Tretinoin

Active composition — generic information and available medicines

Uses

Tretinoin is used in the treatment of acne.

Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A. It works by reducing oil production in the skin, replenishes acne-prone skin and helps keep your pores open.

Do not take tretinoin and tell your doctor:

If you are allergic to tretinoin or any of the other ingredients or other ‘retinoid’ medicines (isotretinoin, acitretin and tazarotene) and peanuts or soya (as tretinoin medicines may contain soyabean oil).
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not drive or operate or drive machinery while you are taking tretinoin.
Avoid becoming pregnant during and within one month (four weeks) after stopping treatment with tretinoin. Consult your doctor for the right method of contraception you can use.
Avoid getting tretinoin cream in your eyes, nose, or mouth
Tretinoin cream may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Take suitable precautions (sun cream, clothing etc.).
Do not apply tretinoin cream to sunburned skin.
Do not stop using tretinoin if your skin condition appears to worsen for the first 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. This is expected.
Talk with your doctor before you use any other medicines or products on your skin.
Tretinoin should be used extreme caution in children younger than 12 years old.

Q. Is Tretinoin a steroid/ retin a/ retin a/ a retinoid/retinol?: Tretinoin is not a steroid. It is a form of vitamin A (Retin-A) and belongs to a group of medicines called ‘retinoids'. Tretinoin and retinol are similar but Tretinoin tends to be a bit more aggressive than retinol which is a bit more suitable for those with sensitive skin
Q. Is Tretinoin safe/ Tretinoin cream safe?: Tretinoin is safe if taken at recommended doses and duration. The gel form should be used with extreme caution in children younger than 12 years
Q. Does Tretinoin cream work/ is Tretinoin cream good for acne/acne scars/ lighten skin/ thin the skin/ work on wrinkles/ fade dark spots/clog pores/ cause breakouts?: Tretinoin cream works effectively in most of the patients. It is useful for treating most of the skin related issue like acne, acne scars, skin lightening, removing wrinkles, fade dark spots, clog pores, etc. It does not cause breakouts but helps the skin in healing it
Q. Does Tretinoin stain clothes?: It may stain as it has a preservative in it.