Retin A

You should always use Retin A as prescribed, but the following are general guidelines. Apply Retin A cream directly to your face, usually once a day, and usually at night before you go to bed. You should wash and dry your face beforehand, then apply the cream to the areas where you have acne, dabbing it onto your skin, then smoothing it in gently. It should be absorbed by your skin and become invisible after a few seconds, if not, you’ve likely used too much. Retin A should only be used on your skin, so keep it away from your eyes, mouth, and nostrils.

This will vary by person, as it depends on how well someone reacts to Retin A and how severe their acne is, but you may see an improvement within two to three weeks of daily use, although between six to eight weeks is more common. If you’re not seeing any benefits by 12 weeks, speak to our doctors who will be able to advise further.

You may also find that you experience more breakouts of acne when you first start using Retin A. This is common and should pass as your skin gets used to the treatment.

Retin A cream can dry your skin, and even irritate it, so you should use a daily moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and fresh. Don’t use the Retin A cream and your moisturizer at the same time though, in case the moisturizer stops the Retin A from working properly. If you use Retin A cream at night, moisturize in the morning, and again in the afternoon if necessary. Retin A can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so a moisturizer which contains SPF will help with this too.

You should use your Retin A cream as prescribed, but usually Retin A cream is applied once a day, often at night before you go to bed. It can take a little time for your skin to adjust to Retin A, so you might have to start off by using it once every three nights, then once every two nights, then every night when you think you’re ready.

Studies have shown that tretinoin (the active ingredient in Retin A) is safe for long term use. For most people, the medication is prescribed as a long term treatment for acne.

Most people will see a noticeable improvement in around 6 weeks, however, this depends on how well someone reacts to the treatment and how severe their acne is. For some people, they may see results in less time and in some cases, it may take longer. If you do not see any benefits in 3 months, please speak to our doctors who will be able to advise further.

Yes you can use Retin A for acne scars. Not only does Retin A help with acne breakouts, research has shown it can improve the appearance of acne scars too. Tretinoin, the active ingredient in Retin A, speeds up the turnover of skin cells, promoting the shedding of dead cells and their replacement with new ones, including the growth of new skin cells at the site of scaring. Retin A may not heal your acne scars entirely, but used daily, over time it should improve their appearance.

Although Retin A is an acne medication, the active ingredient tretinoin is also a popular anti-aging treatment. When used consistently, topical tretinoin has been proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, both over the short and the long term.

Yes, this is another in the list of Retin A benefits. As well as fighting acne and reducing some of the signs of ageing, the increased rate of skin cell turnover promoted by tretinoin (the active ingredient in Retin A) has also been shown to reduce the appearance of dark spots or dark areas on the skin (pigmentation).

There are many acne and skin products with similar sounding names, so to deal with any confusion, we’ll explain the difference simply here. The active ingredient in Retin A, called tretinoin, is a type of synthetic vitamin A (synthetic means it’s a form of vitamin A that doesn’t occur naturally). Retinols are another type of skin product used to treat acne, but Retinols are based on natural forms of vitamin A (basically types of vitamin A you can find in food). So Retin A is a synthetic vitamin A, and Retinols are natural vitamin A. Retinols are available without prescription, but are usually less effective than Retin A.

Retin A is regarded as one of the most effective treatments for acne. Studies have repeatedly shown the active ingredient in Retin A, called tretinoin, can reduce the severity of acne outbreaks, limiting the number of spots and the inflammation that can accompany acne.

Retin A is a safe and effective acne treatment for most people, but like all meds, it can have side effects. These tend to be mild in nature, and include dryness, redness, peeling, itching, and burning of the skin where the cream is applied. Any side effects should reduce over the first few weeks of use as your skin gets used to the Retin A. If they don’t go away, and if you experience more serious side effects, like swelling and blistering, discontinue use and speak to our doctors.

Yes, Retin A can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. You should wear protective clothing when going outside and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15.

When using Retin A, it is important that you do not use other topical acne products that contain a peeling agent, for example, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur.

When you first start using Retin A, you may find you get more breakouts of acne. This isn’t something to worry about; it’s common and it should pass as your skin gets used to Retin A, usually within two to six weeks.

Retin A can also cause your skin to peel at first. The active ingredient in Retin A, tretinoin, increases the rate at which your body replaces skin cells. As old skin is shed, especially in the first few weeks of using Retin A, it can give your skin a flaky, or even crusty appearance. This peeling should reduce and even disappear over time, usually between two to six weeks, but if not, speak to our doctors.

Yes, Retin A is a stronger, synthetic version of vitamin A and it requires a prescription from a doctor. You can get a prescription from our doctors at FROM MARS, start an online consultation and our doctors will determine if Retin A is suitable for you.

Retin A cream is a prescription medication which you can buy from us here at FROM MARS. Simply start an online consultation with us and a licensed US doctor will review your details and, if medically approved, prescribe Retin A cream. Your medication will be shipped for free to your door.

To find out more about acne, please visit our acne page. You’ll also find lots of advice and information about skincare and Retin A on our blog.