PlainPill

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.

44
User score
Mostly positive
50% positive0% mixed7% negative43% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 88% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
76
meta-analyses
265
RCTs
1,746
papers

What Tretinoin does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

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.

Am J Clin Dermatol · 2020 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Melasma Treatment: An Evidence-Based Review

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 ↗
BMJ Clin Evid · 2011 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Acne vulgaris

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.

0.05as reported
low doseas reported
0.05%1x/week
0.05%nightly
0.01%as reported
15 yearsas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

sunburn ×1skin peeling ×1

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.”
Source discussion ↗
“Tret has been show me to work so I would stick with that.”
Source discussion ↗
“topical Tretinoin which increases cell turnover, and leads to quicker burning.”
Source discussion ↗
“Retinol / Retinoid / Tretinoin / Adapalene product, whichever you can source”
Source discussion ↗
“Tretinoin is the gold standard of anti-aging. It's what creatine is for bodybuilding, tried and true”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

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