The skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation, especially during the first 2 or 3 weeks. However, you should not stop using this medicine unless the skin irritation becomes too severe.
According to the FDA drug labeled guidelines, the most common adverse effects in topically administered tretinoin are the following: pruritus, skin pain, skin/subcutaneous irritation, erythema, and pharyngitis.
Some people shouldn't use topical tretinoin. This includes people who are allergic to tretinoin products and pregnant women. And if you're going to start trying to conceive, you may be advised to stop tretinoin at least one month beforehand.
Treatment with this drug may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known. Talk with the doctor.
Renova and Retin-A are sometimes hailed as miracle products that promise youthful, blemish-free, smooth skin to anyone from the age of 15 through to 70. However long-term use of Tretinoin, the generic name for these products, does not come without long-term issues some of which are under-stated and rarely reported.
Topical tretinoin stimulates epidermal proliferation and differentiation by upregulating heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), which causes increased exfoliation and thickening of the epidermis.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever; weight gain; swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; shortness of breath; labored breathing; wheezing; chest pain; or cough.
Retinoids have been implicated in causing mild-to-moderate elevations in routine liver tests, but these elevations are usually asymptomatic and transient, resolving spontaneously even with continued therapy.
There is no evidence that topically applied tretinoin causes hair thinning, but hair loss may be a side effect of taking tretinoin orally. Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A and over-consumption of vitamin A in food, supplements, or medication can trigger hair loss on the scalp, face, or elsewhere on the body.
Tretinoin can indeed make your skin look younger since it works by increasing cell turnover, boosting collagen production, and reducing the breakdown of collagen. These actions help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, improve tone and skin texture, and promote a more youthful complexion.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as tretinoin: Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur).
Background: Although topically applied all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) undergoes minimal absorption and adds negligibly to normal endogenous levels, its safety in humans is occasionally questioned because oral ingestion of retinoids at therapeutic levels is known to entail teratogenic risks.
Dr Kiran acknowledges some evidence that suggests tretinoin may aid in hair growth: Tretinoin promotes cell turnover, which can help rejuvenate hair follicles. It may enhance the absorption of other hair growth treatments, such as minoxidil.
Signs you should stop using tretinoin
It's normal to experience some dryness, peeling, and irritation—maybe even some purging—as you adjust to using tretinoin. But if the side effects become severe or don't go away, it might be time to hit pause and give your skin a breather.
There isn't any solid evidence that applying topical tretinoin triggers hair shedding. However, hair loss is a potential side effect of taking oral tretinoin. Hair loss (including eyelashes and eyebrows) can happen when you take too much vitamin A––especially if it's a supplement or medication.
Because tretinoin and other retinoids can be drying and irritating, especially if someone is using it for the first time, doctors usually have patients start with a lower percentage tretinoin product and have them use it less frequently, and then build up the dosage and frequency over time, says Chipps.
Tretinoin may reduce fine wrinkles, spotty discoloration, and rough feeling skin but does not cure them. It may take 3 to 4 months or up to 6 months before you notice improvement. If you stop using tretinoin, the improvement may gradually disappear.
This medicine may increase pressure in the head, especially in children, which may lead to vision loss or serious brain problems.
You can safely use tretinoin long-term. Research has shown no negative effects even with 2-4 years of usage.
Three inexpensive moisturizers that our physicians love are Vanicream Daily Facial Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid, Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel, and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum. All three of these are affordable, non-comedogenic,and blend well with tretinoin.
Yes, Retin-A may help “tighten” skin. Clinical studies show that it can improve the visible appearance of wrinkles and skin discoloration caused by sun damage. This benefit is seen with Retin-A formulations ranging from 0.025% to 0.1%. Sun damage and getting older can decrease the amount of collagen in your skin.
By speeding up the skin's natural exfoliation process, tretinoin helps to fade dark spots, melasma, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. This results in a more even and brighter skin tone, making tretinoin a popular choice for individuals dealing with discoloration issues.
There is a potential link between anxiety, depression, anger, mood changes and retinoid use. You should not use retinoids if you have any pre-existing mental health conditions and you should stop treatment and seek medical help immediately if you begin to experience any of the symptoms outlined above.