Question: I want to ask about the use of Retin
A to treat acne for a long time, such as 3-4 years. Is it dangerous or not? I
cannot give up using this drug because acne will return. So I continued to use but
I am worry about long time use of drug.
Answer: Retin-A® with generic name of the
drug known as tretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A.
The
literature review has not found out about the safety of using tretinoin to
treat acne for a long time (3-4 years). Ssearch found recommendations that for
safety should not be used 0.05% tretinoin cream for more than 48 weeks, and
0.02% tretinoin cream should not be used longer than 52 weeks.
However a
study of the use of tretinoin emollient cream 0.05% in the treatment of skin
damage caused by sun exposure by applying tretinoin cream once daily for 2
years. The most common adverse reactions are found such as redness, dryness, itching
and burning skin but not found serious adverse reactions at the epidermis
compared with placebo.
References:
1. Kang S, Bergfeld W, Gottlieb
AB, Hickman J, Humeniuk J, Kempers S, et al. Long-term efficacy and safety of
tretinoin emollient cream 0.05% in the treatment of photodamaged facial skin: a
two-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Dermatol 2005; 6 (4):
245-53.
2. Shalita A, Weiss J, Chalker
D, Ellis D, Greenspan A, Katz H, et al. A comparison of the efficacy and safety
of adapalene gel 0.1% and tretinoin gel 0.025% in the treatment of acne
vulgaris: A multicenter trial. Am J Clin Dermatol 1996; 34 (3): 482-5.
3. Olsen EA, Katz HI, Levine
N, et al. Tretinoin emollient cream for photodamaged skin: results of 48-week, multicenter,
double-blind studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997; 37: 217-26.
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