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Heather L. She has been in practice for over 20 years. Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Understanding how to use tretinoin will help you get the best results with fewer side effects. It's important to make sure you cover all your problem areas, but without using too much medication.
Apply lightly over your skin's problem areas and rub in gently. Tretinoin is effective but it can cause dryness, itchiness, redness, and other skin concerns. Using this medication as directed can help reduce your risk of these issues. This article walks you through how to use tretinoin and get the best results. It also explores exactly why tretinoin works and the possible side effects it can cause.
Tretinoin cream is commonly applied at night before bed. Follow these step-by-step instructions for how to use tretinoin cream:. When you first start using tretinoin, plan to apply it every other night or every third night. Skin flaking and irritation are usually the worst in the first two weeks, and this will allow your skin some time to adapt to the medicine. As it does, you can apply it more frequently, as directed.
Some additional things to know:. If you notice an increase in irritation or flaking, it's OK to take a break from using tretinoin for a couple of days. Just don't stop using it completely without consulting your healthcare provider.
Some people give up on tretinoin after a couple of days or weeks, assuming it didn't work. In actuality, their skin just needed time to adjust to the medication. Acne usually begins when a pore a hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin, bacteria, and oil. This causes a bump called a comedone. Tretinoin works by increasing the production and shedding of skin cells called cell turnoverwhich forces the plugged material out of the pore.
It also prevents the formation of new comedones. It's important to realize that tretinoin works well on blackheads and whiteheads, but it may take six to nine weeks of use to see a noticeable difference in acne.
This is a short wait compared to how long it takes to see a noticeable difference in wrinkles: at least six months. In fact, you'll get the greatest benefit from tretinoin if you use it for at least a year.
Side effects of tretinoin can occur in anyone, but are particularly common in those with sensitive skin. Possible side effects include:. Diligent use of a quality moisturizer may help you avoid or minimize some of these. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects. You may need to stop using tretinoin. Retin-A may negatively interact with other topical medications, especially those containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid.
To prevent dangerous interactions, make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medications—topical, oral, over-the-counter, and prescription—that you use.
As tretinoin makes skin more sensitive to the sun, it may not be a good choice for those who are already sun-sensitive for other reasons. Little tretinoin is absorbed into the bloodstream when you use it topically, so breastfeeding when using the medication is generally considered safe. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to use the medication if you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant.
They may advise you to hold off because too little is known about the effects of tretinoin on unborn babies. Tretinoin cream is the go-to choice for treating acne and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. But this is one treatment that requires patience. To see results from acne, it takes about six to nine weeks. For wrinkles, it takes at least six months to a year. Initially, the mediation can cause the skin to turn red and flake.
Take it slow, follow all of the instructions on how to use tretinoin properly, and speak to your prescriber if you have persistent side effects. Put tretinoin cream on freshly washed skin. Allow the medicine to soak into the skin for at least 20 minutes before applying moisturizer. No, tretinoin is a retinoid, not a steroid. A retinoid is a derivative of vitamin A.
Steroids are manmade hormones that mimic natural hormones in the body. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A, while tretinoin is synthetic form.
Tretinoin is stronger than retinol and is only available with a prescription. Retinol is milder and available over the counter. Cleveland Clinic. Tretinoin cream. J Drugs Dermatol. Mayo Clinic. Tretinoin topical route.
By Heather L. Brannon, MD Heather L. Skin Health. Brannon, MD. Learn about our editorial process. Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates.
Learn more. Leah Ansell, MD. Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD. Learn about our Medical Expert Board. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. How It Works. What It Does. Side Effects. Frequently Asked Questions. Don't Give Up If you notice an increase in irritation or flaking, it's OK to take a break from using tretinoin for a couple of days.
Frequently Asked Questions Do you put tretinoin on before or after moisturizer? Do I need to wash tretinoin off in the morning? Yes, tretinoin should be applied at night and washed off in the morning.
Is tretinoin a steroid? What's the difference between retinol and tretinoin? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. See Our Editorial Process.
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❿RETIN-A® (tretinoin) Cream • Gel.
- The Difference Between Retin-A and Tretinoin
Nohynek GJ. Regululatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Isotretinoin for Acne and Rosacea. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Skin Health. By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer. Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment.
Learn about our editorial process. Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.
Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. Katlein Franca, MD. Medically reviewed by Katlein Franca, MD. Learn about our Medical Expert Board. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Retin-A vs. Generic Tretinoin. Tretinoin Medications. More Sound-Alikes. Generic vs. Name Brand Acne Treatments. Recap Tretinoin belongs to a group of medications called retinoids, which are used as acne treatments and in anti-aging products.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. See Our Editorial Process.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board. Share Feedback. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Understanding how to use tretinoin will help you get the best results with fewer side effects. It's important to make sure you cover all your problem areas, but without using too much medication. Apply lightly over your skin's problem areas and rub in gently.
Tretinoin is effective but it can cause dryness, itchiness, redness, and other skin concerns. Using this medication as directed can help reduce your risk of these issues. This article walks you through how to use tretinoin and get the best results. It also explores exactly why tretinoin works and the possible side effects it can cause.
Tretinoin cream is commonly applied at night before bed. Follow these step-by-step instructions for how to use tretinoin cream:. When you first start using tretinoin, plan to apply it every other night or every third night. Skin flaking and irritation are usually the worst in the first two weeks, and this will allow your skin some time to adapt to the medicine. As it does, you can apply it more frequently, as directed.
Some additional things to know:. If you notice an increase in irritation or flaking, it's OK to take a break from using tretinoin for a couple of days. Just don't stop using it completely without consulting your healthcare provider. Some people give up on tretinoin after a couple of days or weeks, assuming it didn't work.
In actuality, their skin just needed time to adjust to the medication. Acne usually begins when a pore a hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin, bacteria, and oil. This causes a bump called a comedone. Tretinoin works by increasing the production and shedding of skin cells called cell turnover , which forces the plugged material out of the pore.
It also prevents the formation of new comedones. It's important to realize that tretinoin works well on blackheads and whiteheads, but it may take six to nine weeks of use to see a noticeable difference in acne.
This is a short wait compared to how long it takes to see a noticeable difference in wrinkles: at least six months. In fact, you'll get the greatest benefit from tretinoin if you use it for at least a year. Side effects of tretinoin can occur in anyone, but are particularly common in those with sensitive skin.
Possible side effects include:. Diligent use of a quality moisturizer may help you avoid or minimize some of these. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects. You may need to stop using tretinoin. Retin-A may negatively interact with other topical medications, especially those containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. In a week dermal study in which CD-1 mice were administered 0.
A dose-related incidence of liver tumors in male mice was observed at those same doses. The maximum systemic doses associated with the administered 0. These doses are two and four times the maximum human systemic dose, when adjusted for total body surface area. The biological significance of these findings is not clear because they occurred at doses that exceeded the dermal maximally tolerated dose MTD of tretinoin and because they were within the background natural occurrence rate for these tumors in this strain of mice.
There was no evidence of carcinogenic potential when 0. For purposes of comparisons of the animal exposure to systemic human exposure, the maximum human systemic dose is defined as 1 gram of 0. Studies in hairless albino mice suggest that concurrent exposure to tretinoin may enhance the tumorigenic potential of carcinogenic doses of UVB and UVA light from a solar simulator.
This effect has been confirmed in a later study in pigmented mice, and dark pigmentation did not overcome the enhancement of photocarcinogenesis by 0. Although the significance of these studies to humans is not clear, patients should minimize exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet irradiation sources. The mutagenic potential of tretinoin was evaluated in the Ames assay and in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay, both of which were negative.
In dermal Segment I fertility studies of another tretinoin formulation in rats, slight not statistically significant decreases in sperm count and motility were seen at 0. Oral tretinoin has been shown to be teratogenic in rats, mice, hamsters, and subhuman primates. However, variations in teratogenic doses among various strains of rats have been reported. A dose-related increase in embryolethality and abortion was reported.
Similar results have also been reported in pigtail macaques. Topical tretinoin in animal teratogenicity tests has generated equivocal results. There are other reports in New Zealand White rabbits administered doses of greater than 0. In contrast, several well-controlled animals studies have shown that dermally applied tretinoin may be fetotoxic, but not overly teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses of 1.
With widespread use of any drug, a small number of birth defect reports associated temporally with the administration of the drug would be expected by chance alone. Thirty human cases of temporally associated congenital malformations have been reported during two decades of clinical use of RETIN-A.
Although no definite pattern of teratogenicity and no causal association have been established from these cases, five of the reports describe the rare birth defect category holoprosencephaly defects associated with incomplete midline development of the forebrain.
The significance of these spontaneous reports in terms of risk to the fetus is not known. Topical tretinoin has been shown to be fetotoxic in rabbits when administered 0. Oral tretinoin has been shown to be fetotoxic, resulting in skeletal variations and increased intrauterine death in rats when administered 2. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
Tretinoin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when RETIN-A is administered to a nursing woman. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 12 have not been established.
Safety and effectiveness in a geriatric population have not been established. Clinical studies of RETIN-A did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Note: Keep away from heat and flame.
Keep tube tightly closed. The skin of certain sensitive individuals may become excessively red, edematous, blistered, or crusted. If these effects occur, the medication should either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the medication should be adjusted to a level the patient can tolerate. True contact allergy to topical tretinoin is rarely encountered.
If medication is applied excessively, no more rapid or better results will be obtained and marked redness, peeling, or discomfort may occur. Oral ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A. RETIN-A Gel or Cream should be applied once a day, before retiring, to the skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected area lightly.
Application may cause a transitory feeling of warmth or slight stinging. In cases where it has been necessary to temporarily discontinue therapy or to reduce the frequency of application, therapy may be resumed or frequency of application increased when the patients become able to tolerate the treatment.
Katlein Franca, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor at the University of Miami. Do you wonder what the difference is between Retin-A and tretinoinor whether you were prescribed the wrong acne medication? Medication names can be tricky. So it's confusing when your healthcare provider or dermatologist says you'll be using Retin-A but the pharmacist hands you a tube of tretinoin.
This article discusses Retin-A and tretinoin and why you can substitute one for the other. It also covers other acne medications with similar names and how they compare to tretinoin. Not to worry, you've got the medication you're supposed to have.
Retin-A is a brand name for the drug tretinoin. Tretinoin is the name of the active ingredient in the brand-name medication. The brand Retin-A has become the most popular term used when referring to topical tretinoin.
Many people use Retin-A and tretinoin interchangeably even healthcare providers. It's rather like how people use the brand name "Q-Tip" rather than the generic term "cotton swab. If your healthcare provider prescribes Retin-A, your pharmacist may fill your prescription with generic tretinoin. This is because with a generic you'll often pay less than you would for a brand-name drug.
But don't think that generic medications are of lower quality or that they won't work as well. All tretinoin products work in the same way, by speeding cell turnover rates and keeping pores free from blockages, or comedones. Tretinoin medications also help soften fine lines, fade dark marks and discolorations, and leave your complexion looking brighter and feeling smoother.
Because generic and brand-name acne medications contain the same active ingredients, they will give you the same type of results. Many companies manufacture topical tretinoin medications, so tretinoin is sold under many different names. Some medications, besides Retin-A, that contain tretinoin include:. There are so many sound-alike ingredients in the skincare world, no wonder it's confusing. How do topical retinoids, Retin-A Micro, retinol, and isotretinoin fit into the mix?
Retinoids are the group, or class, of medications that tretinoin belongs to. Topical retinoids work by speeding up cell turnover, rapidly exfoliating the skin, and promoting new skin cells. They also help clear out blocked pores and soften fine lines and wrinkles. Topical retinoids are prescribed to treat acne. They are also commonly used as anti-aging treatments. Besides tretinoin, other topical retinoids include Tazorac tazarotene and Differin adapalene.
Differin is more aptly described as a retinoid-like compound, to be precise, but works the same way. Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are both brand names for tretinoin. The big difference between these two medications is how they deliver the tretinoin to your skin. Retin-A Micro delivers the medication more slowly, over time, so it's less irritating than Retin-A. Like Retin-A, retinol is a topical retinoid.
It's derived from vitamin A. It helps soften fine lines and brighten the skin. It doesn't work as quickly, nor does it work on the deeper layers of the skin like prescription retinoids do. You can find retinol in many OTC anti-aging skincare products. Tretinoin belongs to a group of medications called retinoids, which are used as acne treatments and in anti-aging products. Retin-A Micro is a brand name for tretinoin.
Retinol is an over-the-counter version of Retin-A. Tretinoin and isotretinoin both are prescription medications used to treat acne. Both are derived from vitamin A. That's where their similarities stop. Tretinoin is used topically to treat acne. Isotretinoinbetter known by the now-defunct brand name Accutaneis an oral medication used to treat severe inflammatory acne. Tretinoin and isotretinoin are not interchangeable. Retin-A is a brand name for the medication tretinoin. When a doctor prescribes Retin-A, the pharmacist may fill it with generic tretinoin since it's less expensive.
Both brand-name and generic tretinoin have the same effects, including keeping pores clear, softening fine lines, and fading discolorations. Other medications have similar-sounding names to tretinoin. This includes retinol, which is an over-the-counter version of Retin-A. Isotretinoin is a prescription medication, and like tretinoin, it's derived from vitamin A.
However, isotretinoin is an oral medication to treat severe acne, and it's not interchangeable with tretinoin. So many medications and brand names available have similar-sounding names. Some are completely interchangeable while others aren't, so it's important to keep them all straight. Your best sources of information are the pros—your dermatologist and your pharmacist. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you've been prescribed one medication but are given another, it's OK to question it.
Pharmacists are humans too, so mistakes, while exceedingly rare, can be made. Also, ask your healthcare provider or dermatologist what to expect as you begin your Retin-A tretinoin treatment.
You'll be prepared for any possible side effects and ready to get the best results from your tretinoin treatment. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. Kircik LH. Evaluating Tretinoin Formulations in the Treatment of Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Nohynek GJ. Regululatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Isotretinoin for Acne and Rosacea. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Skin Health. By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer.
Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process. Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals.
These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. Katlein Franca, MD. Medically reviewed by Katlein Franca, MD. Learn about our Medical Expert Board. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Retin-A vs. Generic Tretinoin. Tretinoin Medications. More Sound-Alikes. Generic vs. Name Brand Acne Treatments. Recap Tretinoin belongs to a group of medications called retinoids, which are used as acne treatments and in anti-aging products.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. See Our Editorial Process. Meet Our Medical Expert Board. Share Feedback. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!
Retin-A Micro® (tretinoin gel) is a prescription medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. Acne is a condition in which the skin has blackheads. This medication is used to treat acne. It may decrease the number and severity of acne pimples and promote quick healing of pimples that do develop. Tretinoin Cream is the gold standard in anti-aging skincare. It is the only ingredient that is scientifically proven to reverse the skin's aging process. Medically reviewed by localhost RETIN-A Gel, Cream or Liquid should be applied once a day, before retiring, to the skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected. In contrast, several well-controlled animals studies have shown that dermally applied tretinoin may be fetotoxic, but not overly teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses of 1. Put tretinoin cream on freshly washed skin.Chemically, tretinoin is all - trans -retinoic acid and has the following structure:. Although the exact mode of action of tretinoin is unknown, current evidence suggests that topical tretinoin decreases cohesiveness of follicular epithelial cells with decreased microcomedo formation. Additionally, tretinoin stimulates mitotic activity and increased turnover of follicular epithelial cells causing extrusion of the comedones.
The safety and efficacy of the long-term use of this product in the treatment of other disorders have not been established. Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted. If a reaction suggesting sensitivity or chemical irritation occurs, use of the medication should be discontinued. Exposure to sunlight, including sunlamps, should be minimized during the use of RETIN-A, and patients with sunburn should be advised not to use the product until fully recovered because of heightened susceptibility to sunlight as a result of the use of tretinoin.
Patients who may be required to have considerable sun exposure due to occupation and those with inherent sensitivity to the sun should exercise particular caution. Use of sunscreen products and protective clothing over treated areas is recommended when exposure cannot be avoided. Weather extremes, such as wind or cold, also may be irritating to patients under treatment with tretinoin. RETIN-A tretinoin acne treatment should be kept away from the eyes, the mouth, angles of the nose, and mucous membranes.
Topical use may induce severe local erythema and peeling at the site of application. If the degree of local irritation warrants, patients should be directed to use the medication less frequently, discontinue use temporarily, or discontinue use altogether. Tretinoin has been reported to cause severe irritation on eczematous skin and should be used with utmost caution in patients with this condition. Concomitant topical medication, medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect, and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices or lime should be used with caution because of possible interaction with tretinoin.
Particular caution should be exercised in using preparations containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with RETIN-A.
In a week dermal study in which CD-1 mice were administered 0. A dose-related incidence of liver tumors in male mice was observed at those same doses. The maximum systemic doses associated with the administered 0. These doses are two and four times the maximum human systemic dose, when adjusted for total body surface area.
The biological significance of these findings is not clear because they occurred at doses that exceeded the dermal maximally tolerated dose MTD of tretinoin and because they were within the background natural occurrence rate for these tumors in this strain of mice. There was no evidence of carcinogenic potential when 0.
For purposes of comparisons of the animal exposure to systemic human exposure, the maximum human systemic dose is defined as 1 gram of 0. Studies in hairless albino mice suggest that concurrent exposure to tretinoin may enhance the tumorigenic potential of carcinogenic doses of UVB and UVA light from a solar simulator.
This effect has been confirmed in a later study in pigmented mice, and dark pigmentation did not overcome the enhancement of photocarcinogenesis by 0. Although the significance of these studies to humans is not clear, patients should minimize exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet irradiation sources. The mutagenic potential of tretinoin was evaluated in the Ames assay and in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay, both of which were negative. In dermal Segment I fertility studies of another tretinoin formulation in rats, slight not statistically significant decreases in sperm count and motility were seen at 0.
Oral tretinoin has been shown to be teratogenic in rats, mice, hamsters, and subhuman primates. However, variations in teratogenic doses among various strains of rats have been reported. A dose-related increase in embryolethality and abortion was reported. Similar results have also been reported in pigtail macaques. Topical tretinoin in animal teratogenicity tests has generated equivocal results. There are other reports in New Zealand White rabbits administered doses of greater than 0.
In contrast, several well-controlled animals studies have shown that dermally applied tretinoin may be fetotoxic, but not overly teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses of 1. With widespread use of any drug, a small number of birth defect reports associated temporally with the administration of the drug would be expected by chance alone. Thirty human cases of temporally associated congenital malformations have been reported during two decades of clinical use of RETIN-A. Although no definite pattern of teratogenicity and no causal association have been established from these cases, five of the reports describe the rare birth defect category holoprosencephaly defects associated with incomplete midline development of the forebrain.
The significance of these spontaneous reports in terms of risk to the fetus is not known. Topical tretinoin has been shown to be fetotoxic in rabbits when administered 0. Oral tretinoin has been shown to be fetotoxic, resulting in skeletal variations and increased intrauterine death in rats when administered 2.
There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Tretinoin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when RETIN-A is administered to a nursing woman. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 12 have not been established. Safety and effectiveness in a geriatric population have not been established.
Clinical studies of RETIN-A did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Note: Keep away from heat and flame. Keep tube tightly closed.
The skin of certain sensitive individuals may become excessively red, edematous, blistered, or crusted. If these effects occur, the medication should either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the medication should be adjusted to a level the patient can tolerate. True contact allergy to topical tretinoin is rarely encountered. If medication is applied excessively, no more rapid or better results will be obtained and marked redness, peeling, or discomfort may occur.
Oral ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A. RETIN-A Gel or Cream should be applied once a day, before retiring, to the skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected area lightly. Application may cause a transitory feeling of warmth or slight stinging. In cases where it has been necessary to temporarily discontinue therapy or to reduce the frequency of application, therapy may be resumed or frequency of application increased when the patients become able to tolerate the treatment.
Alterations of vehicle, drug concentration, or dose frequency should be closely monitored by careful observation of the clinical therapeutic response and skin tolerance. During the early weeks of therapy, an apparent exacerbation of inflammatory lesions may occur.
This is due to the action of the medication on deep, previously unseen lesions and should not be considered a reason to discontinue therapy. Therapeutic results should be noticed after 2 to 3 weeks but more than 6 weeks of therapy may be required before definite beneficial effects are seen. Once the acne lesions have responded satisfactorily, it may be possible to maintain the improvement with less frequent applications, or other dosage forms.
Manufactured by: Bausch Health Companies Inc. Keep out of reach of children. The effects of the sun on your skin. As you know, overexposure to natural sunlight or the artificial sunlight of a sunlamp can cause sunburn. Overexposure to the sun over many years may cause premature aging of the skin and even skin cancer. The chance of these effects occurring will vary depending on skin type, the climate and the care taken to avoid overexposure to the sun.
Therapy with RETIN-A may make your skin more susceptible to sunburn and other adverse effects of the sun, so unprotected exposure to natural or artificial sunlight should be minimized. Laboratory findings. When laboratory mice are exposed to artificial sunlight, they often develop skin tumors. These sunlight-induced tumors may appear more quickly and in greater number if the mouse is also topically treated with the active ingredient in RETIN-A, tretinoin. In some studies, under different conditions, however, when mice treated with tretinoin were exposed to artificial sunlight, the incidence and rate of development of skin tumors was reduced.
There is no evidence to date that tretinoin alone will cause the development of skin tumors in either laboratory animals or humans. However, investigations in this area are continuing. Use caution in the sun.
An effective sunscreen should be used any time you are outside consult your physician for a recommendation of an SPF level which will provide you with the necessary high level of protection. For extended sun exposure, protective clothing, like a hat, should be worn. Avoid excessive exposure to wind or cold. Extremes of climate tend to dry or burn normal skin.
Your physician can recommend ways to manage your acne treatment under such conditions. Possible problems. The skin of certain sensitive individuals may become excessively red, swollen, blistered or crusted. There have been reports that, in some patients, areas treated with RETIN-A developed a temporary increase or decrease in the amount of skin pigment color present. The pigment in these areas returned to normal either when the skin was allowed to adjust to RETIN-A or therapy was discontinued.
Only your physician knows which other medications may be helpful during treatment and will recommend them to you if necessary. In addition, you should avoid preparations that may dry or irritate your skin.
These preparations may include certain astringents, toiletries containing alcohol, spices or lime, or certain medicated soaps, shampoos and hair permanent solutions. Do not allow anyone else to use this medication. The medications you have used in the past might cause unnecessary redness or peeling. If you are pregnant, think you are pregnant or are nursing an infant: No studies have been conducted in humans to establish the safety of RETIN-A in pregnant women.
If you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or are nursing a baby, consult your physician before using this medication. Use a mild, non-medicated soap.
Avoid frequent washings and harsh scrubbing. Washing too frequently or scrubbing too roughly may at times actually make your acne worse. Wash your skin gently with a mild, bland soap. Two or three times a day should be sufficient. Pat skin dry with a towel.
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