Tretinoin is a prescription medication that clears acne, reduces wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and evens out skin tone. It is a part of the vitamin A family and works by affecting the growth of cells.
Ensure that your hands are clean and dry before applying the medication. Also avoid applying it to broken, chapped or sunburned skin.
Acne Treatment
Tretinoin is a topical medication that’s been used as an acne treatment for almost 50 years. It works by stimulating cell turnover to prevent acne pimples from forming and helping the skin heal quickly after a breakout.
It unclogs pores, which are filled with dead skin cells that attract bacteria that cause blemishes. It also resurfaces the skin, smoothing pitted or textured acne scars.
Patients who use tretinoin should avoid sunlight, especially tanning beds and use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 (recommended on the product’s drug label) when they do go outside. They should also wear hats and other sun-protective clothing.
Before applying tretinoin, wash the face and hands thoroughly with a mild cleanser and warm water. Pat dry with a clean towel. Then gently squeeze a pea-sized amount of the medicine onto your fingertips and apply it to the face, avoiding the corners of the nose or mouth and any cuts or scrapes.
Anti-Aging Treatment
While tretinoin works great for treating mild to moderate acne, it also serves as a potent anti-aging treatment. Using it regularly over time can reduce wrinkles and fine lines, hyperpigmentation, sallowness (yellowish skin tone) and lentigines (age spots).
Tretinoin works on photoaging by stimulating collagen production in the deep layers of the skin. It can also prevent wrinkling by increasing the elasticity of the skin and reducing sagging.
When using tretinoin for wrinkles and anti-aging, it may take weeks or months of regular use to see results. It is very important to apply sunscreen daily and avoid sun exposure as much as possible while taking tretinoin.
Tretinoin comes in different strengths, including 0.05%, 0.1% and 1%. Your doctor will determine which strength is right for you based on your needs and the results that you desire. To avoid skin irritation, you should start with a low dose of tretinoin and gradually increase your dosage. You can choose to purchase tretinoin in cream, gel or liquid form.
Skin Lightening Treatment
Tretinoin is often used to help fade dark spots or discoloration on the skin, resulting in a more even skin tone (Zasada, 2019). It can also improve blotchy patches of pigmentation caused by sun damage and reduce fine lines.
Like other skin lighteners, tretinoin speeds up the turnover of cells. That means that older, damaged cells are replaced with brand new cells, and any excess melanin produced is released with the old cell. This results in a mild skin lightening effect (Leyden, 2017).
While tretinoin can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it’s important to use sunscreen when using it. Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you’re using this treatment. Also, don’t use sunlamps or expose your skin to direct sunlight when using this medication. If you get sunburned, you should stop using the product until your skin heals. You should also avoid this medication if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Skin Resurfacing Treatment
When used regularly, Tretinoin helps reduce fine lines & wrinkles. It can also help even out skin tone, & fade melasma. It does this by speeding up the skin’s cellular turnover, & exfoliating the surface.2
Tretinoin, also known as Retin-A, is a popular choice among dermatologists & plastic surgeons as a pretreatment for laser resurfacing. In split-back pig studies, skin treated with tretinoin before laser treatment healed faster than the half that wasn’t.
It is important to choose a skincare provider that is licensed for his or her position, works under the supervision of a qualified cosmetic surgeon (if he or she has the credentials to do so), & has extensive experience with medical skin care treatments. Also, make sure your provider has a full understanding of the risks & benefits of tretinoin, including possible pregnancy complications. Tretinoin has been shown to be teratogenic in rats & rabbits at topical doses 100 & 320 times the human amount, respectively.