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How should you take this medication?
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Retin-A. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Dermatitis, seborrheic or
- Eczema
or
- Sunburn¡XUse of this medicine may cause or increase the irritation associated with these problems
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Other medical problems
Older adults¡XMany medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause differ
nt side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of Retin-A in patients 50 years of age and older with use in other age groups.
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What side effects can this medication cause?
In some animal studies, Retin-A has been shown to cause skin tumors to develop faster when the treated area is exposed to ultraviolet light (sunlight or artificial sunlight from a sunlamp). Other stud
ies have not shown the same result and more studies need to be done. It is not known if Retin-A causes skin tumors to develop faster in humans.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if a
ny of the following side effects occur:
- Burning feeling or stinging skin (severe); lightening of skin of treated area, unexpected; peeling of skin (severe); redness of skin (severe) ; u
nusual dryness of skin (severe)
- Darkening of treated skin
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Other Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to c
hange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is t
o be applied to the same area of the skin. When you are using topical Retin-A, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Ac
itretin (e.g., Soriatane)
- Etretinate (e.g., Tegison)
- Retin-A, oral ¡XMay increase chance of getting severe dryness or redness of skin
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Precautions while Using this Medicine
During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or cold weather. The skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation, especially during the first 2
or 3 weeks. However, you should not stop using this medicine unless the skin irritation becomes too severe. Do not use a sunlamp .
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What is this Drug
It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause irri
tation of the skin.
Do not apply this medicine to windburned or sunburned skin or on open wounds.
Do not use this medicine in or around the eyes or lips, or inside of the nose. Spre
ad the medicine away from these areas when applying. If the medicine accidentally gets on these areas, wash with water at once.
This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them
carefully before using the medicine.
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