Tretinoin

- Tretinoin is basically vitamin A in acid form, and is commonly used in the treatment of acne.  It is also known as all-trans retinoic acid or ATRA abbreviated.  Tretinoin is made into either a cream or a gel and is marketed under the brand names of Renova and Retin-A.
Tretinoin is used often for the treatment of acne - but how exactly is your acne caused? Acne is caused when the hair follicles in our skin are over-congested.  The substance that the hair follicles naturally produce (called sebum) is usually helpful to the skin by preventing dryness. But, when there is an abundance of sebum, the follicles become a harbor for acne-causing bacteria.

How does Tretinoin work against acne?  Tretinoin was the first retinoid developed for topical use (in dermatology).  Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds related chemically to vitamin A.  Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid in the treatment of photo-aging.  It is used to increase the production of collagen (the main protein of connective tissue).  Tretinoin works to keep your skin healthy.

Side Effects

As tretinoin causes the production of new skin cells, the old skin cells are crowded out - causing flaking of the skin.  Flaking of the skin is known to cause dandruff and irritation.  More sensitive patients sometimes experience burning, scaling, and redness of the treated skin.

Tretinoin causes the increase risk of extreme sunburn.

Since tretinoin is known to cause the thinning of the skin, those using this drug should stay away from hair removal waxing.

Is Tretinoin right for you?  Many products used for the treatment of acne contain tretinoin.  If your skin is already susceptible to sunburn or thinning, take caution when using tretinoin.  A gradual increase in the frequency and amount of tretinoin application is best, so one’s skin can adjust adequately to the drug.

To find out what consumers like you have rated as the best and SAFEST acne products, keep reading below…