Retin-A Cream

Uses of Retin-A Cream

Retin-A Cream is used to treat acne. It may decrease the number and severity of acne pimples and promote quick healing of pimples that do develop. Tretinoin belongs to a class of medications called retinoids. It works by affecting the growth of skin cells.

Precautions and Warnings

When using Retin-A Cream avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Retin-A Cream can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Avoid getting Retin-A Cream in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use Retin-A Cream on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using this medication in wounds or on areas of eczema. Wait until these conditions have healed before using Retin-A Cream.

It is not known whether Retin-A will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether tretinoin topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Dosage

RETIN-A Cream should be applied once a day, before retiring, to the skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected area lightly.

Therapeutic results should be noticed after 2 to 3 weeks but more than 6 weeks of therapy may be required before definite beneficial effects are seen.

Once the acne lesions have responded satisfactorily, it may be possible to maintain the improvement with less frequent applications, or other dosage forms.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• mild warmth or stinging where the medicine was applied; or
• changes in color of treated skin.

Stop using Retin-A and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe burning, stinging, or irritation of treated skin;
• severe redness, swelling, blistering, peeling, or crusting;