tretinoin
Tretinoin is a retinoid medication that's used to treat acne. A few brands that are available with a prescription include Atralin (a gel), Avita (a cream), and Retin-A Micro (a gel). They're also available as generics. You typically apply tretinoin once daily to the affected area(s) on your skin. Some side effects of tretinoin include dry skin, peeling skin, and a burning sensation where you apply it.
What is Tretinoin?
What is Tretinoin used for?
Acne
How Tretinoin works
Tretinoin is a retinoid, which is a chemical formed from vitamin A. It's thought to help treat acne by unclogging pores in your skin that are plugged with dead skin cells and excessive oil. It also replaces your old skin cells with new skin cells to prevent acne and pimples from forming.
Drug Facts
More on Tretinoin essentials
Get your GoodRx coupon
What are the side effects of Tretinoin?
Common Side Effects
- Dry skin
- Peeling or flaky skin
- Skin burning sensation
- Red skin
- Itchy skin
- Skin pain
- Sunburn
Other Side Effects
- Blisters
- Crusted skin
- Changes in skin color
Serious Side Effects
- Severe allergic reaction: itchy, red rash (hives); shortness of breath; chest tightness; swelling of lips, tongue, face, or eyes
Source: DailyMed
More on Tretinoin side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Burning, stinging, peeling, redness, or unusual dryness of the skin (severe)
Less common
Dryness, pain, redness, irritation, or peeling at the application site
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Burning, itching, stinging, scaling, or redness of the skin
chapping or slight peeling of the skin (mild)
darkening of the skin
lightening of normal skin color
lightening of treated areas of dark skin
redness of skin (mild)
unusual dryness of skin (mild)
unusually warm skin (mild)
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Tretinoin
Pros
Applied once a day
Comes as a cream or gel
Lower-cost generic versions available
Cons
Can cause skin irritation, including burning, redness, and peeling
Usually takes weeks to see improvement in acne
Not recommended during pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Tretinoin
Apply tretinoin in the evening before bedtime. For best results, use it consistently and exactly as prescribed.
Once you notice improvement in your skin, continue applying tretinoin until your prescriber tells you it's okay to stop. Once you stop this medication, it's possible for your acne to come back.
Only apply tretinoin to your skin. Don't get it in your eyes, mouth, corners of your nose, or vagina. Wash your hands after you apply the medication to avoid getting it on other parts of your body. Otherwise, it could cause irritation.
Don't apply tretinoin to areas of broken skin, since more medication might get absorbed into your body through broken skin and raise your risk of side effects. Also avoid applying the medication to skin that has eczema or sunburned skin because it might cause more irritation.
It's normal for tretinoin to cause skin dryness, redness, pain, and peeling. You can use a moisturizer with or without sunscreen in the morning after you wash your skin to try to help soothe any dryness. Contact your prescriber if these side effects are very bothersome or don't go away.
Tretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid sunlamps, tanning beds, and ultraviolet light during treatment with this medication. If you need to go outside, be sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent sunburns.
You can apply makeup while you're using tretinoin. Just make sure to wash it off before you apply the medication.
Because tretinoin makes your skin more sensitive, things like cold weather, wind, and lime peels can cause even more irritation. Try to protect your skin from things that will make it more irritated. If your skin gets irritated from weather or from other skin products, wait until those effects go away before you apply tretinoin.
Frequently asked questions about Tretinoin
How to save using GoodRx
What are the risks and warnings for Tretinoin?
Tretinoin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Skin irritation
Risk factors: Sensitive skin | Eczema | Extreme weather
Tretinoin can cause skin redness, dryness, pain, and irritation where you apply the medication. Avoid applying the medication to areas of skin that are sunburned or have eczema, since these areas are more prone to irritation.
Be aware of how often you wash the affected area(s) since washing it too often can cause your skin to dry out. Use a mild cleanser that won't irritate your skin, and consider using a moisturizer to help with dry skin.
Stop using the medication until your skin heals if your skin irritation doesn't go away. Discuss with your primary care provider or dermatologist to see whether you need to use tretinoin less often so that you can tolerate it better or whether you need a different medication.
Sunburns
Risk factors: High levels of sun exposure | Having skin that burns easily | Living in a hot climate | Working outdoors
Using tretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to both natural sunlight and artificial sunlight from sunlamps. This can cause your skin to burn more easily. Having skin that's more sensitive to light might also raise your risk of early aging of the skin or skin cancer.
It's important to protect your skin from sunlight. Some ways to protect your skin include finding shade outdoors, using sunscreen when you're outside (even on cloudy days), and wearing sun-protective clothing (like hats). Also avoid using sunlamps. Ask your primary care provider or dermatologist about which SPF (sun protection factor) level of sunscreen will protect you best. Stop using tretinoin until your skin fully heals if you get sunburned.
Use with caution for people with fish allergies (Atralin gel and its generics only)
Risk factors: Allergy to fish or fish-containing products
Some tretinoin skin products, such as Atralin gel and its generic formulations, are made with fish proteins. Be careful using this medication if you have an allergy to fish. Let your prescriber know if you develop a red, itchy rash (hives). You might have to stop using tretinoin.
Tretinoin dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45g of 0.05% | 1 tube | $560.81 | $560.81 |
Typical dosing for Tretinoin
Interactions between Tretinoin and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Tretinoin cost?
What are alternatives to Tretinoin?
Treatment of papules and pustules in adults with mild-to-moderate rosacea
What is the latest news about Tretinoin?
Tretinoin images
Get savings updates for Tretinoin
Receive price alerts, news, and other messages from GoodRx about Tretinoin and other healthcare topics and relevant savings offers.By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
References
Best studies we foundBausch Health US, LLC. (2024). Atralin- tretinoin gel [package insert]. DailyMed.
Mother To Baby | Fact Sheets. (2022). Tropical tretinoin. Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS).
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2018). Avita- tretinoin cream [package insert]. DailyMed.
VanBuren, C. A., et al. (2022). Vitamin A in skin and hair: An update. Nutrients.
Yoham, A. L., et al. (2023). Tretinoin. StatPearls.
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.