PATIENT INFORMATION
PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS
Retin-A®
(tretinoin)
Acne Treatment
IMPORTANT
Read Directions Carefully Before Using
For Topical Use Only
THIS LEAFLET TELLS YOU ABOUT RETIN-A (TRETINOIN) ACNE TREATMENT
AS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN. THIS PRODUCT IS TO BE USED ONLY ACCORDING TO
YOUR DOCTOR'S INSTRUCTIONS, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE
BODY OR TO OTHER GROWTHS OR LESIONS. THE LONG-TERM SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS PRODUCT IN OTHER DISORDERS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED. IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, BE SURE TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
The effects of the sun on your skin. As you know,
overexposure to natural sunlight or the artificial sunlight of a sunlamp can
cause sunburn. Overexposure to the sun over many years may cause premature
aging of the skin and even skin cancer. The chance of these effects occurring
will vary depending on skin type, the climate and the care taken to avoid
overexposure to the sun. Therapy with RETIN-A may make your skin more
susceptible to sunburn and other adverse effects of the sun, so unprotected
exposure to natural or artificial sunlight should be minimized.
Laboratory findings. When laboratory mice are exposed
to artificial sunlight, they often develop skin tumors. These sunlight-induced tumors
may appear more quickly and in greater number if the mouse is also topically
treated with the active ingredient in RETIN-A, tretinoin. In some studies,
under different conditions, however, when mice treated with tretinoin were
exposed to artificial sunlight, the incidence and rate of development of skin
tumors was reduced. There is no evidence to date that tretinoin alone will
cause the development of skin tumors in either laboratory animals or humans.
However, investigations in this area are continuing.
Use caution in the sun. When outside, even on hazy
days, areas treated with RETIN-A should be protected. An effective sunscreen should
be used any time you are outside (consult your physician for a recommendation
of an SPF level which will provide you with the necessary high level of
protection). For extended sun exposure, protective clothing, like a hat, should
be worn. Do not use artificial sunlamps while you are using RETIN-A. If you do
become sunburned, stop your therapy with RETIN-A until your skin has recovered.
Avoid excessive exposure to wind or cold. Extremes of
climate tend to dry or burn normal skin. Skin treated with RETIN-A may be more
vulnerable to these extremes. Your physician can recommend ways to manage your
acne treatment under such conditions.
Possible problems. The skin of certain sensitive individuals
may become excessively red, swollen, blistered or crusted. If you are experiencing
severe or persistent irritation, discontinue the use of RETIN-A and consult
your physician.
There have been reports that, in some patients, areas
treated with RETIN-A developed a temporary increase or decrease in the amount of
skin pigment (color) present. The pigment in these areas returned to normal
either when the skin was allowed to adjust to RETIN-A or therapy was
discontinued.
Use other medication only on your physician's advice.
Only your physician knows which other medications may be helpful during treatment
and will recommend them to you if necessary. Follow the physician's
instructions carefully. In addition, you should avoid preparations that may dry
or irritate your skin. These preparations may include certain astringents,
toiletries containing alcohol, spices or lime, or certain medicated soaps,
shampoos and hair permanent solutions. Do not allow anyone else to use this
medication.
Do not use other medications with RETIN-A which are not
recommended by your doctor. The medications you have used in the past might
cause unnecessary redness or peeling.
If you are pregnant, think you are pregnant or are
nursing an infant: No studies have been conducted in humans to establish
the safety of RETIN-A in pregnant women. If you are pregnant, think you are
pregnant, or are nursing a baby, consult your physician before using this
medication.
GELS ARE FLAMMABLE. Note: Keep away from heat and
flame. Keep tube tightly closed.
AND WHILE YOU'RE ON RETIN-A THERAPY
Use a mild, non-medicated soap. Avoid frequent washings and
harsh scrubbing. Acne isn't caused by dirt, so no matter how hard you scrub,
you can't wash it away. Washing too frequently or scrubbing too roughly may at
times actually make your acne worse. Wash your skin gently with a mild, bland
soap. Two or three times a day should be sufficient. Pat skin dry with a towel.
Let the face dry 20 to 30 minutes before applying RETIN-A. Remember, excessive
irritation such as rubbing, too much washing, use of other medications not
suggested by your physician, etc., may worsen your acne.
HOW TO USE RETIN-A (TRETINOIN)
To get the best results with RETIN-A therapy, it is
necessary to use it properly. Forget about the instructions given for other
products and the advice of friends. Just stick to the special plan your doctor
has laid out for you and be patient. Remember, when RETIN-A is used properly, many
users see improvement by 12 weeks. AGAIN, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS – BE PATIENT –
DON'T START AND STOP THERAPY ON YOUR OWN – IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ASK YOUR
DOCTOR.
To help you use the medication correctly, keep these simple
instructions in mind
 |
- Apply RETIN-A once daily before bedtime, or as directed by
your physician. Your physician may advise, especially if your skin is sensitive,
that you start your therapy by applying RETIN-A every other night. First, wash
with a mild soap and dry your skin gently. WAIT 20 to 30 MINUTES BEFORE
APPLYING MEDICATION; it is important for skin to be completely dry in order to
minimize possible irritation.
- It is better not to use more than the amount suggested by
your physician or to apply more frequently than instructed. Too much may irritate
the skin, waste medication and won't give faster or better results.
- Keep the medication away from the corners of the nose,
mouth, eyes and open wounds. Spread away from these areas when applying.
- Cream: Squeeze about a half inch or less of
medication onto the fingertip. While that should be enough for your whole face,
after you have some experience with the medication you may find you need
slightly more or less to do the job. The medication should become invisible
almost immediately. If it is still visible, you are using too much. Cover the
affected area lightly with RETIN-A (tretinoin) Cream by first dabbing it on
your forehead, chin and both cheeks, then spreading it over the entire affected
area. Smooth gently into the skin.
- Gel: Squeeze about a half inch or less of medication
onto the fingertip. While that should be enough for your whole face, after you have
some experience with the medication you may find you need slightly more or less
to do the job. The medication should become invisible almost immediately. If it
is still visible, or if dry flaking occurs from the gel within a minute or so, you
are using too much. Cover the affected area lightly with RETIN-A (tretinoin)
Gel by first dabbing it on your forehead, chin and both cheeks, then spreading
it over the entire affected area. Smooth gently into the skin.
- Liquid: RETIN-A (tretinoin) Liquid may be applied to
the skin where acne lesions appear, spreading the medication over the entire affected
area, using a fingertip, gauze pad, or cotton swab. If gauze or cotton is
employed, care should be taken not to oversaturate it to the extent that the
liquid would run into areas where treatment is not intended (such as corners of
the mouth, eyes, and nose).
- It is recommended that you apply a moisturizer or a
moisturizer with sunscreen that will not aggravate your acne (noncomedogenic) every
morning after you wash.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR NEW TREATMENT
RETIN-A works deep inside your skin and this takes time. You
cannot make RETIN-A work any faster by applying more than one dose each day,
but an excess amount of RETIN-A may irritate your skin. Be patient.
There may be some discomfort or peeling during the early
days of treatment. Some patients also notice that their skin begins to take on a
blush.
These reactions do not happen to everyone. If they do, it is
just your skin adjusting to RETIN-A and this usually subsides within two to
four weeks. These reactions can usually be minimized by following instructions
carefully. Should the effects become excessively troublesome, consult your
doctor.
BY THREE TO SIX WEEKS, some patients notice an appearance of
new blemishes (papules and pustules). At this stage it is important to continue
using RETIN-A.
If RETIN-A is going to have a beneficial effect for you, you
should notice a continued improvement in your appearance after 6 to 12 weeks of
therapy. Don't be discouraged if you see no immediate improvement. Don't stop
treatment at the first signs of improvement. Once your acne is under control
you should continue regular application of RETIN-A until your physician
instructs otherwise.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
All questions of a medical nature should be taken up with
your doctor. For more information about RETIN-A (tretinoin), call our tollfree number:
800-426-7762. Call between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday.