Acne tends to plague teenagers--the American Academy of Dermatology says that some 85 percent of teens will have at least some pimples each year, making acne the United States' most common skin disease. Although many teenagers will use over-the-counter treatments, those who seek the help of a dermatologist may receive a prescription for Retin-A, which dermatologists consider a mainstay in acne treatment.
Causes
Acne has several causes, including too much oil production in the skin, an overgrowth of a specific strain of bacteria and over-active shedding of dead skin cells. The dead skin cells combine with the excess oil to block pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads, and infection from the bacteria sets in behind those blockages. As a result, the skin erupts with pimples and swelling.
Function
Retin-A, which goes by the generic name tretinoin, is a vitamin A derivative that's prescribed to treat mild, moderate and severe acne. Retin-A stimulates the skin to produce new skin cells, which allows the skin to shed pore blockages and to prevent new blockages from forming. That, in turn, prevents new pimples from erupting and helps to alleviate bacterial infection.
Time Frame
Patients using Retin-A apply the product once a day to affected skin, but once you start using it, Retin-A doesn't work instantly to clear pimples and alleviate infection. That's because it doesn't attack existing pimples or infection directly. Instead, it works to prevent new pimples from forming. Patients using Retin-A report little difference in their conditions for the first several weeks, and it can take up to three or four months before your acne really begins to clear.
Research
Numerous medical studies back Retin-A as an effective acne treatment. For example, a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in July 2009 compared tretinoin, the active ingredient in Retin-A, to another vitamin A-based drug. After four weeks, the study found that the group receiving tretinoin had 64 percent fewer acne eruptions, while the group receiving the other acne drug had reduced its acne eruptions by only 19 percent.
Considerations
Retin-A comes with some side effects. Skin irritation, redness, peeling, blistering and crusting are common, especially in patients who have just started using it. Retin-A also increases your sun sensitivity dramatically, and dermatologists warn that you must wear sun block at all times to prevent damage. However, Retin-A remains one of the most powerful prescription medications to fight acne. Talk to your physician if you think it might work well for you.
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