Tretinoin topical and Dry Skin: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 13, 2012

Tretinoin topical for Photoaging of the Skin "I began using this as an anti-aging method along with Obagi Hydroquinone for dark spots. At first, I used it every night but almost immediately my skin dried up. It was embarrassing and felt uncomfortable. I went down to using it every two nights (so Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday for example) and within two days my skin returned almost to normal. There is still a tiny bit of flaking, a healthy amount. And I have to say the skin that's left looks amazing - so smooth. Other than the dark shadows under my eyes, for the first time in a long time, I feel I could go with little to no makeup. This product works fast."

• Hor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 21, 2014

For Acne "Tretinoin 0.025 helped me tremendously. 1 hour after cleansing, I put it on, no peeling. Took 2 months to see results. First tone of the skin improved, then smaller and smaller breakouts. I had like lumps under my skin before. If skin dries too much, I use all-natural products like shea butter to moisturize. Works. Now, after 6 months of bi-daily use, NO ACNE!!!! Whoo hoo! Did not think a cream would work for severe acne I had. I don't even need the stronger version 0.05%. Skin is plump and not dry. Scars begin to fade, too."

• Reg...
• November 6, 2016

For Acne "I am an RN. I NEVER write reviews, but thought I would clear up some confusion. Tretinoin should be used at first every other or every 2nd night to start with, depending on how red, irritated, & dry your skin is, and work up to nightly application. Yes, your skin will look worse before it gets better. Stick with it. If you start the product and stop, your results will be like starting all over again each time you stop-terrible. Apply only at night, use a gentle cleanser or just water in the morning with a good moisturizer. I recommend Cerave, it has ceramides essential in maintaining moisture. I've had acne for years, I'm 47 and have used tretinoin for 2 years now. My skin has never looked better. Follow the steps, be patient, you'll be glad."

• Mel...
• December 10, 2015

For Photoaging of the Skin "I've used this product for almost a year now. I experienced mild dry skin the first couple of days, which eventually faded. My occasional mild acne cleared up immediately and youthful, radiant skin appeared. I started getting compliments. Five months passed and my tube was coming to an end, so I called for a refill. Apparently, my dermatologist recommends a check-up every six months, so my refill was declined. The soonest I could be seen was 3 weeks later. As I started the new tube, I noticed extremely dry, flaky, red skin and acne in spots I've never had before on my face. This freaked me out! But I continued the cream, and it all cleared up after a week. I now have clear, radiant skin again. Moral of the story, don't lose hope. Give it time."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2019

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I started using Retin-A about a year and a half ago. It's life-changing. Just stick with it! It was hard the first month or so. My side effects were just extremely dry skin. Also, lotion and makeup stung a bit in the beginning. I had mild acne but lots of scarring over the years and spots that made my skin look uneven. I also have fairly large pores all over my face. My pores look considerably smaller now, and I hardly ever get a breakout. If I do, it heals fast. I still use it every night, even though my skin looks good, just now mainly to continue to have nice-looking skin and for its anti-aging properties."

• Yas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2018

For Acne "After having acne almost all my life, as a child and now as an adult. My face has always been super red and low self-esteem, even with makeup on. At first, I discovered lavender oil on pimples will dry them and slowly kill the bacteria. It did work wonders, but pimples kept coming back, and my face was uneven, red, and still not beautiful. I needed more! I then got prescribed tretinoin and started using it 2x a week for a few weeks. The first few weeks, I was peeling, and anything on my face burned, even water. I almost gave up. My face was dry. Eventually, my skin got used to it after a little over a month of light use. Now I use it every night, and my face is smooth, no acne, and barely any scars. I want to cry. Tears of happiness, of course. Acne is the worst for your confidence. Struggling with acne is no fun. Whatever you do, just don’t stop. Keep going. It will get better, and you won’t regret it."

• Che...
• December 12, 2014

For Photoaging of the Skin "Never wrote reviews on products before, but this deserves a positive review. Was struggling with oily skin. Had it very bad, which is not a bad thing as we age slower when it comes to wrinkles. Only problem was that, two hours after washing my face, it was oily enough to fry eggs in. Was recommended to use Roaccutane, but side effects with dry skin were too bad, and the dermatologist put me on Retin A. Used it for over six months now, and I doubt I will come off it as my skin is as smooth as ever, much brighter and clearer, and oiliness under control with a good moisturizer. This truly is a miracle cream if you stick it out. Use a good face wash like Cetaphil face soap and Nutraderm moisturizer, it works great."

• Ell...
• January 11, 2020

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I have jawline acne, dark patches from pigmentation, and uneven skin tone and blemishes from years of cystic acne. I am 44 and Asian. Day 1 to 2, the gel stung like crazy, itchy and warm skin, and redness. Days 3 to 8, peeling skin, inflamed look after washing face. Stinging and itchy. Days 8 and 9, skin is very taut. I needed extra petroleum jelly plus my regular moisturizer, although my regular moisturizer. Days 9 and 10, skin is sensitive, shiny, that I need to use makeup. For peeling skin, I reapply petroleum jelly at the first signs of dryness or flakiness. I used hydrocortisone on itchy spots. On day 10, I stopped using soap to wash my face as it is drying. I use lukewarm water to wash off the petroleum jelly on my face and pat dry my skin. The dryness has reduced today, day 10. I can use the gel without it stinging my skin or being taut and dry. By day 10, my face appears to be clearer in some places, spots are fading. Skin texture is smooth, though tender."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2018

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I started using Retin-A .0025% about two to three months ago. I’m 26 years old and have had terrible acne ever since I was a preteen. I was able to get the acne under control by drinking 72+ oz of water a day and switching to a plant-based diet. However, this has left me with noticeable scarring. Retin-A has helped so much with this. I read the reviews of everyone saying it dries out your skin. This is true. USE A MOISTURIZER! Moisturize day and night. This has helped me so much. I don’t even notice dry skin anymore. Also, stay hydrated. Drink lots of water."

• kha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2015

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I was suffering from acne due to my sensitive skin and severe summer heat. I tried my teenage acne cream in my late twenties, but I felt it was too mild to work on my much matured skin like now. Then one of my friends, who was a satisfied user of Retin-A, suggested I use Retin-A 0.05%. I started it in the winter to avoid over-sweating and heat of summer. I faced a little flaky skin. The first two weeks my acne broke out a little more than usual, but after that, the acne seemed to decrease. Whenever I felt too dry skin other than the acne-affected area, I used pure Vaseline. Now I am cured and my skin is glowing. I am continuing the use of Retin-A with my regular night cream for its anti-aging properties. And I am quite satisfied with this."

• sam...
• May 17, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I've dealt with moderate acne since I was roughly 12 years old. I've tried just about every acne treatment out there with no prevail. When I started my Retin-A (0.025) treatment 5 months ago, I became really discouraged by my skin's immediate discoloration, mostly red, and the flakiness it created. I came close a couple of times to giving up, especially when my skin wasn't clearing up and how sore I was some days from the continuous use. But this past month has been the turnaround. I feel I am finally out of the so-called 'purge,' and my skin is becoming clear and smooth like it has been in the past for short stints. The best advice I can give any user is to have patience. It's not an overnight fix, but the long-term results are worth it."

• 201...
• July 1, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I never, ever had an issue with acne in my life until I started working after college (I correlate it with the crazy stress at work). So, I started using 0.25% Retin-A about a year ago. A couple of months in, I wasn't seeing the results I wanted; still breaking out, skin flaking. I emailed my doctor and asked for the 0.5% strength... big mistake. I used that for about three months, and my skin could not tolerate it AT ALL. Regardless, I wasn't about to give up totally on Retin-A! So I went back to using the 0.25% and FINALLY got the results I've expected all along. I always get comments now on how clear and 'fresh' my skin looks. Retin-A (especially with clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide cream) was a miracle for my skin. No pimples... ever!"

• 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."

• Tam...
• October 9, 2016

For Photoaging of the Skin "I heard a lot of people trying this for acne and breaking out, so I was apprehensive. I don't have acne anymore... I used to have perioral dermatitis (acne around the mouth), which I got antibiotics for, and it's now gone, but my problem is aging and damage to my skin from the sun because I used department store serums (Lancôme Primordial Intense) outside, which gave me a precancerous mole and a red spot and faintly dark patch on my cheek. After just two nights of use, my skin looks noticeably better. It is not greasy, it feels more like putting hand sanitizer on your face, like there's alcohol in the gel. It dries quickly and can make your skin dry, so use sunflower, rosehip, or a natural non-pore clogging oil to clean and moisturize your face."

• nur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2014

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Retin-A truly did a 360 on my skin. I have mild to moderate breakouts with terrible hormonal flare-ups. Hence, when I first tried Retin-A over a year ago, it only worked for a short while, and then I discovered I was expecting and had to stop using it. Glowing during pregnancy led to the return of the bumps around my chin and forehead postpartum. Now I'm back on 0.025% and am in love with my skin again. Smooth, healthy, and rosy looking even when that time comes. It started working immediately. I skip every third night to keep from over-drying and desensitizing. Good luck all."

• lgb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2020

For Photoaging of the Skin "I wanted to go on to share my experience. I started off with 0.025 and 0.05, and my skin did okay. Had some initial flakiness, but moisturizer helped, and it eventually improved. My dermatologist upped me to 0.1%, and things took a turn for the worse. About two weeks after I began using it, my skin got really red and itchy, and I developed diarrhea, which turned bloody. I had to go to the ER, thinking I had something terrible wrong, and it turned out that the high dosage (0.1%) of tretinoin was the culprit. Once I got off it, my GI symptoms went away, and the redness of my skin went away. So proceed with caution. The lower dosage of 0.05% did improve the appearance of my skin."

• Tas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2019

For Photoaging of the Skin "I started using this for acne and sun damage. I had acne along my jaw that would not go. Tried everything, but spots were forming and taking weeks to go down, and then another 2 would appear, and so on! I had slight peeling the first 2 weeks of using tretinoin, and my skin was very dry. But the key is to start very slowly! Twice a week for the first 2 months, and then at 3 months, I began to use it every night whilst leaving one day a week where I did not use it. For minimum side effects and dodging the ‘purging’ stage, you need to build it up slowly, your skin needs to adjust to it and use a small amount. 5 months in, and acne had cleared up. The sun damage is taking longer, but overall, my skin is looking smoother, and any spots that appear go within a few days! Crazy expensive though-but worth it!"

• Sil...
• January 28, 2016

For Acne "I am 30 years old, and my acne and skin had gotten bad in the last year. My skin felt gross and clogged. I went to a dermatologist for the first time in Dec. of 2015, and he prescribed me Tretinoin .05. I did a ton of research on it first. I began using the cream little by little. First, a couple of times a week. Then 3, now I'm up to 4x a week. This helped so that my skin didn't freak out. Also, start with a small amount, don't use it like a moisturizer, and apply it only to dry skin, so wait 10 min. after washing your face. Anyways, it's only been a month, but my skin is doing so much better. No breakouts. My skin feels soft, no little bumps. I haven't experienced bad side effects, only some dry skin, but I've been very careful."

• Yan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2013

For Acne "I had severe acne since 5th grade and I am in my early 20s, now still having trouble with acne. I went to the dermatologist back in April, and I told him that I had tried everything, so he prescribed me tretinoin cream 0.05%. I didn't break out more or have any other side effects that the other people were saying about, but I do have sensitive skin. The first 3 months were like a roller coaster. The acne went away, then it came back, and so on. When the 4th month came in, all my acne disappeared! I was so happy that I stuck with it, and you should too. It may take a while, but it truly works. I have tried everything from pills to creams, and this is the only one that works! Oh, and your face does get dry, and always remember to put sunscreen on in the morning."

• new...
• January 29, 2021

For Acne "I've been on tretinoin for 1 year and four months now, and I am SO pleased with my skin. I wanted to comment on this for whoever is going through these reviews and needs reassurance. This WORKED for me. I had awful acne on my forehead, and my derm recommended I use tretinoin at night and adapalene in the morning. It took four to six months of purging for my skin to slowly improve. My skin was the worst I've ever seen at months 4 to 5, but since then it's only gotten better! Some tips: 1) Use CeraVe moisturizing cream and apply it to your face BEFORE tretinoin. Leave your moisturizer on for at least 30 minutes before applying the medication. 2) Don't over-exfoliate your face, and don't wax your face! You could tear off skin. 3) Only use a pea-sized amount each time. Any more, and you'll just dry out your skin and purge even more. It will get better. Trust the process and know you're not alone on this skincare journey."

• fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2015

For Acne "I am 31 years old and have suffered from acne since I was 13 years old. It's not horrible, but it was bad enough to give me low self-esteem/confidence, make me feel depressed, and not want to go out on bad flare-up days, etc. As an adult, I still get pimples and would usually wake up every morning with a new (or three new) comedones on my face, so frustrating! I found that using more natural skin products/makeup helped some but not enough. I've been on tretinoin cream 0.025% for three weeks, and my skin already looks amazing! At first, I broke out badly for a week and a half and had dry skin, but then I read that's normal and to stick with it. Three weeks in, clear skin, scars are disappearing, and overall my complexion is so much better. Finally! Stick with it!"

• 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."

• ACa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2018

For Acne "I'd been struggling with my acne for 8 years, and this is the only medicine that has helped me. I use it with Clindamycin topical lotion, and I use Tretinoin .025% every 3 days, and .1% for the rest of the time. It completely cleared up my face. It might make your skin dry, like mine, but it is completely worth it - I use hydrating face masks, and it takes away the dryness. It took me a few days to start seeing results, but it's different for everyone. Give it time, and make sure you're seeing your dermatologist because he or she might prescribe you a stronger Tretinoin like in my case if needed."

• 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."

• Jes...
• December 20, 2014

For Acne "My doctor says I have mild acne, but I would say I have more moderate to severe acne. I was prescribed this product and have been using it for about a week. This product has dried out my skin insanely and has made my face incredibly red. My skin has also begun to flare up since using it. After reading the reviews, I am going to stay patient and hope for the best with this product."