Before using Retin-A,
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tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Retin-A or any other drugs.
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tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins.
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tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using Retin-A, call your doctor.
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plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Retin-A may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
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Retin-A comes in topical liquid, cream, and gel. Retin-A usually is used daily at bedtime or once every 2 or 3 days. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use Retin-A exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your acne probably will get worse (red, scaling skin and an increase in acne sores) during the first 7-10 days that you use this medication. Nevertheless, continue to use it; the acne sores should disappear. Usually 2-3 weeks (and sometimes more than 6 weeks) of regular use of Retin-A is required before improvement is seen.
Use only nonmedicated cosmetics on cleansed skin. Do not use topical preparations with a lot of alcohol, menthol, spices, or lime (e.g., shaving lotions, astringents, and perfumes); they can sting your skin, especially when you first use Retin-A.
Do not use any other topical medications, especially benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid (wart remover), and dandruff shampoos containing sulfur or resorcinol unless your doctor directs you to do so. If you have used any of these topical medications recently, ask your doctor if you should wait before using Retin-A.
If you are to apply any form of Retin-A, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands and affected skin area thoroughly with mild, bland soap (not medicated or abrasive soap or soap that dries the skin) and water. To be sure that your skin is thoroughly dry, wait 20-30 minutes before applying Retin-A.
- Use clean fingertips, a gauze pad, or a cotton swab to apply the medication.
- Use enough medication to cover the affected area lightly. Do not oversaturate the gauze pad or cotton swab.
Apply the medication to the affected skin area only (e.g., skin with acne sores).
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