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

• Fin...
• February 5, 2016

For Acne "Had severe chronic acne for almost a decade. Despite my struggle, I stayed away from Retin-A and tretinoin because of reviews stating the horrible peeling, redness, and eventual ineffectiveness. Luckily, a year ago I came across a heaven-sent dermatologist who understood this product and gave me specific care instructions, not just 'here, put this on your face, good luck.' Because of the severity of my acne, I didn't see real results until 6 months in (most people see dramatic changes at 3 months). The months leading up to being clear were tough. I broke out WAY MORE than ever before. However, at month 6, people started complimenting my skin. And now at month 9, even the texture of my skin is firmer and more youthful (mine was adult acne)."

• Col...
• January 26, 2016

For Acne "This worked fantastically for me. I had really bad acne. I put it on every day at bedtime, and now my face is like brand new-no more acne or scars, my skin is like baby skin now. But you have to stick it out, it takes time for it to start working. You have to use it every day, and after about 3 months, you will start to see a big difference, and after 6 months to a year, you will not believe your eyes. You will go through the burning, redness, and a lot of peeling in the first few months, but that's the signs of showing that it's working. After a few months, your skin will adapt, it did for me. I also used a skin moisturizer in the mornings to give my skin some relief before I went to work. I can't stress it enough that you have to STICK IT OUT."

• Ash...
• January 12, 2016

For Acne "I've dealt with mild hormonal acne for the last 3 years. I've tried everything, but nothing seemed to prevent my breakouts. My doctor prescribed tretinoin cream, and after doing some online research, I was terrified of 'purging.' Within a week of use, I could tell that it was working. I had minimal redness and peeling. This drug has improved the overall tone of my skin also. It's been 3 months now, and I haven't had any purging. This stuff is seriously amazing. My skin looks better than it has in years."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Gri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2015

For Acne "I've been using tretinoin in the 0.1 gel form for almost 2 years, and let me tell you, it is possibly the best skin product you will ever own. The beginning is hard, naturally, the skin needs time to adjust, so for the first few months of treatment, you will experience a lot of redness, patchiness, and obviously, flaking, and you may also experience periods of very ugly breakouts if you have many clogged pores hiding under the surface, as the retin A will exfoliate the skin and slowly 'activate' your pores to enable them to unclog without the need for manual extraction and without scarring. The key with retin A is patience, SPF, and lots of moisturizing. Do not quit before your skin gets better, and resist the temptation to extract acne yourself. Good luck."

• zay...
• March 4, 2015

For Acne "I have been taking tretinoin for a month and couldn't be happier with the results I've seen in just a month. I would recommend it to anybody. Went to the doctor on 3-2-15 for a check-up, and I got five refills on it, so I can't wait to see the six-month results. Very pleased with it, besides the flaking and burning I get on my face. I also got a face buffer to take off all the dead flaky skin every morning."

• Tre...
• November 7, 2014

For Acne "I've been using tretinoin cream 0.05% for one month now. I've had a lot of itching, burning, peeling, and yes, a whole lot more breaking out. I bear the pain and suffering from this medicine, and I'm very happy I did because my face is looking so much better, and my acne is clearing up. I use it only at night, 20 minutes after washing my face with CeraVe face wash, along with CeraVe SA lotion in the morning as my moisturizer, and I have to say it's working very well. If you are using tretinoin and you're getting more breakouts, do not discontinue this medication, keep on using it, you will get great results."

• Dre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2014

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I have never written a review about a product until now! I'm a 34-year-old female, and I started getting chin acne in my late twenties. Nothing helped, I tried everything from Proactiv to Tretinoin to antibiotics! About 4 months ago, my dermatologist put me on Atralin, and oh my, what a difference in 4 months! I even go without makeup now! I never get a pimple now, it's wonderful, and it makes my skin look dewy and hydrated, not dried out and flaky as with the Tretinoin I tried. Highly recommend Atralin!"

• 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!"

• 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!"

• Pia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2013

For Acne "I've had pretty bad acne since I was 12, now I am 18 years old. I would usually get it between my eyebrows, cheeks, jawline, and chin. My nose and forehead have always been clear, just a few blackheads on my nose but never bumps. I have tried so many things, I was prescribed antibiotics first, and it didn't do anything because they were not bacterial. I started using tretinoin cream 0.025% for only one week, and my skin is better than ever. I had surface scars, not deep ones, and they are already lighter. Also, the acne that was present has gotten a lot smaller and lighter, and I have not gotten any new bumps in a week! I usually have a couple of new ones every morning. I have also not had any irritation or peeling."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• October 6, 2011

For Acne "I have had acne since I was about 12 years old. I am now 50. I have tried all acne medications out there. I am now using Doxycycline (oral antibiotic) twice a day, Clindamycin phosphate in the morning, and tretinoin at night. For the first time in my life, my face is as smooth as porcelain. Hope never to stop using this combination of medicines. No breakouts, peeling, or irritation. Please just try and see for yourself."

• 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."

• Qan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 10, 2021

For Acne "The first couple of months on tretinoin were a little rough as my skin was adjusting to it - dryness, flaking, and redness, but that was expected. Definitely get your hands on a good moisturizer and consider using something like Aquaphor as a top layer at night. I started by applying every 3 nights, then every 2, etc., and I now apply daily, just taking a day off every other week or so when I feel my skin getting dry. Before I started, I had about 15-20 active acne spots at any one time and I now usually have 0-3! I haven't had this clear of skin in years. I have a lot of red scarring from old acne (I'm quite pale), but that is gradually fading. Overall, the best decision I've made for my skin and hoping to continue seeing progress!"

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2020

For Photoaging of the Skin "33 y/o male here. I've been using tretinoin 0.05% for just over a month now. I have yet to have any negative side effects I've read about from others; this had me wondering if Walgreens gave me a fake Rx, haha. I haven't had any peeling, sensitivity, or any type of reaction. Fingers crossed. That being said, I have been using it every night by itself and then moisturizing in the a.m. and putting on Strivectin's clear sunblock every day before I go out. I'm hoping I won't have any purge as I've gone this long without any negative side effects. I can't help but wonder if the fact I follow a keto diet and take supplements keeps the purge at bay. Perhaps many people have a bad or prolonged purge due to their diet? Try it and see if a change helps since we know sugar induces AGEs (Advanced Glycation End products affecting collagen)!"

• 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."

• 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!!!!"

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2019

For Acne "I got prescribed tretinoin by my dermatologist when I was 15, and I had mild, normal acne. The side effects were so bad, but by continuous usage, it got better. I used it for about 6 months and stopped. My acne came back even worse, my face was covered with comedonal acne. I tried benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and so many different face washes, etc., it never helped. Then I decided to give tretinoin another try for 6 months, and it made wonders. It even faded my scars so amazingly. I'm still using it, but I don't have those side effects-just a minor peeling, but no problem. Tretinoin = amazing skin (mild acne)."

• 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."

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2018

For Acne "I started using this for adult acne. But I've been on it a little over one month. Noticing a persistent age spot has most definitely started to fade. I did not experience any purging or worsening of acne, as I was warned. It does take the oils out of your skin. The places that were on my face when I started have all gone. The extra benefits of clearing up my face are wonderful. The first couple of weeks, my skin was really peeling. Now my skin seems to have adjusted. I always use the cream at night, then moisturizer + sunscreen every day outside to keep the results I’m getting. Oh, and remember don’t put Retin A on your damp face, for some reason, it’s so much worse on peeling and itching if you do. I am using a very small amount, like the size of a pea. Overall, I’m very pleased and plan to continue."

• Bam...
• May 30, 2017

For Acne "It dries up acne faster than any medication I have used before, but you have to use cream to moisturize your skin, cause it starts to peel where the acne is! Quick and effective."