Patient information:
Member of a family of retinoids, Retin-A anti-acne, marketed under the brand of Retin-A Micro is the most prescribed medicine by dermatologists.
Retin-A Micro has proved itself very effective in treating a widely spread skin disorder: acne. Clinical reports revealed unexpected statistics:
1/4 of adult men and 1/2 of adult women all over the Globe are affected by acne.
Acne means pimples, blemishes, zits, blackheads, breakouts or whatever they may be called; generally speaking acne means an uncomfortable, embarrassing aspect. Doctors refer to it as acne vulgaris and consider it a dysfunction of skin pores and oil glands. Most regular causes of acne are hormonal imbalances, pregnancy, menses, and menopause, clogged pores, excessive secretion of the sebaceous glands, but also facial hair removal or inappropriate make-up.
Retin-A Micro is marketed by Ortho Neutragena and contains a unique formula of patented microspheres of Tretinoin, which is an innovation in treating acne. Tretinoin is hold in microscopic polymer; a system called Microsponge System and developed by Enhanced Derm Technologies, Inc.
Retin-A Micro is formulated into a gel easy to apply or to remove.
Specialists conducting medical studies Retin-A Micro considered that due to microspheres, medication is held in reserve and skin may absorb small proportions of active ingredient after application. However, Retin-A Micro may be easily washed off because microspheres of tretinoin remain at the skin’s surface.
Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are not the same, although both medicines work on the same basis of retinolic acid. Tretinoin is contained in the patented Microsponge System only by Retin-A Micro. Moreover medical data reports only a reduced level of skin irritation, while patients using Retin-A complain about a reddish skin aspect and dermal sensitivity.
Furtheremore, Retin-A Micro does not imply any restriction regarding application, while Retin-A Micro can only be applied on face 20-30 minutes time after face washing.
Clinical trials proved that Tretinoin treats and diminishes existing acne and prevents it from forming. The medicine causes only temporary, light irritation similar to a local irritant, which are the most generally met side effects of Retin-A Micro.
Directions of using Retin-A Micro:
Doctors recommend patients to use Retin-A Micro anti acne once a day in the evening after washing your face. If a non-medicated soap is used for washing, results of the medicine may be even more obvious and rapid.
However, patients should not use under any circumstances astringents or toners containing alcohols. The skin should by carefully pat dry and not rubbed with a soft textile.
Retin-A Micro is applied on the whole face except the eyes, nose and mouth corners in small amounts spread until absorption. After washing the medicine off your face, patients are indicated to use facial lotions with sun block during daytime. A dermatologist’s opinion regarding the complementary skin lotion is crucial because a wrong choice may increase acne plugs.
Facial epidermis must be deeply cleansed before and after using Retin-A Micro.
The manufacturer of Retin-A Micro states that the results become visible after 15 days of treatment, progressively improving in up to seven weeks of therapy.
Patients may experience low skin irritation as well as peeling or unpleasant sensation in the adjusting period. This should not lead to cessation of the treatment, as it will as gradually diminish over the weeks. In case of abnormal reactions, patients should immediately seek a dermatologist’s help.
Retin-A Micro treats acne one step at a time. In the first few weeks Retin-A Micro works on blackheads pushing them out. This may induce burning sensations, a reddish coloration or peeling but only for a short period of time.
After approximately 3 weeks of treatment, Retin-A Micro may
push out a
few new pimples, but these are the manifestation of purifying activity
of the medicine.
Despite the unpleasant, even embarrassing way you look you may have to
deal with the worst you can do is end the treatment.
After 1 month significant improvements can be noticed, the best proof
that the ugly part of the deal has passed. From this point on the
epidermis will become healthier and better looking. However, this does
not mean you may stop applying Retin-A Micro. Continuation of
the
treatment is compulsory in maintaining the results.
Patients usually associate Retin-A Micro with other facial creams and lotions. Not all of them react positively in this combination, reason for which a dermatologist’s advice is highly necessary. Specialists recommend a mild, oil free, non-medicated soap and non-comedogenic cleansing lotion for face wash before applying the medicine. It is crucial not to clog pores or to irritate dermal surface treatment with astringent products, lotions containing alcohol, spice or lime.
Products containing benzoyl peroxide neutralize Retin-A Micro’s
tretinoin, in other words simultaneous use of the two decreases to a
minimum the effectiveness of the anti-acne treatment.
Dermatologists indicate hypoallergenic moisturizer that do not
fragrance and sun protection creams with a minimum Sun Protection
Factor is at least 15. Ignoring these basic recommendations can only
result into even worse acne exceptions. Sunscreen is compulsory when
undergoing the Retin-A Micro therapy, as skin surface may
become more
vulnerable to UVA and UVB rays influence.
Make-up may be used during the treatment, but before and after applying
the medicine, patients must have an impeccably clean and dry
complexion. However, extra care in choosing make-up products is needed,
in order not to use only, comedogenic ingredients that may diminish the
effectiveness of the therapy.
Hair products, as strange as it may seem, also influence acne
development. The oil contained by shampoo, conditioner or hair gel may
penetrate the complexion during sleep or day-time increasing blemishes.
Retin-A Micro's Side effects:
After applying, the skin may feel warm or stinging and redness
may occur. After two days peeling of the skin may occur also. These
effects should diminish as your skin adjusts to the medication. If
these side effects persists you should inform your doctor. Retin-A
Micro use also increase sun sensitivity.
You shold notify your doctor if you experience: blistering, redness,
crusting, severe burning or swelling of the skin. If other side effects
not listed above appear contact your phisician or pharmacist.
Contraindications to Retin-A Micro:
Retin-A Micro is contraindicated to allergic persons. This product is alcohol-free conceived as water based gel with patented opaque powder microspheres. Retin-A Micro looks almost like a cream with a yellow coloration induced by the main active ingredient, tretinoin.