Among prescription skin products, tretinoin is the gold standard for acne treatment and anti-aging. It works by regulating the way your body creates new skin cells, which helps reduce acne and soften fine lines and wrinkles.

Tretinoin is an retinoid medication that is a derivative of vitamin A, and it’s available as a gel, cream or topical solution. The medication has been proven to treat a wide range of skin conditions, including acne and keratosis pilaris (a non-contagious skin rash). It is also used as an anti-aging product because it can help decrease fine lines and wrinkles, soften uneven skin pigmentation, and brighten age spots and dark circles.

To get the most benefit from tretinoin, you should use it daily and correctly. Before applying tretinoin, make sure your face is completely clean. Wash it with a mild soap or non-irritating cleanser, and then gently dry your skin using a soft cloth or paper towel.

A brief sensation of warmth or stinging may occur after applying the medication. It is normal to experience some redness, itching or dryness during the first 2-4 weeks of use, but these effects should decrease with continued use. If they persist, talk to your doctor. He or she may want to change your dose, apply a weaker version of the medication or switch you to a different product.

In addition, tretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid direct contact with the sun and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, hats and clothing when you are outdoors. You should also avoid using any other skin treatments or medications containing sulfur, resorcinol or salicylic acid while using tretinoin. It’s best to wait until your skin has fully healed after a sunburn before using this medication again.

Tretinoin has a powerful effect on the way your skin produces cells, which is why it’s only available by prescription. It quickly permeates the layers of your skin and changes their behavior, including what jobs the cells should do, how fast they should grow and die, and what they should look like when they’re mature enough to be replaced by new ones. This action can significantly reduce acne and fine lines and wrinkles (Yoham, 2020; Zasada, 2019).

Unlike over-the-counter (OTC) retinol products, tretinoin starts working as soon as it touches your skin. It’s able to do this because it is in a more stable form than retinol and doesn’t require the body to convert it into a more usable compound. This makes it much more effective than OTC retinols, which are usually less potent and can take up to 12 weeks before you notice results (Zasada, 2019).

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions for use, especially when first starting out. The first few times you apply the medication, it might cause your acne to flare up. This is because it’s causing old, clogged pores to clear out and should subside as your skin becomes accustomed to the treatment. tretinoin gel