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

• 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."

• nik...
• March 22, 2013

For Acne "I've suffered with moderate acne since I was 13 and tried everything, right down to home remedies, and nothing seemed to work until I was prescribed tretinoin 0.1 cream along with minocycline. But the cream did leave a residue on my face that would peel in the shower and left flakiness along with redness at first. But after a few weeks, your skin looks brand new, and all the unevenness goes away, and your skin just overall looks healthy. Aveeno lotion helps with the dryness! Highly recommend it!"

• Kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2019

For Acne "I really like tretinoin. I wouldn't necessarily call it a 'miracle' drug because I can credit other skin treatments for clearing my acne (like birth control pills and the drug Doxycycline), but it has been great. I've been on it since I first started going to the dermatologist in my early teens, which now is about 4-5 years ago, so I've been using it for 4-5 years. Tretinoin has been my way of keeping my skin at bay while other things in my life may be keeping it from staying acne-free, like if I switch birth control pills or if I forget to wash my face. I use 0.05% and I use it once a day at night accompanied by a moisturizer. It's worked for me. It takes a while to see results (maybe even 6 months to a year), but it DOES work, and also helps improve redness and/or scarring. Try this out-it may work for you."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2017

For Acne "I started tretinoin 0.05% almost 2 months ago, and my experience has been complicated and confusing. When I first started the cream, my skin immediately got sensitive to it, red splotches on my cheeks and chin (wasn't putting it there), and it dried them out a lot too. But after a couple of brutal weeks, my forehead and nose cleared up entirely, and the redness/dryness calmed down, and I was getting really excited. But, unfortunately, my period came, and my skin had a HORRIBLE breakout. My entire forehead was covered in bumps, and beside my nose, I got little bumps as well. Now, about a month later, my skin is clearing up somewhat, but still, I'm not sure what's in store for me. I'm hopeful for this product because I've heard many wonderful things!"

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2016

For Acne "I am 28 years old. I have always suffered from acne since I was in middle school. My pores are clogged, they just look like bumps on my face. My dermatologist prescribed me tretinoin 0.025 cream and phloretin. I have sensitive skin, so I use the tretinoin every third night and the phloretin every morning. I am on week 9, and I have noticed changes for the better. I am experiencing redness and dry patches, but it's tolerable. I do have breakouts in different spots than where I usually do. But my skin is clearing up. I am also getting compliments on my skin. I have now been using it every night because my doctor said 0.025 is a low dosage. It's definitely worth it to stick it out. Looking forward to the next couple of months."

• 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."

• had...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2018

For Acne "I'm a teen, and I started using the gel form of tretinoin (0.04%) just about a month ago to help with acne. I have oily/combination skin. At first, I used it every other night for 2 weeks, as my doctor told me to, and after 2 weeks I began to use it nightly. Towards the beginning, I didn't notice any flakiness/redness, but my acne did get worse, mostly around my nose and mouth. This lasted for about 5 days before it started to clear up, and I haven't had a problem since. I still get minor breakouts, but I'm hoping they will go away the longer I use tretinoin. It made my skin noticeably clearer and smooth, along with helping the brightness! I would highly suggest the gel form as it's helped me a ton, and I even have sensitive skin. It hasn't really helped with my oily skin, but I'm thinking that it's likely my moisturizer."

• May...
• November 19, 2017

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I’m 49, with hereditary cystic acne with a hormonal component. I’ve tried everything with various degrees of success for a limited time. Birth control pills; Accutane; Minocycline, which helped but caused teeth discoloration! Topical washes, BP, Proactiv—everything limited. Blue light therapy seems to help but caused hyperpigmentation for me. My sister recommended 0.04% micro gel, which I have been using for about 3 weeks. Redness and bumps ensued but didn’t know to wait the 20 minutes to apply after washing! Also using 302 (brand) for inflammatory skin, which is helping (recommend). My skin is still breaking out but healing way faster with some peeling, but pitting is improving! I’m hopeful at last. Definitely, the cystic pain is better. Clarisonic at PM helps."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2016

For Acne "RETIN-A 0.025 cream/female - New update...currently on my 8th week now, and results aren't so well. Lately, my acne on my forehead has been appearing again, but now they are small and come in large numbers. My cheeks are still pretty smooth, but acne has been appearing on my left cheek. My cheeks are very red right now because of the acne scarring. I guess this week is another purging week, so that sucks. Anyways, will keep updating."

• An0...
• July 21, 2016

Tretinoin topical for Acne "(Female/moderate acne) I have suffered from acne since I was 12. This summer has been the worst for my face. I have acne all over my forehead and my cheeks. In the beginning of the summer, I had small, tiny bumps all over my forehead and my cheeks that later became bigger. I've used many, many products on my face that worked quite a bit to not working at all. Then, in the beginning of July, I started using Retin-A 0.025 cream. The first week showed great results on my forehead, my forehead is now clear, but my cheeks became worse. This second week that I am currently in is what I guess is the purge, my cheeks are entirely red and covered in acne. I don't want to go outside, and my cheeks really hurt. Will keep updating. Not losing hope."

• Nay...
• July 17, 2015

For Acne "I am 16 years old, and I am a junior in high school. I started using the acne cream in 9th grade, but I stopped over the summer and was on and off during my 10th-grade year (I just lost track). But my overall experience is great. I love it. My only problem is that after a couple of days, my chest gets sort of like a rash, and it turns really red and hurts. And my face gets painfully irritated. But I have made an appointment to follow up with my dermatologist, so yeah. But overall, it's a really great cream."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2010

Tretinoin topical for Acne "I am a 15-year-old female experiencing acne from puberty. I was prescribed the medication by my dermatologist. I am also using Acanya in the morning with Neutrogena SPF. In addition, I am moisturizing with Cetaphil. At first, I noticed the treatment was working well besides mild stinging and redness, but after three weeks, I am now having an increase in whiteheads in areas I have never had any problems with, like my cheeks and chin. The acne seems to be small fine bumps that are deep under my skin - I believe these are called closed comedones. Hopefully, this is just the initial breakout."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2015

Tretinoin topical for Acne "Well, I started using Retin-A cream .25 about a month and 3 weeks ago. I started by using it every 3 days for one month and then using it every other day. My face has gotten red, and my acne scars seem to be more noticeable, but around my eyes are really white, so you can imagine how I look. Well, I'm not sure if this is part of the process. I'm going to stick with it one more month and see what happens. I use CeraVe PM moisturizer after applying, and yes, I use a moisturizer with SPF 50 during the day that is a Cetaphil product. So I really hope this is just a phase I'm going through. I'll update in a month."

• 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."

• Cca...
• December 3, 2015

For Acne "I've been using this for almost 3 months, and some advice I would give you: keep your face moisturized! When using this, since Retin-A is an acid, I don't know what I did wrong, but I got an acid burn, so my face was like really, really red all the time, and it just felt weird. So I use it every other day now and just keep your face moisturized."

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2017

For Acne "Currently approaching the 6th week. Started off with .05 and moved down to .025. After week four, I thought things were clearing up, and then week five, I got another inflammatory breakout. I only use it on my forehead. Discouraging. No improvement from the start and more red marks than when I started."

• 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."

• 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."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2016

For Acne "So I just recently got done being on Accutane for six months. My derm told me to start applying tretinoin cream (0.05%) onto my face every night. I'm three weeks post-Accutane/into using the tretinoin, and it has been awful. I thought after Accutane I wouldn't break out hardly at all. However, that's not even close to the truth. I've gotten at least two cystic bumps/pimples/red marks on my face PER DAY for the last TWO WEEKS. It's beginning to cover my face, and it is getting continually worse. I have never broken out this much in my entire life. I use a Cetaphil face wash and moisturizer. I really thought after six months of Accutane, my skin would finally be clear for the first time ever, but now it's simply worse than ever."

• 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."

• ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2018

For Acne "The gel is currently stuck on my skin. It has been for days now. Now my skin is more red due to trying to get the gel off."

• 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."