Retin-A Cream

tretinoin

Retin-A cream is commonly used as a skin medication for treating acne and other skin disorders. Retin-A cream is also mainly used for treatment of skin wrinkles, skin discoloration, and for softening rough skins.

Retin-A cream is available in the form of liquid, gel or strong gel termed as Retin-A micro.

When administering the Retin-A cream on the skin care has to be taken not to overexpose under the sun, sun lamps, etc. The medication should also not be used in case of sun burnt skin. However if the sun exposure is in evitable, then the treatment area should be protected using sunscreens having minimum SPF-15 along with a protective clothing over the area. Weather changes, which includes harsh wind, cold, etc can irritate the treated skin, hence it is recommended avoiding them.

Retin A cream is applied once everyday preferably in the evening times over the skin that shows symptoms of acne formation. The cream should be sufficiently applied to cover the area. In case of liquids, the lotion is applied using finger tips after through washing the area and hands with soap. Using cotton or gauze for application helps in preventing liquid saturation at the point.

You can also use cosmetics over the area; however, care has to be taken for thoroughly removing the cosmetics before resting. In case of skin dryness, apply petroleum jelly over the area to prevent moisture from escaping. Retin-A cream does not show immediate results. It takes minimum 2 weeks for visible results. The medication should be continued fully and it should not be stopped in between as the problems might reappear.

You can start using the Retin-A cream from the next time.

Retin-A cream is stored at room temperature.

Some of the side effects of Retin-A cream include:

• Abnormal red, puffy, blistered, or crusted skin occurs upon skin allergic reaction to the cream.
• Unusual darkening of the skin or skin discoloration might occur and wanes in the time being.
• Burning
• Dry skin
• Skin itching
• Skin peeling
• Reddening of the skin
• Stinging sensation

• Retin-A cream should not be used if you are allergic to one or more ingredients of the skin.
• Retin-A cream safety and drug efficacy for long term use is yet to be determined. Hence it is wise to consult the doctor before extending the drug use.
• Retin-A cream should not be applied directly on the mucus layer of the body like eyes, nose, mouth and other areas.
• In some cases, the drug causes skin irritations, and during this case, the drug application should be stopped immediately or consult a doctor.
• Retin-A cream should be used very cautiously especially over skins that are prone to eczema, and other severe skin problems.
• During the initial days of treatment, the condition might get worse, but the treatment should not be stopped.

The Retin-A cream possibly could react with other certain drugs and worsen the side effects. The Retin-A cream reacts with drugs like:

• benzoyl peroxide
• Preparations containing sulfur that are used to treat skin disorders and infections
• Resorcinol, which is an ointment for treating acne, and it causes skin to peel
• Salicylic acid that kills bacteria and fungi and causes skin to peel
• It is recommended that you take a small break between uses of the above drugs and Retin A treatment.
• The cream also might interact with certain topical medications, medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics and makes the skin very dry.
• The cream also interacts with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime.
• The drug interaction with permanent wave solutions, electrolysis, hair depilatories or waxes, or other preparations might irritate the skin.

The effect of Retin-A cream in pregnancy is yet to be studied however, it is wise to contact the doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. The presence of the drug is not detected in breast milk; however, the drug has to be used cautiously in breast feeding mothers.

Retin-A cream is applied once in a day during the evenings. Visible results are seen in about 2 to 3 weeks, however, the usage of the drug for more than 7 weeks is not allowed.

Excessive application of the cream will not produce fast or better results before the actual time. In some cases, it might also cause skin reddening, skin peeling as a side effect.