What are the efficacy and side effects of tretinoin cream?

Generally, the therapeutic effects of tretinoin cream include anti-keratosis, acne treatment, anti-inflammatory action, improvement of skin pigmentation, promotion of skin metabolism, and so on. Side effects may include skin redness, itching, dryness, peeling, and pain. It is recommended to use the medication as directed by a physician. Detailed analysis is as follows:

I. Therapeutic Effects of Tretinoin Cream

1. Anti-Keratosis

Tretinoin cream can regulate epidermal cell mitosis and renewal, enabling abnormally keratinized epidermal cells to resume normal keratinization processes. It loosens the stratum corneum cells, making them easier to shed, thus improving excessive keratinization conditions such as keratosis pilaris.

2. Acne Treatment

Tretinoin cream inhibits the keratinization of hair follicle sebaceous ducts, reduces sebum secretion, prevents sebum from blocking the follicular orifice to form comedones, and helps dissolve and expel existing comedones, offering effective acne treatment.

3. Anti-Inflammatory Action

This medication has certain anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce skin inflammatory responses by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators and leukocyte chemotaxis, thereby alleviating symptoms such as redness and pain caused by acne or seborrheic dermatitis.

4. Improvement of Skin Pigmentation

Tretinoin cream acts on epidermal melanocytes, reducing the formation and transfer of melanin granules, thereby lightening skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more even skin tone.

5. Promotion of Skin Metabolism

Tretinoin cream accelerates the renewal rate of epidermal cells and promotes collagen synthesis in the dermis, helping to improve skin texture. It makes the skin smoother and finer, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and has certain anti-aging properties.

II. Side Effects of Tretinoin Cream

1. Skin Redness

Tretinoin cream promotes epidermal cell renewal and accelerates cell proliferation. During this process, vascular endothelial cells in the skin may be stimulated, causing vasodilation and increased blood flow to supply more nutrients to the rapidly growing cells, which may lead to noticeable skin redness.

2. Skin Itching

Tretinoin cream alters intercellular signal transmission in the skin and stimulates sensory nerve endings. These nerve endings, when stimulated, send abnormal signals to the brain, causing the sensation of itching, which may affect the user's comfort and daily life.

3. Skin Dryness

Tretinoin cream accelerates epidermal cell metabolism, increasing the turnover rate of stratum corneum cells. During this process, the skin cannot replenish sufficient moisture, and water loss exceeds the rate of replenishment, disrupting the skin's original oil-water balance and resulting in dry skin.

4. Skin Peeling

As skin dryness progresses, stratum corneum cells lack sufficient moisture and lipid nourishment, causing a decrease in intercellular adhesion. Under the action of tretinoin-induced accelerated cell turnover, numerous stratum corneum cells shed prematurely, forming white or gray-white scales, resulting in visible skin peeling.

5. Pain Induction

When the skin is strongly irritated by tretinoin cream, its barrier function may be compromised, leaving nerve endings more exposed and susceptible to external stimuli. Especially when the skin is already damaged or in a sensitive state, external stimuli can more easily penetrate the impaired barrier and reach the nerve endings, causing pain sensations that may be more pronounced.

To prevent adverse reactions such as excessive skin irritation, it is recommended to start with a low-concentration formulation on a small area when using tretinoin cream. If no significant discomfort occurs, the concentration and application area can be gradually increased.