Those people who use Tretinoin cream to treat skin conditions often experience scaling, redness, itching, burning, or other irritation. That’s why it is important for a user to start the treatment with the lowest possible strength of Tretinoin and gradually increase the strength as his/her skin adapts to the excessive amounts of vitamin A. Also, individuals using Tretinoin cream should avoid direct sunlight, as it increases the risk of extreme sunburn.
Avoid any hair removal procedures such as waxing or laser treatments while using any topical product that contains Tretinoin. The top layer (epidermis) of the skin will become very sensitive after using Tretinoin and most likely to come off with the hair due to thinning and increased sensitivity. While using Tretinoin, if you use some regular hair removal technique, it is important that you consult a dermatologist to determine whether or not you should discontinue the hair removal procedure while using the cream.
Additional Side Effects
- Retinoic acid syndrome is gradually developed by sufferer taking the treatment and can be life-threatening if a follow-up treatment is not given immediately.
- This syndrome leads to weight gain, fever, peripheral edema or dyspnea. Side effects of this condition include abdominal pain, hypotension, nausea or even cardiopulmonary collapse.
- Tretinoin is a teratogen, which can cause birth defects, particularly skull abnormalities in fetuses and infants.
- Topical tretinoin is the safest form to use during pregnancy or nursing, as birth defects caused as a result of use are less and almost nonexistent.
- Many other side effects caused by Tretinoin treatments do not appear in patients for several months or even years after the treatment has been completed. Sometimes side effects show up so late that it is very difficult to understand whether they were caused by the use of tretinoin cream or were caused by an entirely different reason.
