Tretinoin (Topical)
Brand Names : Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Retin-A MICRO, Retisol-A, Stieva-A, Stieva-A Forte, Vitamin A Acid, Vitinoin, retinoic acid
Precautions While Using This MedicineDuring
the first 3 weeks you are using tretinoin, your skin may become irritated.
Also, your acne may seem to get worse before it gets better. It may take longer
than 12 weeks before you notice full improvement of your acne, even if you
use the medicine every day. Check with your health care professional at any
time skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve within
8 to 12 weeks.
You should avoid washing the skin treated with tretinoin for at least 1
hour after applying it.
Avoid using any topical medicine on the same area within
1 hour before or after using tretinoin
. Otherwise, tretinoin may not
work properly or skin irritation might occur.
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 (such as benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur)
-
Hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal
products
-
Skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, such as those containing
spices or limes
-
Skin products containing a large amount of alcohol, such as astringents,
shaving creams, or after-shave lotions
-
Skin products that are too drying or abrasive, such as some cosmetics,
soaps, or skin cleansers
Using these products along with tretinoin may cause mild to severe irritation
of the skin. Although skin irritation can occur, some doctors sometimes allow
benzoyl peroxide to be used with tretinoin to treat acne. Usually tretinoin
is applied at night so that it does not cause a problem with any other topical
products that you might use during the day. Check with your doctor before
using topical medicines with tretinoin.
During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing
the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or cold weather
. 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. Do not use a sunlamp
.
To help tretinoin work properly, regularly use sunscreen or sunblocking
lotions with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also, wear protective
clothing and hats, and apply creams, lotions, or moisturizers often.
Check with your doctor at any time your skin becomes too dry and irritated.
Your health care professional can help you choose the right skin products
for you to reduce skin dryness and irritation and may include the following:
-
For patients using tretinoin for the treatment of acne:
-
Regular use of water-based creams or lotions helps to reduce skin
irritation or dryness that may be caused by the use of tretinoin.
-
For patients using tretinoin for the treatment of fine wrinkling,
dark spots, and rough skin caused by the sun:
-
This medicine should be used as part of an ongoing
program to avoid further damage
to your skin from the sun. This program
includes staying out of the sun when possible or wearing proper clothing or
hats to protect your skin from sunlight.
-
Regular use of oil-based creams or lotions helps to reduce skin irritation
or dryness caused by the use of tretinoin.
|