Most people think of acne as a teenage problem, and they're right: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that about 45 million people, most of them teenagers or young adults, will suffer from pimples this year. But adults can get acne too---the skin disease can occur in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. Fortunately, physicians offer effective treatments for acne. One of those treatments, Retin-A, not only curbs zits, but also works to smooth fine wrinkles, making it an excellent choice for older acne sufferers.
Significance
Acne results primarily from fluctuations in the levels of male hormones, known as androgens, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These hormones serve to stimulate glands in the skin, known as sebaceous glands, to produce an oil known as sebum. Too much of this oil, combined with sloughed-off skin cells from the skin's surface, can clog up pores and irritate already sensitive skin. Next, normally slow-growing bacteria begins to reproduce too fast, leading to bacterial infection. The result is whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and cysts---a bad case of acne.
Function
Retin-A, a natural derivative of vitamin A, falls into a group of topical retinoids, many of which can treat acne. Retin-A is a brand-name; the generic term for the active ingredient is tretinoin, according to the AAD. Tretinoin was the first retinoid approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat acne, and Retin-A remains one of the best-known brand names. It works gradually by encouraging the skin to renew itself, unclogging pores and then keeping them unclogged. Since its approval, physicians and patients also noticed that Retin-A very effectively reduces the signs of aging on the skin, and different formulations of tretinoin are marketed specifically as anti-aging medications.
Effects
Most patients can use Retin-A, according to the Mayo Clinic. Side effects include skin irritation and redness, and some patients report fairly severe irritation from the prescription medication. However, this often subsides after several weeks of use. Medical studies show Retin-A and other tretinoin medications effectively clear acne. For example, a study published in 2009 in the "Journal of the Indian Medical Association" looked at tretinoin along with three other acne medications. They recruited 100 patients, and found that the group using tretinoin saw about 80 percent acne clearance, along with an improvement in skin tone and color. New pimples that popped up in the tretinoin group cleared quickly, the study authors said.
Time Frame
Retin-A doesn't work quickly to clear pimples, the AAD says. Because the medication keeps new pore blockages from forming, users gradually see their acne start to subside. But Retin-A doesn't attack bacterial infection that contributes to acne, and it doesn't help to calm the hormone fluctuations that ultimately cause the condition. Because of this, physicians consider Retin-A to be a long-term acne treatment.
Considerations
Because Retin-A only affects one of the causes of acne, dermatologists often combine Retin-A acne treatment with another form of acne therapy, such as a prescription-strength antibiotic ointment or benzoyl peroxide, the AAD says. And Retin-A does have one significant side effect: Its active ingredient makes the skin especially sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Dermatologists urge patients using Retin-A for acne to apply a powerful sunscreen anytime they venture out of doors.
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