Tretinoin
Provider review requiredThe most-studied prescription skin treatment there is
What tretinoin does to skin
Tretinoin speeds up how fast your skin replaces itself. Short term that clears acne by stopping pores clogging. Long term — and this is the part people actually want — it builds collagen, which softens fine lines and evens out tone and texture.
It's the most studied prescription skin treatment that exists. Nothing sold over the counter matches it.
Here's the part nobody warns you about: the first 2–6 weeks your skin gets red, dry and flaky, and looks *worse*. That's normal and it's why most people quit. Use it every third night to start, a pea-sized amount for the whole face, on dry skin, at night only. Sunscreen isn't optional with it.
Weeks 2–6 are the rough patch. Acne improves around 8–12 weeks. The line and texture changes take 6–12 months and arrive so gradually you'll need a photo from today to see them.
What it hits — and when to take it
- TretinoinAccelerates skin cell turnover and collagen remodeling⏱ At night only — it degrades in sunlight
Your protocol calendar schedules this automatically once a provider approves — bedtime compounds land at night, morning compounds in the morning.