Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Tretinoin is a prescription-strength retinoid and is a derivative of vitamin A. Tretinoin has been found to increase healthy cell turnover which may help reduce the appearance of fine lines, lighten dark spots, and improve acne. Tretinoin can be prescribed for acne, dark spots, fine lines, sun damage, improved skin texture and tone, or general skin appearance benefits.
Tretinoin works by increasing the rate of skin cell turnover, replacing old skin cells with new skin cells faster than usual. This rapid turnover can improve skin issues like acne, rough texture, scarring, dark spots, fine lines, and sun-damaged skin.
How long tretinoin takes to work depends on the skin issues you are targeting, and if your skin becomes irritated during the acclimation period. For acne improvements, people may start seeing benefits in about 6 weeks or more of use. If you are targeting anti-aging effects, this is usually a longer process of many months. Some people may opt for a slow integration of Tretinoin where they only use it certain days of the week. If you are slowly increasing your Tretinoin usage, it may take longer to see the initial benefits but you might limit skin irritation.
Some people experience side effects from using Tretinoin cream, especially when first starting out on the cream, or when increasing the strength you are using. The most common side effects of Tretinoin cream include: redness, peeling, burning, stinging, dry skin, or skin irritation. This is not a complete listing of the potential side effects of Tretinoin cream, just the most common side effects. Take a look at the more detailed safety information on the product page for more information.
Before starting out on Tretinoin, you should tell your doctor a few key things. Let them know if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tretinoin can not be used during pregnancy as it can negatively affect the development of a growing baby. You should let your doctor know about any other medications you are using, health conditions you have, or other skincare treatments you have tried in the past or are currently using. Let your doctor know about other skincare items you are using, even over-the-counter products. Some over-the-counter products can contain non-prescription retinoids or be especially irritating when used alongside Tretinoin.
While you are using Tretinoin you will want to avoid a few things and pick your other skincare items very carefully. Avoid excess sun exposure when using Tretinoin as it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and make you more prone to burning (always use daily sunscreen for this reason). Avoid using additional retinoid products when you are using this prescription-strength retinoid to avoid the increased risk of side effects, even in over-the-counter products. Avoid overly drying or irritating skin care items like drying soaps and cleansers, alcohol-based products, harsh exfoliants, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or chemical peels. Avoid using wax hair removal on the Tretinoin treatment area while using Tretinoin, this may cause the top layer of skin to peel off with the wax and should be avoided entirely.
The online doctor’s visits are typically complementary. With Strut, you will only pay for the prescription if you qualify after your medical consultation. If after checking out, the doctor identifies that you are not a good candidate for treatment, you will not be charged. If you decide to transfer your prescription at any time to a non-preferred pharmacy of Strut Health, then you will be charged a $40 physician consultation fee to your credit card on file. Customer service can provide additional details on our pharmacy network.
Your medication will be shipped to you via USPS from a U.S. compounding pharmacy. There is no additional cost for shipping.
The strengths of Tretinoin cream that you are prescribed may depend on what you are trying to treat, how sensitive your skin is, and if you have used retinoids before. We offer 3 strengths of Tretinoin cream: 0.025% (the lowest concentration), 0.05%, and 0.1% (the highest concentration). In general, 0.05% may be a good middle-of-the-road starting point for most people. Although, 0.025% may be used if you have very sensitive skin or want to start slow, and 0.1% may be used if you have already been using Tretinoin and have worked up to this strength. Feel free to reach out to us via email or phone if you are unsure which strength is a good starting point for you.
You will want to apply your Tretinoin cream at night. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and water, then pat dry and allow your skin to fully dry. Apply a pea-sized amount of your Tretinoin cream in a very thin layer over the entire face, taking care to avoid the eye area and lips. Since it is a small amount, a patting or tapping application may be easier than rubbing it in. Wash your hands and allow the Tretinoin to soak in. Once the Tretinoin has had some time to soak in, follow with a moisturizer to help with dryness. While you are using Tretinoin cream, it is recommended to wear sunscreen daily as your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. You should also be diligent about moisturizing your skin twice daily to help prevent and improve dryness and irritation that may develop with retinoid use.
You do need to wear sunscreen during the day when you are using Tretinoin cream. Although you will be applying the Tretinoin cream at night, your skin will still be more sensitive to sunlight during the day during the course of your Tretinoin treatment. This may mean you are more likely to burn than usual. For this reason, it is recommended to use an at-least 30 SPF sunscreen as part of your daily skincare routine. Wearing sunscreen daily is also a good way to amplify your efforts to reduce fine lines, prevent sun damage, and lighten discolorations.
This Strut Tretinoin cream is not a compounded medication, this is a manufactured tube of Tretinoin (generic Retin-A). This means that there is a longer expiration date on these medications as compared to a compounded medication.
It can be normal to experience redness, dryness, burning, stinging, or irritation of the skin while you are using Tretinoin. This is more likely to occur at the start of treatment, or when increasing your usage or strength. You can take steps to help support your skin during this time by using gentle, moisturizing skincare products, wearing sunscreen, and avoiding harsh skincare products like peels, acids, alcohol-based formulations, and abrasive scrubs. If the irritation is severe or ongoing, contact your doctor for the next steps and recommendations.
Tretinoin
This treatment plan may help: reduce the appearance of acne, increase healthy cell turnover, reduce hyperpigmentation, smooth fine lines, and improve skin texture and tone when used regularly and as prescribed.
The main mechanism of action is to increase healthy cell turnover. It may take several months to see maximum results.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Use the medicine exactly as directed. Using more medicine or applying it more often than prescribed will not make it work any faster, and may increase side effects.
Do not take by mouth. Topical medicine is for use only on the skin. Avoid getting this medication in your eyes or mouth.
Do not use on sunburned skin, or skin affected by eczema.
Wash your hands before and after applying formula. Before applying, clean and dry the skin area to be treated. Applying formula to wet skin may cause skin irritation.
Do not wash the treated area or apply other skin products for at least 20 minutes after applying formula.
This formula should be used as part of a complete skin care program that includes moisturizing, avoiding excess sunlight, and using an effective sunscreen. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep the container tightly closed when not in use. Store away from children and pets.
You can use this medicine in conjunction with other topical skin products, but avoid other products that also contain tretinoin, retinol, or other retinoids.
Do not use with skin products that contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid unless otherwise directed by your doctor. These products can cause severe skin irritation if used with this formula.
This medication may cause allergic reactions if you are allergic to a component of the medication or medications similar to the ingredients in this product. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed (Ingredients: Tretinoin) please stop the medication, reach out to us and contact your doctor.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, you may be having an acute allergic reaction and you need to get emergency medical help immediately.
We have evaluated your health history and the specific health information you provided us. However, if anything changes and you develop or discover any new condition please contact us and your doctor to make sure this medication is still appropriate for you.
Some medications can have interactions with conditions and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan.
Tretinoin products are to be avoided during pregnancy due to the risks to the growing fetus.
It is not known if Tretinoin goes into breastmilk and what the effects might be on a growing child, so it is not recommended to use Tretinoin products while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant in the near future.
You may experience side effects with these medications.
These side effects are common and may go away with time and daily use:
These side effects may be managed with frequent use of an everyday moisturizer and sunscreen.
You may also experience:
You should also avoid other products known to cause skin irritation on the area of treatment such as: medicated or abrasive soaps, chemical hair removers or waxes, electrolysis, products with alcohol or astringents, and cosmetics with a strong drying effect.
We have evaluated your health history and the specific health information you provided us. However, if anything changes and you start or discover that you are taking any additional medicines or supplements please contact us and your doctor to make sure this medication is still appropriate for you.
Some medications can have interactions and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan.
We have evaluated the specific health information provided by you to identify if this product is appropriate for you. If you forgot to provide us with any information or incorrectly provided the information we may misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment.
If you need to update or clarify any information about your health you can call us and update your profile so that we may reevaluate if this is appropriate for you.
This treatment is not 100% effective for every patient. It may not work for every patient or may only work partially to resolve the condition that it is meant to treat.
If the treatment is not working, or if you find that you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, contact us as well as your doctor to identify if you should continue this treatment.
If it is an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical help.
We are providing this treatment for you because the potential benefits outweigh the risks in our estimation based on the medical information provided.
You should evaluate this information and any input from your in-person healthcare team, and any other relevant information to decide if this treatment plan is appropriate for you.
We recommend that you update all of your physicians, pharmacists, and the rest of your healthcare team to let them know about any new medicines or supplements that you are taking or any changes in your health.
You can also ask us questions anytime regarding your therapy and we are happy to help you share any information about your health with anyone in your personal healthcare team.
The following links provide further information on the potential risks and benefits of this medication:
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