Tretinoin topical and Peeling: What Users Say

• DDF...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 30, 2018

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I am a 72-year-old woman who has been using Retin-A for thirty-four years. I started using it because I had adult acne at the same time my teenage son had acne. I routinely am mistaken for being twenty years younger than I am. I have very few wrinkles. My skin still has dry patches occasionally but they are short-lived. I have tried to get several people to use it, but they always get discouraged with the redness and peeling in the beginning. This phase does not last forever. Please continue to use it, you will never be sorry."

• 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."

• Nii...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2020

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Okay, been on Retin-A since early November. Prescribed by my primary care physician prior to seeing a dermatologist. When I first began, I started using the gel two times a week. Making sure to always wash off in the morning and use sunscreen throughout the day. I was afraid of the purging period which THANK GOD, I never had. It almost felt like the medication wasn't working. I had no burning or stinging sensations, just minor peeling, which was not bad AT ALL. This could be because I am on the lowest dosage (0.025). I upped my usage to three times a week and kept using it despite feeling like anything was working. Fast forward to today, three months later, and my skin is sooooooo smooth. I still have fading dark marks, but they are significantly lighter. I have ZERO ACTIVE ACNE bumps. Smooth skin and very shiny. I am a 25 y/o African American female, and THIS PRODUCT IS GREAT. Patience is KEY!!!!"

• Dee...
• August 18, 2015

For Photoaging of the Skin "Not only is this medication great for anti-aging purposes but is also great for a condition called milia. Not many people know of it but it's a lot different than acne. It's trapped dead skin cells under your skin that form what looks like a whitehead only you can't pop it. To get rid of them, you need to exfoliate a lot. This cream just speeds up the process. So not only do you get rid of pesky little white bumps on your face but you get the anti-aging benefits too. And yes, it does take a while for your skin to adjust. Dryness and peeling and flaking occur for a while after you start treatment, but if you truly want it to work, you have to be patient and let the cream do its job."

• Dee...
• August 18, 2015

For Photoaging of the Skin "Not only is this medication great for anti-aging purposes but is also great for a condition called milia. Not many people know of it but it's a lot different than acne. It's trapped dead skin cells under your skin that form what looks like a whitehead only you can't pop it. To get rid of them, you need to exfoliate a lot. This cream just speeds up the process. So not only do you get rid of pesky little white bumps on your face but you get the anti-aging benefits too. And yes, it does take a while for your skin to adjust. Dryness and peeling and flaking occur for a while after you start treatment, but if you truly want it to work, you have to be patient and let the cream do its job."

• 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."

• Jos...
• December 29, 2013

Tretinoin topical for Acne "So, about five months ago, I asked my esthetician for some Retin-A (tretinoin) cream, and she gave me the 1% concentration. I had moderate acne when I was younger, but I didn't leave it alone. Haha. I picked at it, and so I have some 'mild' (Or so I'm told - I think it's terrible!) scarring now, even though my acne went away with age. I'm 25 now. Acne went away at about 19. Some are pockmarks, and others just discoloration and a little uneven texture. I jumped straight to everyday use. Expected irritation and redness, but none came. My (sensitive) skin handled it awesomely. Product works great. Skin peels off every morning. Haha. Scars are fading nicely. Pockmarks much less depressed. I get compliments on my skin now!"

• Pea...
• October 11, 2019

Tretinoin topical for Acne "This medication, Retin-A, has been a life changer for me. I was at an appointment, and I was complaining about hormonal acne flares before my period. My doctor started telling me about what Retin-A had done for her hormonal acne. She has flawless skin! She said, on top of clearing up those breakouts, it would help with the aging I was starting to see. I've been on this for two months now, and wow, the results are amazing! I have zero breakouts, and the fine lines and pores are shrinking. I will leave the house without makeup now. My complexion is glowing and even! My uneven skin and breakouts were a big source of embarrassment for me. I did have peeling, but this was expected. I also had worsening of acne for a few weeks as my skin purged what was already building in the pores. I pushed through, and I am so glad I did. When the dryness flares, I skip a night of Retin-A and use a heavier moisturizer. I also use an oil-free moisturizer every morning."

• Col...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2014

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I'm a young woman in my early twenties with moderate acne. If you're just starting Retin-A, STICK WITH IT. I started using Retin-A (0.01%) every night in December of 2013. I was very frustrated because my acne became worse for about 2 months. However, I stuck with it and by July 2014, my acne had noticeably decreased. It is now October 2014, and I've been getting compliments on how great my skin looks! For the first time in years, I don't feel like I have to wear liquid foundation to cover up my acne. If you experience flaking, remember that moisturization is key if you're using Retin-A!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2020

For Photoaging of the Skin "I have almost a year since I am using Retin-A, and let me tell you that at the beginning, it's rough. When you just begin using it, start with 0.025%, and once in 3 days, after 2-3 weeks, do it once in 2 days, and always watch your skin, how does it feel. If it's okay, after about a month, you can use it every night. If you peel like a snake - YES, if it might feel like burning or sensitive - YES. But don't give up, I promise it is worth it. It's not going to pay off instantly, but in time you will see an improvement in your skin. Remember to use SPF on your face every day, because Retin-A peels off the first layer of your skin, and it's very delicate. Put your moisturizer at night, after applying Retin-A, and in the morning before SPF. After about 7 months, I switched to 0.05. My skin is glowing. And everyone thinks I'm 21, but I'm 31. I swear it's WORTH IT."

• 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."

• FAC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2015

For Acne "This stuff is amazing. Not only for acne and acne scars, but for its anti-aging benefits too. I experience moderate hormonal acne breakouts on my chin/jaw area. While tretinoin doesn't exactly stop my breakouts completely, it helps control my skin when I do have a breakout. I feel any pimples clear up and heal much quicker, and any spotty discoloration that occurs after spots heal disappears much quicker. This stuff has especially done wonders for fine lines around my eyes and between my brows. My skin tone is more even, pores are smaller, and the condition of my skin/complexion is far nicer. My skin peeled a lot during the first few weeks - use once every few nights until your skin adjusts. I use nightly now with no problems."

• AAG...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 6, 2014

Tretinoin topical for Acne "10 MONTH RETIN-A USER: In the beginning of summer 2013, I had the worst breakout ever! My forehead was full of pimples. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I went to see my doctor, and he prescribed me Retin-A. It says to apply it every day overnight after washing your face. So I applied it every night, and the first three weeks my acne was okay. By the second month, I had another mild breakout, but by the third month, it began to calm down again. By the fourth month, the skin around my nose started to peel, and it was very itchy. Because of this, I applied alcohol-free/fragrance-free lotion, and my skin got better. By the sixth month, my acne was under control! I only had a couple of pimples here and there. But the product works wonders! It just takes patience!"

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2009

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Never had acne but started breaking out in my mid-20s. I was put on Benzaclin, which helped heal faster but wasn't really preventing anything. I was really hesitant to go on any tretinoin cream because of the dreaded 'it gets worse before it gets better'. My dermatologist insisted this gel is very gentle, and most people actually don't have an initial breakout from this. I trusted him and decided to start using it. It was the best decision I made. I never had an initial breakout, only some peeling for the first few weeks until my skin got used to it. I have been on it for 5 months now and probably only have had one or two pimples since then, and they go away within a day or two now."

• spe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2013

For Acne "A ton of reviews consisted of people saying this product just dried their skin out and made them break out way worse. In those reviews most of them also stated they started using this cream every other day from the start. Don't! I have not had the same experience. My dermatologist told me to start by using this cream once a week for the first two weeks and then gradually increase up to every other day if needed. I started this cream 3 weeks ago using it once a week for two weeks and now have started using it twice a week. I haven't had peeling, burning, or redness, and I've actually seen my acne improve already! I will use it twice a week for another 2 weeks and then use it 3 times a week. It appears better to think long term, not a quick fix."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2018

For Photoaging of the Skin "I’m 68 and have used Tretinoin for four months. The first 2-3 weeks of use, my skin did peel and burn. After putting this product on at night, I use an oil serum and a night moisturizer. It helps to soothe my skin. I love this product, and I get so many compliments on my smooth and younger-looking skin. If you’re getting your face waxed, don’t use this 1-2 days before. My skin burned. I use daily moisturizer and sunscreen daily over Tretinoin."

• san...
• November 26, 2013

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I started getting small bumps (not exactly pimples, but should be taken care of immediately, else, it would grow into pimples later) on my forehead and chin areas. It started to spread to my cheeks too. I first started using Retin-A cream. Initially, I had lots of new breakouts, but didn't give up my patience. New breakouts started to fade out on continuous application at only nights after cleansing with Episoft lotion. After a month I started applying Retin-A, my skin texture, pimple marks, and uneven skin tone have improved drastically. The only thing is to use this product only at night after proper cleansing. Initially, this will cause skin peeling and irritation."

• Car...
• August 9, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I've been using Retin-A for about a week now. If you have oily skin or experience breakouts every morning like me, I would definitely recommend this. I use the .01% dosage recommended by my doctor. They told me I may experience peeling of the skin. My skin has peeled in some spots, but it's not very noticeable. I removed the peeled skin by using baking soda and water (great exfoliant!). Skin varies by person. I've given up on every acne regimen and decided to see my doctor. I swear by this stuff. All my acne scars are fading, and my skin has become significantly smoother."

• Csc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2018

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I am in awe of how well this product works! I’ve been on it for 1 week, and my skin is so clear I don’t believe it’s possible! I’ve struggled with acne since I was 12 (I am now a 21-year-old female), and I’ve tried just about everything, including Accutane, but nothing made a big difference. My acne has ranged from moderate to severe. My biggest struggle was the texture-my face was covered in tiny bumps and clogged pores. My derm now put me on .08%. Not only are the pimples gone after a week, but my whiteheads and blackheads have disappeared almost like magic. There is dryness and peeling, which I’m hoping will go away over time, but I’m fine with it because it’s left me with fresh, new skin. I highly, highly recommend this product!"

• 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."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2020

For Acne "The first few weeks, you feel like giving up. Made my skin look very shiny in a weird way, peeling was hard to cover, and the initial purge sucked. That said, like everyone has mentioned on here, it gets better. The purge is cleaning you out, so keep this perspective. I did not feel good about my skin during that time, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. I'm now at week 9 and have 3-4 pimples on my face, skin is super smooth and looks really glowy. Every day keeps getting better. I'm still peeling on and off, but it's less than it used to be. Just ease in slowly so you don't get crazy red or peely. I did about 2-3 a week to start and now at 4x a week. Love that this gets rid of hyperpigmentation quickly."

• man...
• October 31, 2008

Tretinoin topical for Acne "This medication is extremely effective when used properly. I developed whiteheads on my cheeks and had rather large pores on my nose with blackheads. I have been using the medication for a total of six months now. Initially, I had some redness, moderate peeling, and some slight burning right after applying the medication. After about three weeks, the side effects subsided, and I started to notice my skin clearing, pore size minimizing, and an overall evening of complexion. I used Phisoderm Deep Cleansing face wash morning and night and then used Neutrogena Oil-free moisturizer with SPF 15 in the morning. My face is very oily, so I did not experience much dryness."

• Sea...
• September 8, 2015

Tretinoin topical for Acne "My skin was at its worst in my prime adulthood age, so I decided to try Retin-A. I've been using the 0.025% Retin-A gel for 2 months now. I didn't have the initial 'purge' that most talk about, however, I believe it's because I was prescribed the gel vs. cream. Anyways, I overdid it the first week by not following doctor's orders and applying daily right off the bat. Don't, haha. My skin got so dry and flaky that I even burned my chin on my bed while sleeping from my skin being so thin. After that initial scare, I followed my doctor's instructions and gradually worked up to every night use. Best skin in years. Try it, it works! Just don't forget to moisturize a lot. Sunscreen when you go out! Don't overdo it like I did."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2015

For Acne "I have been using tretinoin 1% for 2 weeks now, acne-prone skin applying only at night with my favorite night cream. Yes, my face peeled a lot only for a few days till my skin got used to it, but might I say, oooh my gosh, what a difference! Be patient, it really works. Keep applying your favorite cream in between to keep skin moist. Peeling will stop after the first few days, my skin peeled so much but loved the results. Remember, peeling skin means new, healthy skin!"

• 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."