Tretinoin or Retin-A as it is also referred to, is a very effective treatment for both open comedones (blackheads) and closed comedones (whiteheads).

It works because the molecules of vitamin A are so tiny that they can penetrate down into the lower layers of your skin.

Surprisingly, for a product which is so effective at treating acne that might be thought of as a problem particularly affecting younger people, it is also approved for use in treating signs of skin-aging by the FDA.

Tretinoin will help to even out skin tone, effectively treating those mottled pigments that affect aging skin as well as improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

So, if you are a sufferer from adult acne, this product could have the double benefit for you of not only treating your blackheads and whiteheads, but also making your skin look more radiant and more youthful too!

Applied to your skin, this product works by speeding up the turnover of skin cells at the surface and revealing the fresher, younger skin cells below. Unfortunately, this does not come without some side effects and many people experience sensitivity and skin flaking and in some cases irritation ranging from mild to quite severe during the first few weeks of use.

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B007M690II” locale=”us” height=”300″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31jnDELdhZL.jpg” width=”300″]Tretinoin is a really popular product on Amazon that is currently available at a big discount. Many reviewers praise it, not only for its effectiveness, but also for the fact that buying via Amazon saves them a lot of money over getting a prescription product. You do need to be careful though as the product comes in different strengths. 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%. For the first time user, or for on the face, it is better to start with a lower strength to avoid side effects. So even though Amazon is a great place to buy at a really low price, check carefully that the product you are buying is the strength you want. The product illustrated is the 0.1% strength. Obagi make a cream that gets excellent reviews and which is lower strength. If you have bought a product that is too strong for your skin, you can mix it with moisturizer to make it less potent.

View the range of products available from Amazon here.

As mentioned previously, there are often side effects to using this product, especially during the first few weeks and for this reason, many people give up before giving it a chance to really work. It truly is effective on blackheads and whiteheads but the negative reviews you may have read are often from people who have not given the product the six to nine weeks it takes to make a really noticeable difference to their skin.

If you want to use the product to combat wrinkles, you will need to be even more patient as whilst it can take around six months to see a really noticeable difference with aging skin, using the product for at least a year is the best guarantee of good results.

The cream should be applied at night. Resist the temptation to use more product in the belief it will work better or faster. Believe me, it will not and this is definitely a case where less is more! This also means it is very economical.

When you start using it, it is a good idea to begin by using it only a couple of times a week and gradually increase the frequency up to nightly. This will help to avoid some of the sensitivity products that can occur by giving your skin more time to adjust. In the same way, once you have achieved the results you are looking for, you can decrease the frequency of application to a level that suits you.

You can minimize the effect of the flaking by using an exfoliating cotton cloth when you wash your face the following morning. Alternatively, use the mildest exfoliating facial scrub you can find (such as one from the Neutrogena range).

You need to follow up by using a really good moisturizer. Even if your skin is really oily, do not be tempted to miss out this step. Use an oil-free moisturizer which will keep your skin properly hydrated. This is just as important for men as for women and will help to minimize the problems with flaking and peeling that cause some people to give up on the treatment – which is a shame because it really can give great results!

One important point to bear in mind is that Tretinoin makes skin more sensitive to the sun so it is a good idea to use a moisturizer that includes a sunscreen. However, it is also important to avoid undoing the good work of unblocking pores by using the wrong moisturizer as some sunscreens can clog pores. So, look for a non-comedogenic product that will ensure that this does not happen for you.

Alison Graham on Google+