skin worse. I have dark marks on my cheeks and in the corner of my mouth. I look horrible! These reviews say to keep going and be patient. But if I don't see results soon, I will be forced to stop."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2017

For Acne "I've been using Tretinoin Microsphere .04 gel for about a month and a half and just now starting to see improvement in my skin. After using it for about a week and a half, for about two weeks afterwards my skin looked dull, a little red, developed small bumps on my cheeks, and had acne scars. I take full responsibility for the acne scars because I have a pesky, horrible habit of popping my zits and picking at them (bad! But working on it). My derm also prescribed 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and a Clindamycin Gel to use in the mornings, but now I'm using that as a spot treatment because my skin got itchy and red and burned for about two hours after using it on my entire face. Now my skin looks more vibrant and smoother, acne scars are getting better and I have no bumps!"

• Noo...
• December 19, 2015

For Acne "I have to keep this concise since I can only type so many words. I used this for acne. Using it every other day left my skin oily and peeling. I switched to every 3-4 days, and the flesh-colored bumps on my forehead went away. The problem? This stuff will dry out your skin. I used this followed by a thick moisturizer. Still had super tight skin. After doing some research, I learned that this stuff thins your skin out. The cleanser that I used for 7 years started to burn. Every moisturizer (even Vaseline) made my face burn. I trashed any product that had exfoliators (i.e., microbeads, acids). I started washing my face with oatmeal and applied a sunscreen moisturizer. The severe dryness went away. The bumps have not returned."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2015

For Acne "I have been using Retin A 0.025 for a little over 10 weeks. I'm 33 years old, and I've never had acne until the past year. I'm assuming it may be hormonal. I didn't experience the terrible skin peeling and burning most talk about, but I'm definitely breaking out more. I'm going to stick with it until the 12-week mark, and then I'm done. I know it may take longer, but because I only had mild acne to begin with, it's very hard to see my acne worsen. I've had some really hard days, but I've stuck with this far. I'll see how the next couple of weeks go! One thing I have noticed is my acne lesions seem to scab over and go away pretty fast."

• jad...
• June 30, 2016

For Acne "I've been on this tretinoin gel for two months, and it has its ups and downs. The first month I saw results, my face was clearing, but the peeling and burning were not what I expected. The second month my face seemed to go back to how I started, which was not okay. I am still using this gel, hoping the third month will bring better results."

• Hii...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2016

For Acne "I began tretinoin a little over a week ago. I was prescribed it by my doctor for breakouts I've had on my behind since I was 13. The first 2 days after applying tretinoin to my bottom, I saw immediate results. My bottom was getting dry. But the acne and red marks were fading. And I was honestly so excited because I figured that this is it! Something is finally helping! But about the 4th day, my jaw and lower face were red, itchy, burning, and dried out, and my butt was on fire! It began drying out, which turned into scaling with the daily use of it. Felt like my butt crack was bleached. And it looked like it too! I didn't put it on today after my shower, and the intense burning isn't bad at all. I'm going to use it every 3 days from now until my appointment."

• ema...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2017

For Acne "I usually don't write reviews, but I felt my experience needed to be shared to warn others. I have a very high pain tolerance, I've never had a problem with pain until I started using this 0.025% cream. I have never felt such horrible burning pain in my life. My skin looks horrible now, I have red splotches everywhere that are also dry. The only reason I started using this was because I started developing some minor breakouts about once a month, and they were enough to lower my confidence. But this pain is absolutely not worth it. I was supposed to continue for 5 months, but I absolutely will not. I can't even lay my head on my pillow at night without my face feeling like it's on fire."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• October 27, 2009

For Acne "I had some redness and sensitive skin and burning, and I just waited for the sores that did have to clear up before I applied it on again. So I really haven't noticed anything just yet. Hopeful for it soon."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2019

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I started using Retin-A after switching my birth control pills to progesterone only due to severe migraines thought to be caused by estrogen. I am now 23 and never struggled this bad with acne. Before Retin-A, I had a few cystic acne spots on my chin and jawline and small blemishes on my forehead occasionally. After using Retin-A, my face got way worse. The first week, it caused my face to be red, flaky, and burn. This wasn't the typical burning feeling I would get from a topical acne cream. This was a burn that would hurt when I would step outside. It made the cystic acne spots really dry, red, and very sore. I called my dermatologist, and they said those are typical side effects and to mix my moisturizer with the Retin-A. This helped but didn't help enough. I went another 5+ weeks dealing with peeling, flaking, red, irritated, dry, sore skin. I finally decided to stop using it. The next day, my skin was feeling a lot less sore and irritated. This was not the medication for me."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2009

Tretinoin topical for Acne "My daughter used Tretin-X for 3 months and had no significant improvement in her acne condition. She used moisturizer and 70 SPF sunscreen every day, but her face burned very easily while using this product."

• T-R...
• September 15, 2018

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I am 23 years old and I suffer from severe acne. I started using Retin-A 0.05 a week ago. At first, my face felt moisturized, the pimples became easier to extract. After about 2-3 days, my face started burning and then peeling. I wanted to use a moisturizer along with it, but anything that touched my face made it ache or burn, and when I say anything, I do mean anything... water, fabric, etc. I used it twice a day as advised by my derm. He told me it would get worse before it got better, so I continued applying small amounts on the bigger bumps, but my face hasn't healed, so I have completely stopped using it."

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2018

For Acne "Honestly, my pimples are getting worse, bigger, and more red. My skin burns and itches so bad! I can’t even handle it. This isn’t doing anything for my face. Someone commented on here saying to just keep going and that it will make your acne worse for the first three months, then it gets better. Are you kidding me? Like, I have that long to wait and let my face look hideous with more pimples. I have a wedding in seven months. I’m just gonna make an appointment for laser, duh. Should’ve known no acne medication I’ve ever gotten from a “dermatologist” ever worked for me, and I barely have pimples. No doctor can help me. Seriously, this is a joke. If Kim K. had pimples and went to a doctor, I’m sure they would give her a product that actually works. Doctors are nothing but scams. It’s like they hate for you to look good because you’re a pretty girl."