Tretinoin topical and Dryness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sar...
• January 8, 2016

For Photoaging of the Skin "It is effective on both aging and acne, but I used it so long I think I built up a tolerance of sorts. I switch it up with Tazorac to keep my skin guessing. I like the cream better in the winter (less drying) and the gel better in the summer (when my skin gets oily)."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2015

For Acne "I started tretinoin 0.05% 6 weeks ago every other night. I applied right after washing my face. Big mistake. Very red with lots of peeling. My second mistake was to rub the skin off when it was softened in the shower. While skin felt smooth instantly, there was painful stinging the minute I tried to moisturize. I had to wash it off. Since then, I've started waiting 30 minutes before applying, and I definitely don't rub it off in the shower. I'm still just at twice a week and having dry, flaky skin within two days of applying-makeup looks awful. So I went to a derm who is also the owner of a med spa. She explained the difference between hydration vs. moisturizers and put me on hydration serums. So much better!"

• Kay...
• April 7, 2016

For Acne "So I started using the Retin-A cream 0.5% about 2 months ago. I started off with mild acne. After day 1 of using the product, my skin became worse. I cannot hide it all. I always have to go on here to read the reviews so I can stay positive about it working. I also use Cetaphil as my general face cleanser and Cetaphil moisturizer to combat dryness. Has anyone else had their acne seem really bad using this product but then clear up at some point?"

• It...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2015

For Acne "As someone who's had moderate-severe acne for 8 years and tried just about every typical prescription for acne, I was finally put on tretinoin combined with antibiotics. It's caused a lot of dryness and peeling, which was to be expected. I know that this medication is supposed to take a long time to see the positive results, but 3 and a half months in, I still haven't seen too much improvement. It actually smoothed out my forehead a lot, which I'm glad to see, but in contrast, the sides of my cheeks (which weren't my problem areas) have broken out into small, rough bumps for many months now. And my chin, which was full of painful, deep cystic pimples, has not changed at all. It was worth a shot, but I think it's just not for me..."

• 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."

• App...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2021

For Acne "I’ve been using this cream for 6 weeks now, and my skin looks the worst it’s ever looked. I cry every single day when I look at myself in the mirror because I wake up and 6 more whiteheads are on my face. I used to use Epiduo, and it worked so well for me, but it was too drying. This product feels too weak and feels like it only makes my skin worse. I’m going back to the doctor to see what else I can use :("

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2016

For Acne "When my dermatologist first gave me the cream and I began using it, my acne cleared up and I had great skin. But once I kept using it on my breakouts, I noticed them becoming worse and worse. My skin became so dry, red, puffy, and peely that there was nothing to do, I felt helpless. I couldn't even apply my moisturizer because it made my skin burn. But my derm assured me it was part of the process. Come to find out, I was actually getting minor chemical burns, which currently cover my entire chin and under my nose area. In the beginning, I thought this cream was my savior and my ticket to clear skin, but now my skin is worse than ever, and I regret ever using it."

• 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! :("

• 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."

• 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."

• My...
• March 25, 2021

For Acne "After just one week off of oral isotretinoin (Epuris), my skin started getting small, tiny bumps along the hairline and then gradually started moving to the rest of my face. At two months post-isotretinoin, I was terrified of my before skin returning and asked my derm for help. He gave me Aklief, 0.025% tretinoin... because of my age (37), he said it works for wrinkles too. How excited I was to start! I have read every single blog and post there is on how to correctly apply tretinoin. I was given one of the lowest doses, and after 5 months, my skin is dry, red, flaky, and the worst part... my acne is as bad as before my 8 months of oral isotretinoin. I’ve never felt so defeated. I would take red, dry, flaking, painful skin if I had no acne - but it’s continuing to get worse and I’ve given it WELL over the 6-12 week trial. I am done. Tretinoin is not for me. I will be begging my derm to put me back on oral isotretinoin, the magic pill."

• 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."

• 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."

• Ski...
• August 25, 2016

For Acne "I was put on this cream for some hormonal acne around my chin and forehead area. I tried this cream first a few years ago, with absolutely no result. I went to another dermatologist who prescribed it again. I decided to give it another try, but I had the same result. I read other reviews that said to be patient and keep going with it, so I have tried this cream for several years with no result at all. I had no side effects except for some dryness, but it also didn't affect my acne at all."

• Shi...
• July 31, 2016

For Acne "4 weeks of using tretinoin 0.025%: it has been a hell of a journey. I have had severe breakouts, peeling, and dryness. In the 3rd week, I got dark pigmentation all around my lips and further above the lips area. Completely disfigured my face. Probably feels like I permanently spoiled my face. So confused as to continue or discontinue as I haven't seen any results, and it has just worsened everything. #depressed"

• Tig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2016

For Acne "I have more acne as an adult than I had in my teenage years. I'm now 43. It's all on the lower quarter of my face. It is awful. More like cystic acne. I cannot take antibiotics for acne due to my health issues. My dermatologist has tried it all. I find it very drying. And the acne is not getting better. I've been on it a few months now, and I've had it. I don't like anyone seeing me. This isn't working for me. So disappointing."