Tretinoin is used to treat certain types of acne. Tretinoin works by causing the skin's outer layer to grow more quickly and be replaced with new skin cells, which helps to reduce the formation of blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne lesions. It may take several weeks to see improvement in your acne and the full effect of this medication may not be seen for 8 to 10 weeks.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are using this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop using this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to use this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

On applique la trétinoïne 1 fois par jour au coucher, de manière à recouvrir légèrement les zones traitées. La zone d'application doit d'abord être soigneusement nettoyée avec un savon doux et de l'eau, puis séchée en la tamponnant au moyen d'une serviette douce. Appliquez une petite quantité du produit (environ la grosseur d'un pois) sur le bout de votre doigt et étendez-le sur la peau où les lésions de l'acné se trouvent. Employez juste assez de médicament pour couvrir légèrement les zones touchées. Évitez de frotter pour faire pénétrer le médicament dans la peau.

Évitez que le médicament entre en contact avec les zones autour des narines, de la bouche et des yeux ainsi que les endroits facilement irrités. Évitez d'en appliquer une trop grande quantité parce que le médicament pourrait atteindre les yeux et d'autres zones à éviter. N'en mettez pas sur la peau touchée par d'autres problèmes, comme l'eczéma, une grave inflammation de la peau ou des lésions cutanées ouvertes. Après vous être lavé la peau le matin, il est recommandé d'appliquer un produit hydratant ou un produit hydratant contenant un écran solaire qui n'aggravera pas l'acné.

Si votre médecin vous a prescrit un autre traitement topique contre l'acné comme le peroxyde de benzoyle ou des antibiotiques topiques, n'appliquez pas ces médicaments au même moment de la journée que la trétinoïne.

Après 3 à 6 semaines de traitement, vous remarquerez peut-être de nouvelles lésions. Continuez à employer ce médicament et vous constaterez une amélioration graduelle de la peau sur une période de 8 à 10 semaines.

Pendant le traitement, il faut éviter l'exposition prolongée au soleil, aux lampes solaires, au vent et au froid. S'il est impossible d'éviter le soleil, utilisez un écran solaire avec un facteur de protection solaire (FPS) d'au moins 15 et portez des vêtements pour vous protéger.

Plusieurs facteurs peuvent entrer en ligne de compte pour déterminer la dose dont une personne a besoin : son poids, son état de santé et la prise d'autres médicaments. Si votre médecin a recommandé une dose autre que celles indiquées ici, ne modifiez pas la manière d'utiliser le médicament sans le consulter au préalable.

Il est très important que ce médicament soit pris conformément aux indications de votre médecin. Si vous oubliez une dose, ne vous souciez pas de la dose omise et reprenez le schéma posologique usuel. N'appliquez pas une double dose pour compenser l'omission d'une dose. Si vous hésitez sur la conduite à tenir après avoir omis une dose, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à un pharmacien.

Conservez ce médicament à la température ambiante et hors de la portée des enfants. Certaines préparations de trétinoïne sont inflammables, gardez donc ce médicament loin des flammes nues.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tretinoin or any ingredients of the medication.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is used in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who uses this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people using this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• burning, stinging, warmth, or tingling sensation of the skin lasting for a short time after applying
• chapping or slight peeling of the skin
• eye irritation
• increased sensitivity to sunlight
• redness of the skin
• skin rash
• temporary darkening or lightening of the skin
• unusual dryness of the skin
• unusual tiredness

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• excessively red, swollen, blistered, or crusted skin
• fever
• nausea
• pain, burning sensation, tenderness, severe irritation, or itchy skin
• symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., sore throat, fever, cough, stuffy nose, chills, feeling tired)
• vomiting

Stop using the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Application: Avoid contact with the eyes, eyelids, angles of the nose, mouth, easily irritated areas, or other areas where treatment is not intended. Tretinoin should not be applied to severely inflamed skin or to open lesions. Avoid applying more of this medication than is recommended or applying it more often than recommended by your doctor. This will irritate your skin and will not cause the acne to clear up any faster.

Skin care: You may use cosmetics, but be sure to thoroughly cleanse the areas to be treated before applying the medication. Oil-based cosmetics should be avoided. Instead, use oil-free, water-based products. If your doctor prescribes an additional acne treatment, it should be applied at a different time of day than tretinoin.

Try to avoid products applied to the skin that have high concentrations of alcohol, spices, or lime as they cause stinging and burning on treated skin. If possible, avoid simultaneous use of harsh abrasives and other skin treatments, including sun lamps.

Hair removal is permitted as usual (e.g., plucking, electrolysis, depilatories) but avoid these procedures at night before applying tretinoin as they may result in skin irritation.

Permanent wave solutions, waxing preparations, and medicated soaps and shampoos can sometimes even irritate skin that is not being treated with this medication. Use caution so that these products do not come into contact with skin treated with tretinoin.

Skin irritation: Some people may experience temporary skin irritation, especially in the early weeks of treatment. If excessive reactions occur, and the skin becomes extremely red, swollen, and crusted, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor.

An apparent worsening may develop due to the medication's effect on existing deep lesions. This is a normal part of the treatment effect and will clear up with continued treatment.

Your skin may be more sensitive to exposure to wind and cold while you are using this medication.

Sunlight exposure: Exposure to sunlight, including ultraviolet sunlamps, may cause more irritation. Therefore, avoid or minimize this type of exposure while you are using tretinoin. If you cannot avoid exposure to sunlight, use sunscreen products (minimum SPF 30) and wear protective clothing over treated areas. Do not apply this medication to skin that has a sunburn until the skin has fully recovered.

Pregnancy: This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Women who may become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control while they are using this medication. If you become pregnant while using this medication, stop using it immediately and contact your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if tretinoin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are using this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using the cream or gel formulations of this medication have not been established for children less than 12 years of age.

For a full list of interactions, use the Drug Interaction Checker available on the Drugs.com website.

If you are taking other medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.