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Prescription onlyFDA-approved
Tretinoin
Prescription — nightly topical
A prescription retinoid applied at night, with decades of clinical use in acne and photoaging. Strength is set by your provider.
FDA-approved topical retinoid. Where a provider prescribes a compounded formulation combining it with other actives, that combination is not FDA-approved and is labelled as compounded.
from $35/mo
if prescribedSample pricingYou'll see your exact total before you're charged anything. Nothing is charged for the visit itself.
Adding to your plan doesn't order anything and doesn't charge you — it tells the provider what you're hoping to discuss.
About 5 minutes. A licensed provider reviews your health and prescribes tretinoin only if it's right for you — there is no checkout here, and that's deliberate.
How it works
What it actually does
Skin renews on a cycle: dead cells shed as new ones rise. When that cycle slows, cells and oil accumulate inside the pore and form the plug that acne starts from. Tretinoin binds retinoic acid receptors in skin cells and accelerates that turnover, so pores clear before they plug. The same mechanism is why it's used for texture and fine lines.
See the full mechanism, step by stepA provider may consider it if
- Over-the-counter products haven't moved the needle for you
- You can commit to nightly use and daily sunscreen
- You're prepared for an adjustment period rather than an instant result
It won't be prescribed if
- Pregnancy, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding — this is a hard stop
- Anyone unwilling to use daily sun protection, since it increases sun sensitivity
- Active eczema, rosacea flares or broken skin where it would be applied, without provider guidance
These are the same checks the visit runs. If one applies, the visit will tell you plainly rather than take your money.
What to expect
Realistically, month by month
Weeks 1–6
Dryness, peeling and often a purge — spots surfacing faster than usual. This is the mechanism working, not a reaction against you, but tell your provider how bad it is.
Months 2–3
Skin typically adjusts. Your provider may step the strength up or change the formulation.
Ongoing
A long-term routine. The ramp in strength is part of the treatment, not a delay before it.
Safety, stated up front
Side effects, before you decide
Dryness, peeling, redness, stinging and increased sun sensitivity are expected early. Severe irritation or blistering means stop and message your provider. Not for use in pregnancy.
- FDA prescribing information: tretinoin topical
Complete safety information is provided during your visit and with every prescription. This page is a summary, not a substitute for your provider's advice.
Questions
Asked honestly, answered honestly
Why not just buy a retinol serum?
Over-the-counter retinols cap the active at levels that often don't move the needle. Prescription strength is stronger — which is exactly why a provider has to confirm it's appropriate for your skin first.
Will my skin get worse before it gets better?
Often, yes, and briefly. Your provider will tell you what's normal and what's worth messaging about.
Also for skin
See whether tretinoin is right for you
Five minutes of questions, reviewed by a licensed provider. Treatment only if it's appropriate — and a straight answer either way.