Product Information

Retin-A is an acne treatment that also removes wrinkles and improves skin appearance and condition.

Retin-A is an acne treatment that also removes wrinkles and improves skin appearance and condition

Retin-A, containing tretinoin (sometimes called retinolic acid), derived from vitamin A, can reduce severe wrinkles within only 6-weeks and completely remove fine lines. Indeed, many expensive skin-creams currently on sale boast of their extremely minute quantities of retinolic acid!

Retin-A acts by improving blood supply to the skin, which in-turn increases the turnover of dead skin cells. Accordingly, new more subtle and younger looking skin appears at the surface. An additional use of Retin-A is to speed up the rate of skin repair after cosmetic surgery.

Use:
There are two versions of Retin-A available: The 0.05% cream, which is designed for wrinkles, and the 0.1% cream, which is designed for acne. If you have never used this product before, we strongly recommend that you start at the lowest dosage and if necessary, work your way up slowly.

Apply sparingly to the skin's surface until it has been completely absorbed, avoiding the eyes, at first 5 times a week, and thereafter about 3 times a week. Without your physician's advice, do not apply to skin suffering from psoriasis, eczema, or if you are suffering from a form of skin cancer.

It is recommended that a moisturizer be used, (see NeySkin or Only You Body Lotion) and in addition a high factor sunscreen (see Solaris). This is because Retin-A increases skin sensitivity.

Side effects:
Retin-A may cause skin reddening at first, this is quite normal as the skin's blood supply is improved and younger looking skin begins to appear presenting that youthful glowing affect.

Caution:
Avoid the eyes. Rinse with cold water immediately if accidentally placed there.

Manufacturer's Insert (a)

RETIN-A ® / RETIRIDES ® - Manufacturer's Insert

Chemical:
Tretinoin BP 0.025%, 0.05% or 0.1% cream and 1g excipients c.s.p.

Excipients:
Decyl oleate, isopropyl myristrate, glyceryl monostearate, acetyl lanolin alcohol, ceteareth-30, cetyl alcohol, proline, monostearate of polyethylene glycol 400, urea, collagen, methylparaben, propylparaben, lactic acid, sodium citrate, sodium hydroxide, vitamin E, aroma, and purified water.

Description:
Tretinoin or vitamin A acid, the single active ingredient used in Retirides, is a cellular stimulant which is effective in the treatment of common acne.

Information for users:
Retirides 0.05% is recommended for the external treatment of common acne, especially in the case of blackheads, pimples and papules.

Directions:
Apply a sufficient amount of cream so as to cover the affected area with a thin layer. Massage gently. Retirides is available in 3 different strengths (0.025%, 0.5% and 0.1%). Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate strength depending on your skin type and degree of acne, and will also recommend the number of daily applications necessary. It is advisable to start the treatment with a low concentration of the cream and a single daily application. Following this and according to the patient’s individual needs, the strength and/ or number of daily applications may be increased.

Contraindications:
If any ingredient should cause hypersensitivity, discontinue use.

Caution:
Due to the possibility of irritation, it is advisable to begin treatment on a small area of skin. Exposure to the sun or to ultraviolet rays causes additional irritation. During treatment with Retirides, such exposure should thus be avoided as much as possible or a dun filter should be used. In the event of exceptional exposure (such as a day at the seaside), refrain if possible from applying the cream the day before, the day of exposure to the sun and the day after exposure. Keep Retirides away from the eyes, mouth and nose. Should contact occur, rinse the affected area carefully with abundant water.

Please note:
If the patient has been previously treated with keratolytic preparations or exfoliants, he should wait until the skin rash clears up before beginning even low strength Retirides treatment. Studies of the effect of this product on pregnant women are incomplete. For this reason, it should only be applied when absolutely necessary and always under a doctor’s supervision. It is thought that this product may possibly be excreted into mother’s milk. Retirides should thus be used with caution by nursing mothers.

Interaction:
This product should be used with caution due to the possible interaction of tretinoin with concomitant external medication, abrasive soaps, drying cosmetics and products with a high alcohol content. Care should also be taken regarding the application of preparations containing sulphur, resorcinol or salicylic acid.

Side effects:
The effectiveness of tretinoin based products is almost always accompanied by skin irritation. In the treatment of acne, this phenomenon is directly related to the effectiveness of the product and disappears once applications are more spaced out. During the first weeks of treatment there may be an apparent worsening of the problem. Such a reaction is perfectly normal because small cysts deep within the skin are being eliminated at an accelerated rate.

Correct application:
Acne may worsen during the first two or three weeks of treatment. Should this occur, do not interrupt treatment unless skin rash or other symptoms become severe. Avoid washing the face frequently. Doing so with a neutral soap two or three times per day is sufficient. Dry face without rubbing. Wait a full half-hour before applying the cream. Avoid the simultaneous application of other external acne products and the use of perfumes, colognes, and tonics, lotions which are scented or which contain alcohol. These products may irritate the skin.

Intoxication and its treatment:
Overdose of this product is unlikely if the patient realizes that an increased application does not bring better or quicker result. Likely reactions would be a marked inflammation, flaking and discomfort. In addition, the DL 50* of tretinoin is very high and skin absorption very low (approximately 5% of the dosage administered).

Manufacturer's Insert (b)

RETIN-A ® / KEFRANE ® - Manufacturer's Insert

Ingredients:
Gel, 0.05% for local external use 30-g tube Tretinoin..............5 cm
Excipients: Diethanolamine, oxyethylenated hydrogenated fatty acid esters, Isopropanol, monoglycerides and diglycerides of fatty acids, carbomer, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, butylhydroxytoluene, aroma, purified water 100.00 g
This 30-gram tube contains 15 milligrams of tretinoin.

Indications:
Acne

Directions for use:
Follow your doctor's instructions. As a rule, apply once or twice daily to the area to be treated following a gentle cleansing. The dosage will be modified depending on the sensitivity of each patient.

Precautions:

• Prior to using this pharmaceutical product, the patient is recommended to carry out a patch test for sensitivity on a small area of skin.
• Avoid contact with the eyes, mouth, nostrils and mucous membranes. Should this occur, rinse thoroughly with water.
• Special care should be taken with regard to the concomitant use of other preparations, especially those that cause peeling. If the patient has already been treated with exfoliants prior to treatment with this pharmaceutical product, he is advised to wait until the skin lesions have healed.
• Because solar radiation and ultra-violet lamps cause additional irritation, these should be avoided as much as possible. Patients with solar erythema should wait until these symptoms disappear before beginning treatment with this preparation.
• If you believe you may be pregnant, consult your doctor.

Adverse effects:
Irritation caused by this product may appear in the course of treatment. These include dry, slightly stinging erythema, above all in the peri-buccal region and neck.

Note:
This is a drug. It affects your health. A drug is an active product that combats an illness but is not always harmless for your organism. Certain rules must be followed concerning its use. Obey your doctor's instructions and follow the advice of your chemist, who knows these rules and knows you. Take these drugs that have been prescribed for you as instructed and when necessary: Do not modify either the dosage amount or the time of taking it without your doctor's instructions Do not stop or resume treatment without consulting your doctor or chemist Never leave medicines within the reach of children.