About Retinoid Acne Treatments

If you're between the ages of 15 and 24, you probably have acne. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates that 85 percent of people in this age bracket, along with many younger teens and adults, suffer from the skin condition. Although over-the-counter treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide, remain the most common way to treat acne, your dermatologist may recommend prescription retinoids to treat your acne.

Causes

You can blame your pimples on three interrelated factors, according to MayoClinic.com. For acne to form, your skin needs first to produce too much oil. Secondly, your skin needs to shed too many skin cells, which can combine with the oil to clog your pores. Finally, bacteria must build up in your overly oily skin to cause infection and inflammation.

Function

Pharmacologists derive retinoids from vitamin A, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Retinoids, a mainstay of acne treatment, prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming in your pores and also help to clear out pores that are already clogged. They accomplish this by encouraging your skin cells to reproduce more quickly.

Features

The retinoid tretinoin, sold under the brand names Retin-A and Atralin, was the first retinoid developed for use in acne treatment, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The retinoids adapalene and tazarotene also treat acne lesions. All retinoids provide the added benefit of smoothing out fine wrinkles and lines.

Side Effects

All retinoids can make you more sensitive to the sun and more susceptible to sunburn and sun damage, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In addition, all retinoids can cause skin irritation, which can be severe at first. Many patients report that tretinoin can be especially irritating, but patients seem to tolerate newer formulations of that drug better.

Results

When it comes to comparing retinoids for acne treatment, tretinoin may have an edge over tazarotene, according to a study reported in the July 2009 "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology." In the study, Dr. L.H. Kircik treated patients for 12 weeks with either tretinoin or tazarotene. In the fourth week, the tretinoin group had seen nearly two-thirds of acne lesions clear up, compared to 19 percent in the tazarotene group. However, the group using tazarotene saw less skin irritation.