Vitamin A Acid Gel (Tretinoin) is used to treat acne or other skin diseases as determined by your doctor. It works partly by keeping skin pores clear. It works by lightening the skin, replacing older skin with newer skin, and slowing down the way the body removes skin cells that may have been harmed by the sun. Tretinoin works best when used within a skin care program that includes protecting the treated skin from the sun. However, it does not completely or permanently erase these skin problems or greatly improve more obvious changes in the skin, such as deep wrinkles caused by the sun or the natural aging process. It may also be used for skin wrinkles caused by the sun, as well as for other uses. It requires a few weeks to take effect. Vitamin A Acid Gel should be applied daily, preferably before retiring where acne lesions are present, using enough of the non-oily gel to lightly cover the affected area.
Manufacturer Information
Canadian Pharmacy King currently offers the brand Vitamin A Acid Gel from Canada by Bausch Health. Vitamin A Acid Gel is available in a dosage of 0.01 %/25 gm, 0.025%/25 gm, and 0.05%/25 gm. The generic alternative is currently unavailable.
Common side effects Vitamin A Acid Gel may include burning, itching, stinging, scaling, or redness of the skin; chapping or slight peeling of the skin (mild); darkening of the skin; lightening of normal skin color; lightening of treated areas of dark skin; redness of skin (mild); unusual dryness of skin (mild); unusually warm skin (mild). Temporary hyper- or hypo-pigmentation can occur with repeated application of Vitamin A Acid Gel. Call your doctor immediately if you notice more serious side effects such as:
• Burning, stinging, peeling, redness, or unusual dryness of the skin (severe);
• Dryness, pain, redness, irritation, or peeling at the application site
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Contact your doctor if any of these side effects worsen or persist.
During the first 3 weeks you are using Tretinoin, your skin may become irritated. Also, your acne may seem to get worse before it gets better. Check with your doctor if skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks. You should avoid washing the skin treated with Tretinoin for at least 1 hour after applying it. Avoid using any topical medicine on the same area within 1 hour before or after using Tretinoin. There may be an interaction between Tretinoin and other topical acne products. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur); hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products; skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, including those containing spices or limes; skin products containing a large amount of alcohol (eg, astringents, shaving creams, or after-shave lotions); skin products that are too drying or abrasive, such as some cosmetics, soaps, or skin cleansers. During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight. The skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation, especially during the first 2 or 3 weeks. However, you should not stop using this medicine unless the skin irritation becomes too severe. Do not use a sunlamp. To help Tretinoin work properly, regularly use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It is not known if Tretinoin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are using this medication, talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
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