Conclusion: These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne vulgaris.
PubMed 38300170 ↗Tretinoin
People mainly take Tretinoin for skin & hair. Based on 30 first-hand reports and 76 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #186 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 88% are positive.
What Tretinoin does, according to users
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
What the research says
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: oral minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride), and procedural (e.g. platelet-rich plasma, fractionated lasers, hair transplantation) treatments successfully promote hair growth, highlighting the superiority of a multifaceted and individualized approach to management.
PubMed 38852607 ↗Conclusion: Hydroquinone monotherapy and triple combination cream are the most effective and well-studied treatments for melasma, whereas chemical peels and laser- and light-based therapies are equal or inferior to topicals, but offer a higher risk of adverse effects. Oral tranexamic acid may be a safe, systemic adjunctive treatment for melasma, but more studies are needed to determine its long-term safety and efficacy. Limitations of the current evidence are heterogeneity of study design, small sample size, and lack of long-term follow-up, highlighting the need for larger, more rigorous studies in the tr
PubMed 31802394 ↗Conclusion: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: topical treatments (adapalene, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin [alone or plus zinc]; isotretinoin, tetracycline, tretinoin); and oral treatments (doxycycline, isotretinoin, lymecycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline).
PubMed 21477388 ↗Dosage people report
As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
Reported side effects
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
What users say
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“Tretinoin, microneedling (I use the Derminator), red/nir light (PlatinumLED is great), and plenty of sunscreen and water.”
“Tret has been show me to work so I would stick with that.”
“topical Tretinoin which increases cell turnover, and leads to quicker burning.”
“Retinol / Retinoid / Tretinoin / Adapalene product, whichever you can source”
“Tretinoin is the gold standard of anti-aging. It's what creatine is for bodybuilding, tried and true”
Other options for skin & hair
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate