What is Retin-A?

Retin-A is one of the brands registered and promoted to market skin medication based on Tretinoin. It is a form of vitamin A, carboxylic acid, also known as fully trans-retinoic acid or ATRA. This is the first retinoid used to treat acne and follicular keratosis. The medication is available in the form of creams or gels. The most frequently-used concentrations are 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%.

To buy Retin-A at a lower price, you should opt for a generic, i.e. the same formulation sold under a non-advertised name.

 Some of available forms of Tretinoin and the trade names

This substance is most often used to treat acne. Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid used to treat photoaging (aging caused by sun exposure). It is sometimes used as an anti-hair loss remedy and is part of many cosmetic products aimed to slow down skin aging and get rid of wrinkles. This retinoid is also used to treat and prevent stretch marks as it promotes the production of collagen in the skin.

When is Retin-A used?

Before you get the medication, you must understand that different formulations are used for different conditions:

- Oil-water-based cream, gel, or solution for the external use are appointed for severe acne (with the formation of comedones, papules, pustules, drain acne); follicular keratosis, and flat warts.

- Water-oil-based cream is used for hyperpigmentation, tuberosity, and wrinkling of the skin of the face caused by exposure to sunlight (as adjunctive therapy).

If you are not sure what type of medication you should get, consult a specialist first.

How does Retin-A act?

The natural metabolite of retinol disrupts the expression of a gene that causes changes in protein synthesis. It passes through cell membranes and forms complexes with specific cytoplasmic receptors that penetrate into the cell nucleus and bind to DNA. Depending on the state of the tissue, it is induced (the transcription process starts and the amount of i-RNA increases) or protein synthesis is inhibited.

Tretinoin inhibits gene transcription factor (AP-I), which helps reduce or stop the synthesis of metalloproteinases and mitigate the negative effects of sunlight on the skin (including hyperpigmentation). Tretinoin diminishes the melanin level in the epidermis, however, there is no information about changes in the number and size of melanocytes. The drug itself does not block the sun rays and is not used as a sunscreen.

Induction of transcription leads to an increase in the number of epithelial cells in a state of mitosis, which enhances the proliferation processes in the papillary a layer of the skin and renewal of the epithelium; reduces the adhesion of cells involved in the development of acne, prevents the formation of keratin plugs, increases the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan-like substances in the stratum corneum of the epithelium.

When treating open blackheads, it evens out the skin surface without signs of inflammation. When processing closed blackheads, it contributes to their transition to open blackheads or papules, which then heal without scarring after removing the keratin plug. Tretinoin prevents the formation of new blackheads.

There is evidence that Tretinoin inhibits keratin synthesis, promotes hair growth (slightly) and has a weak antitumor effect.

When is Retin-A contraindicated to be used?

You must not buy generic Retin-A in case of the following conditions/circumstances:

- Allergy or other severe adverse effects caused by the drug;

- During pregnancy or breastfeeding periods;

- For kids younger than twelve years;

- For kids younger than 18 for the treatment of sun allergy or sun damage to the skin;

- For adults older than 50 for the treatment of sun allergy or sun damage to the skin;

The medication can be used but cautiously in:

- Seborrheic dermatitis,

- Eczema,

- Sunburn,

- Liver failure,

- Pancreatitis,

- Chronic renal failure,

- Chronic intoxication (including alcohol intoxication),

- Diabetes mellitus.

Can the cream be used during pregnancy?

No, it is strictly contraindicated as this substance can cause birth defects. When a woman of childbearing age uses the cream, she must use reliable contraception methods for two months before the course initiation and 1-2 months after the end of the course.

Treatment regimen with Retin-A

The cream is applied in a thin layer once a day and washed out 6 hours after application. If your skin is very sensitive, the cream must be washed out 30 minutes after the first application. Then, the duration of the cream contact with the skin can be gradually extended. The cream is preferably applied before bedtime. If necessary, it can be applied twice a day.

Softened comedones (blackheads) can be carefully removed. The treatment lasts from 1 week to 3 months depending on the pathology: for the therapy of acne vulgaris, the effect usually is noticeable within 2-3 weeks, the pronounced effect is observed in 6-7 weeks, and the complete curing usually occurs after 3 months of therapy. For the treatment of negative sun effects, the expected results can be noticed in 4-24 weeks.

As a prophylaxis, the medication can be used once a week after a warm bath.

The treatment of flat warts begins with low-percentage ointments/creams, in the lack of effect, both the concentration of the drug and the frequency of its use are increased (in the absence of obvious skin irritations).

The medication must not get into your eyes or mucosa (nose, mouth, genitals). Thus, once you apply it, you should wash your hands with soap. If it got into your eyes or mucosa, wash them thoroughly.

What adverse reactions can Retin-A cause?

When you buy Tretinoin, you should be ready that it can cause certain negative effects such as:

- Allergic reactions (moderate to severe);

- Tingling;

- Reddening of the skin;

- Burning sensation;

- Swelling at the site of application;

- Sensitivity to sunlight;

- Peeling and dryness of the skin, the formation of blisters or peels;

- Rarely pigmentation of the skin (darker spots), or hypopigmentation (lighter spots).

Can Retin-A be used with other medicines?

When you buy generic Tretinoin, make sure to check that you don’t combine it with incompatible medicines:

- The same-time use of the medication with topically-applied antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin), resorcinol, salicylic acid, astringents, aftershave, with products containing pilling substances, sulfur, ethanol, cosmetics, hair care products, and other substances that cause dry skin, substances containing lemon or having an abrasive effect can cause potentiating of the irritation and dryness of the skin. It requires either a reduction in the dose of Tretinoin, or temporary cessation of treatment until the disappearance of adverse effects.

-The medication accelerates the absorption of Minoxidil and promotes hair growth with the increased risk of skin irritation (simultaneous use is not encouraged).

- The simultaneous use with any medicines that enhance sensitivity to light including fluoroquinolones, phenothiazines, sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics enhance sensitivity to sunlight and related adverse effects especially during the first month of Tretinoin use. It is not advised to combine these drugs or the dosage of Tretinoin should be lowered.

- When the cream is used with other retinoids, the irritation and dryness of the skin are enhanced.

Special recommendations

When you order Retin-A, make sure to follow all precautions to avoid the development of adverse effects.

- Avoid getting the cram into your eyes, mouth, and another mucosa. If it gets there, wash it off with water immediately.

- During the use of the cream, it is advised to avoid sun exposure.

- Tanned individuals should start the treatment once the tan is off. In one week of medication use, the worsening of acne can be observed. It is due to the effect of the medication on the deeply-located acne which hadn’t been visible before the course.

- The medication should not be used with any medicines that cause skin peeling or any cosmetic products that dry the skin or cause irritation.

- In some cases, for acne vulgaris therapy, it is recommended to use both oral and topical forms of Tretinoin. In case of any adverse effects occurrence, the dosage of one of the retinoids is either lowered or one of them is canceled till the elimination of adverse effects.

- During the treatment of follicular keratosis, irritation symptoms can be reduced by the simultaneous appointment of local corticosteroids.

- The water-oil based cream is not advised for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

- The medication is used as a monotherapy for the acne vulgaris of I and II severity grades. For more severe cases, the medication is advised to be used with antibiotics (oral or topical) or benzoyl peroxide.

- The effectiveness and safety of the medication use for the treatment of photochemical dermatosis and skin tumors have not been established.

- The cream should not be used for deep wrinkles, yellowing of the skin, thinning of the skin, melanocytic atypia, and skin elastosis.

Where is it better to buy Retin-A?

You can get the medication at your local drugstores but considering that the cream is used for long periods of time, it is better to order generic Retin-A from an online drugstore. For instance, we offer high-quality generic medications that cost much cheaper than branded drugs and render the same effect.

Free prescription
Our doctor prescribes online for free, and there is no doctor’s consultation fee.

Discrete packaging
All orders arrive in discrete unmarked parcels. We leave the shipment description blank.

For more answers see the FAQ section