Tretinoin is a medication used to treat acne. Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that results from hair follicles becoming clogged with oil and dead skin cells, causing blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples to appear.
- The safety and effectiveness of long-term use of this medication in the treatment of other diseases has not been proven.
Do not use tretinoin:
- If you are allergic to tretinoin or any of the ingredients in this product.
Warnings and precautions:
- Stop taking the medication immediately and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any allergies or skin reactions to any of the ingredients in this gel such as skin itching, skin redness, shortness of breath, rash, puffiness of the face or neck, low blood pressure, dizziness.
- This medication is intended for external topical use only. Do not swallow this product.
- Keep the tube tightly closed.
- This medication may cause redness, swelling, and peeling at the application site. Some patients may also find that their skin begins to become flushed.
- These skin reactions do not occur in all patients and are more likely to occur during the first days of treatment and usually subside as your skin begins to adapt to the medication (within 2 to 4 weeks).
- You can reduce your risk of experiencing these side effects by carefully following the instructions provided.
- Talk to your doctor if your skin reactions bother you or if they do not subside after some time. Your doctor may recommend that you use this medication less frequently, or stop using it completely.
- Tretinoin may cause severe irritation on areas of skin affected by eczema (a skin condition that causes itching and redness) so you should use tretinoin with extreme caution if you have this skin condition.
- Tretinoin may cause a change in your skin color which usually returns to normal when you stop using it or as your skin adjusts to it.
- Do not share your medications with others.
- Do not use this product on broken skin.
- Excessive exposure to natural or artificial sunlight may increase the risk of sunburn.
- It may also cause premature aging and skin cancer if exposed over many years.
- The risk of these side effects varies depending on climate, skin type, and care taken to prevent excessive exposure to sunlight.
- The risk of getting sunburned and developing other skin problems is higher when using this medication because it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- Therefore, it is very important to avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps when using this medication.
- Make sure to wear sunscreen when outside (even on foggy days) if you can't avoid exposure to sunlight or sunlamps.
- Ask your doctor about the best SPF sunscreen level you need to apply before sun exposure.
- If exposed to the sun for a long time, you should also wear protective clothing (such as a hat).
- Do not expose to artificial sunlight when using this medication.
- The skin is at risk of burning or drying out in extreme weather conditions such as cold or wind. Your skin may become more easily irritated in extreme weather conditions when you are treated with tretinoin.
- Your doctor can advise you on how to manage your treatment under these circumstances.
- Be sure not to use this product if you have a sunburn until your sunburn has completely healed.
- You may notice new blemishes (papules and pustules) appearing 3 to 6 weeks after starting this medication.
- It is very important that you continue to use the medicine at this stage. If tretinoin will help reduce your acne, you should see a continued improvement in the appearance of your skin after 6 to 12 weeks of treatment.
- Be patient and do not get discouraged if you do not notice any immediate improvement. Do not stop using the cream at the first signs of skin improvement. You should continue using the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
- Make sure not to use harsh exfoliants, skin cleansers, medicated soaps, or cosmetics that contain alcohol to prevent excessive dryness or skin irritation.
Possible side effects:
- Common side effects include skin burning or stinging, skin warmth, tingling, itching, dry skin, excessive skin redness, skin edema (fluid accumulation), skin peeling, blistered skin, temporary change in color of treated skin (increase or decrease in skin color) and increased Sensitivity to sunlight.
- These skin reactions usually subside when you stop using the medication.
How to use tretinoin:
- Gently wash your skin with a gentle, non-medicated soap two to three times daily and then dry the skin with a towel. Let your skin dry 20 to 30 minutes before applying the medication. Avoid washing the affected area frequently and do not use harsh scrubs. Acne is not caused by dirt, so excessive washing and scrubbing will not remove it. Washing too frequently or scrubbing too harshly may make acne worse.
- Make sure to use your cream exactly as prescribed by your doctor for best results. Be patient during your treatment because this medication may take some time to start taking effect. Many patients begin to see effects 12 weeks after starting the medication. Therefore, it is very important not to follow instructions given for other products or by your friends and not to stop using your medicine without talking to your doctor first.
- Apply tretinoin cream once daily at bedtime, or as directed by your doctor. Your doctor, especially if you have sensitive skin, may recommend applying tretinoin every other night while starting treatment. First, start by washing the skin with a gentle soap and gently dry your skin. Next, wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying the cream to allow your skin to dry completely to reduce potential skin irritation.
- To apply tretinoin cream, place about half an inch or less of the medication on your fingertip. After you gain some experience with the cream, you may see that you have to apply more or less to apply enough of the medicine to your entire face. The cream is expected to become invisible immediately. If the cream is still visible, you are applying too much. In order to lightly cover the affected skin area with tretinoin cream, start by applying it to your chin, forehead, and both cheeks, then spread the cream over the entire affected skin area, then gently smooth the applied cream onto your skin.
- It is recommended to use a non-comedogenic moisturizer (a product that does not aggravate acne) or a non-comedogenic moisturizer with sunscreen every morning after washing your skin.
- Avoid contact of the cream with your eyes, mouth, corners of the nose and mucous membranes to avoid irritation (redness or peeling) at the application site.
