Using Retin-A
Doctors will determine your exact dosage. Retin-A is available in .025 percent to 0.1 percent formulations, and depending on your acne and the dose, you may use it as often as twice a day every day, or only once a day every other day. Before applying it, wash your face thoroughly. Do not use any astringent cleanser, and make sure your face is dry before applying. Retin-A will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so be sure to use sunblock to avoid burning. Side effects include redness, itching, peeling, burning, stinging and irritation. It may take two to seven weeks to see any real results, and you may even see your acne get worse at first.
Medical Background
Retin-A is part of the group of vitamin A derivative medicines called retinoids. Its active ingredient is tretinoin. No one is exactly sure why tretinoin is effective, but it works by loosening the "acne plugs" that exist under your skin, causing acne. They come free and you can then wash them off before they form new acne. It further helps by keeping new plugs from forming so that no new acne appears. Retin-A can be found in liquid, cream and gel formulations. Retin-A Micro is a time-released form of Retin-A meant to reduce skin irritation.
Tags: your acne, your face, your skin