What is Obagi Tretinoin cream used for?

Author: Rebecca Monahan  |  Last update: Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Obagi Tretinoin is one of the most widely used prescription topical retinoids for treating and preventing mild to moderate acne, Hyper Pigmentation and reducing the signs of ageing. It is a powerful and highly effective retinoid with noticeable, long-lasting results making it easy to love using.

How often should I use Obagi Tretinoin?

Apply tretinoin once daily before bedtime, or as directed by your physician. Your physician may advise, especially if your skin is sensitive, that you start your therapy by applying tretinoin every other night.

What does tretinoin do for your skin?

Tretinoin is used to treat acne or other skin diseases as determined by your doctor. It works partly by keeping skin pores clear. One of the tretinoin creams is used to treat fine wrinkles, dark spots, or rough skin on the face caused by the damaging rays of the sun.

How long does Obagi Tretinoin take to work?

If you're using topical tretinoin to reduce wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, and/or rough feeling skin, it can take 3–4 months or up to six months before you see results. If you stop using the medication or are inconsistent with your treatment, any improvements you see may disappear over time.

What is the difference between Obagi retinol and tretinoin?

Retinol is like the training wheels for tretinoin and other dermatology-grade retinoids. They have similar benefits and can be used on any skin type, though tretinoin is more often recommended to treat acne and is FDA approved for photoaging. Tretinoin is the more potent of the two, so it will show results faster.

Obagi Tretinoin Cream Review | The Skin Spot

Can I use tretinoin every night?

Yes, you can use tretinoin every night, but you may not want to at first—and some people may never want to. Tretinoin can cause skin irritation and peeling, especially when you first start using it.

Why is tretinoin prescription only?

Tretinoin gel, cream, or lotion requires a prescription because it's more powerful than retinol. Doctors prescribe tretinoin to treat skin conditions like: Acne. Psoriasis.

Does tretinoin help pitted scars?

The researchers found that when the subjects used tretinoin cream for acne scars consistently, 79 percent of the participants showed flattened acne scarring. The treatment was most effective on younger acne scars, as well as with narrow, indented icepick scars.

Can I use tretinoin forever?

"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."

Does tretinoin lighten skin?

Tretinoin Does Not “Bleach” Your Skin

Contrary to popular belief, tretinoin is not a “bleaching agent” or medicine designed specifically to lighten your skin tone. While tretinoin can even out patches of hyperpigmentation and cause a mild change in your skin tone, it doesn't affect melanin synthesis.

Can tretinoin remove acne scars?

Tretinoin for acne scars

Tretinoin can also be used to decrease the appearance of acne scarring. Since tretinoin speeds up cell turnover on your skin, it can encourage new cell growth at the site of your scarring. Tretinoin in several forms has been tested successfully as an effective way to treat acne scars.

Which retinol is best for beginners?

Jump To / Table of Contents
  • Dr. ...
  • CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
  • Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum.
  • FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25%
  • Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment.
  • Skinceuticals Correct Retinol 0.3 Anti-Aging Night Cream.
  • SkinMedica Retinol 0.25 Complex.
  • The Inkey List Retinol.

What are the side effects of tretinoin cream?

More common
  • Burning, itching, stinging, scaling, or redness of the skin.
  • chapping or slight peeling of the skin (mild)
  • darkening of the skin.
  • lightening of normal skin color.
  • lightening of treated areas of dark skin.
  • redness of skin (mild)
  • unusual dryness of skin (mild)
  • unusually warm skin (mild)

Can I put tretinoin under my eyes?

Do not use this medicine in or around the eyes or lips, or inside of the nose. Spread the medicine away from these areas when applying. If it accidentally gets on these areas, wash with water at once. Before applying tretinoin, wash the skin with a mild soap or cleanser and warm water by using the tips of your fingers.

How long does it take to see results from Obagi?

While most patients start seeing results, especially in their pigmentation, during the first six weeks, it is essential to use the kit for a full 12 to 16 weeks.

Can you put moisturizer over tretinoin?

Yes. It's perfectly safe to use a moisturizer with tretinoin. In fact, tretinoin without moisturizer is generally not recommended. Many dermatologists advise their patients to moisturize while using it to reduce their chance of developing dry, peeling skin.

Is tretinoin cancerous?

Tretinoin is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. Tretinoin is classified as a "retinoid." (For more detail, see "How Tretinoin Works" section below).

How do I know if tretinoin is working?

After 4-6 weeks, your skin will get used to tretinoin and will begin to be noticeably smoother and more even. A lot of the initial irritation will settle down and true “retinization” of your skin is in full force.

Is tretinoin good for wrinkles?

Tretinoin is a medication used to treat acne and sun-damaged skin. It can't erase deep wrinkles, but it can help improve the appearance of surface wrinkles, fine lines, and darks spots. Tretinoin is also known as retinoic acid. It's the generic name for synthetic vitamin A.

Can tretinoin remove dark spots?

Tretinoin can help dark spots fade, allowing you to have a more even skin tone. It decreases the amount of melanin in your skin cells (Zasada, 2019). When used for discoloration, tretinoin is usually combined with other skin-lightening products, sometimes in the form of a chemical peel (Lawrence, 2021).

Can tretinoin remove blackheads?

Since tretinoin works by preventing dead skin cells from clogging pores, it's effective at reducing all forms of acne, including comedones such as blackheads. By preventing clogged pores, tretinoin stops whiteheads and blackheads from developing in the first place.

Does tretinoin remove stretch marks?

Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.

Is tretinoin better than Botox?

On the whole, it's best to think of botox as a treatment for wrinkles that are apparent with moving facial muscles (smiling, furrowing your brow, frowning) while tretinoin can help treat the fine lines and sun spots resulting from UV exposure.

How do I get Obagi Tretinoin?

Available by prescription only; all Obagi tretinoin formulations are fragrance free. Prescription required. Contact your healthcare provider to purchase, or find a nearby physician who offers this product.

Is tretinoin stronger than retinol?

For the purposes of skin care, tretinoin can be thought of as a more concentrated version of retinol. This means that tretinoin is stronger than retinol. This difference in strength can help guide your decision-making when it comes to choosing a skin care product. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.

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