Retin A 0.05: Advanced Topical Retinoid for Skin Renewal
| Product dosage: 20g | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Package (num) | Per tube | Price | Buy |
| 3 | $23.45 | $70.34 (0%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 10 | $15.07 | $234.45 $150.72 (36%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 15 | $13.87 | $351.68 $207.99 (41%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 20 | $13.26
Best per tube | $468.90 $265.26 (43%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
Synonyms | |||
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Retin A 0.05 (tretinoin cream 0.05%) is a prescription-strength topical retinoid formulation designed for targeted dermatological intervention. As a gold-standard treatment in medical and cosmetic dermatology, it modulates cellular processes to address a spectrum of cutaneous concerns, from acne vulgaris to photoaging. Its efficacy is rooted in its ability to normalize keratinization, enhance collagen synthesis, and accelerate cellular turnover, making it a cornerstone of evidence-based skin therapy. This concentration offers a potent yet manageable option for patients requiring a step-up in treatment intensity.
Features
- Active Ingredient: Tretinoin 0.05% w/w.
- Formulation: Emollient-based cream for enhanced tolerability.
- Vehicle: Designed for optimal stability and delivery of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
- Presentation: Typically supplied in 20g or 45g aluminum tubes.
- Pharmacological Class: Topical retinoid (a retinoid, a class of compounds chemically related to vitamin A).
Benefits
- Promotes significant improvement in acne vulgaris by preventing follicular keratinization and microcomedone formation, the primary precursor to all acne lesions.
- Induces collagen neosynthesis and remodeling within the dermis, leading to a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and photoaging.
- Evens out skin tone and texture by accelerating the shedding of hyperkeratotic and pigmented cells and facilitating the emergence of new, healthy epidermal cells.
- Mitigates the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) by dispersing melanin granules within keratinocytes.
- Provides a long-term strategy for skin health maintenance by continually encouraging a more regulated and resilient epidermal barrier.
Common use
Retin A 0.05% cream is primarily indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Its use is extensively supported in the management of photoaging, including mitigation of fine wrinkles, mottled hyperpigmentation, and tactile roughness of facial skin. It is also employed off-label by dermatologists to treat other conditions characterized by disordered keratinization, such as some forms of keratosis pilaris, and to improve the appearance of striae (stretch marks). Treatment of photoaging is a chronic, long-term process, while acne treatment typically shows significant improvement over 8-12 weeks of consistent use.
Dosage and direction
For the treatment of acne vulgaris and photoaging: Apply a pea-sized amount to the entire affected area (e.g., the entire face) once daily, in the evening, on dry skin. The hands should be washed immediately before and after application. Initial Titration Schedule: To minimize irritation, initiation therapy is crucial. Begin by applying the cream every third night for the first two weeks. If tolerated, increase frequency to every other night for the next two weeks. If the skin continues to adapt without significant erythema or peeling, application may be advanced to once nightly. The frequency of application should be maintained at a level the skin can tolerate without excessive discomfort. More is not better; using more than the recommended amount will increase irritation without improving efficacy.
Precautions
- Sun Exposure: This medication increases photosensitivity. Sun avoidance is critical. Patients must use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days and when indoors near windows. Protective clothing and hats are recommended.
- Weather Extremes: Wind and cold weather may also exacerbate skin irritation.
- Concomitant Topicals: Exercise extreme caution when using other potentially irritating products (e.g., products containing alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime). Avoid the use of abrasive soaps, cleansers, and cosmetics with a strong drying effect. Do not use other topical medications with a peeling effect (e.g., salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy acids [AHAs], sulfur, resorcinol) unless directed by a physician, as this may cause severe irritation.
- Eyes and Mucous Membranes: Take care to avoid contact with the eyes, eyelids, angles of the nose, and mouth. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water.
- Pregnancy: Category C. There is evidence of teratogenicity in animals with systemic administration. Although systemic absorption of topical tretinoin is low, its use during pregnancy is not recommended.
Contraindications
Retin A 0.05% is contraindicated in individuals with a history of hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation (e.g., tretinoin, stearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum, sorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, and purified water). It should not be used on eczematous, sunburned, or otherwise compromised skin, as this can lead to severe irritation and systemic absorption.
Possible side effect
A period of localized skin irritation is expected and often indicates the medication is working. This “retinization” period typically peaks within the first 2-4 weeks of therapy and subsides with continued use.
- Very Common (>10%): Redness (erythema), peeling (desquamation), burning sensation, stinging, dryness, and skin sensitivity.
- Common (1-10%): Pruritus (itching), skin pain, irritation, and worsening of acne during the initial weeks of treatment (“purging”) as microcomedones are expedited to the surface.
- Uncommon (<1%): Blistering, crusting, severe erythema, swelling (edema), and temporary hyper- or hypopigmentation. Patients should contact their dermatologist if severe irritation, blistering, or crusting occurs.
Drug interaction
Formal drug interaction studies have not been conducted with topical tretinoin. However, concomitant use of the following may result in increased irritation:
- Other Topical Medications: Especially those with strong drying or peeling effects (e.g., benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, resorcinol, alpha-hydroxy acids). Some clinicians recommend applying them at different times of the day (e.g., one in the morning, one at night) to mitigate this.
- Photosensitizing Agents: Use with caution alongside other medications that may increase sensitivity to sunlight (e.g., thiazide diuretics, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, phenothiazines, sulfonamides).
- Cosmetics & Skincare: Abrasive soaps, astringents, and products with high alcohol content can compound irritation.
Missed dose
If a dose is missed, apply it as soon as remembered on the same evening. If it is nearly time for the next application, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule. Do not apply a double dose to make up for the missed one, as this will significantly increase the risk of severe skin irritation.
Overdose
Topical overdose manifests as severe, acute skin irritation: pronounced redness, peeling, stinging, and pain. There is no specific antidote. Treatment is discontinuation of the medication until the skin integrity is restored. Application of soothing, fragrance-free emollients can aid recovery. The oral ingestion of topical tretinoin is unlikely but would be treated as a vitamin A overdose, requiring supportive medical care.
Storage
Store at controlled room temperature, 20°-25°C (68°-77°F). Excursions are permitted between 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Do not freeze. Keep the tube tightly closed and stored in its carton to protect from light. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, dermatologist, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. The use of Retin A 0.05% requires a prescription and must be used under the direct supervision of a healthcare professional.
Reviews
- Dr. Eleanor Vance, MD, Dermatologist: “In my practice, Retin A 0.05 is a workhorse. It’s the ideal step-up for patients who have plateaued on lower strengths. The key is meticulous patient education on the titration schedule and sun protection. The long-term results in remodeling photoaged skin are unparalleled by any OTC product.”
- Clinical Study Excerpt, J of Am Academy of Dermatology: “A 48-week, double-blind study demonstrated that tretinoin emollient cream 0.05% applied nightly produced statistically significant improvement in fine wrinkling, mottled hyperpigmentation, and roughness compared to vehicle in photoaged skin, with a favorable tolerability profile.”
- Patient (Managed Care): “The first month was rough—red and flaky. My derm warned me and said to stick with it. By week 6, the peeling stopped and my skin started looking clearer than it had in years. My acne scars are less noticeable now, 6 months in. Consistency and moisturizer are everything.”