Tretinoin, as an topical retinoid drug, has significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of acne and the improvement of skin photoaging, but it needs to be used in a standardized manner and attention should be paid to discontinuation methods. The following provides a detailed explanation from two aspects: treatment effectiveness and precautions for discontinuing medication.

1. Therapeutic effect

(1) Acne treatment

Clinical studies have shown that concentrations of 0.025% -0.1% retinoic acid can reduce acne lesions by 40-70%. After 4-8 weeks of treatment, acne significantly decreased, and inflammatory rash improved significantly at 12 weeks. By promoting the renewal of keratinocytes, effectively unclogging blocked hair follicles.

(2) Improvement of photoaging

Continuous use for more than 6 months can reduce fine lines, improve skin roughness, and thicken the epidermis by 25-30%. It can stimulate collagen synthesis, fade solar pigmentation, and achieve an overall improvement rate of 50-80%.

(3) Effective time

Acne treatment usually takes 2-4 weeks to take effect, while photoaging improvement takes 3-6 months. In the initial stage, there may be a brief worsening phenomenon (purge reaction), which gradually improves after 4-6 weeks.

2. Precautions for discontinuation of medication

(1) Gradual discontinuation of medication

It is recommended to gradually reduce daily use to 2-3 times a week and maintain it for 1-2 months before completely discontinuing it. Sudden discontinuation of medication may lead to symptom rebound, especially in patients with moderate to severe acne.

(2) Maintenance treatment

After clinical cure of acne, it is recommended to continue maintenance treatment 2-3 times a week for 6-12 months. Patients with photoaging need to use it intermittently for a long time to maintain its effectiveness.

(3) Post discontinuation care

After discontinuation, it is necessary to strengthen moisturizing repair and use products containing ceramides. Strictly protect against sun exposure and avoid using other irritating skincare products for at least 2 weeks.

(4) Special populations

Pregnant women should stop taking medication immediately. Elderly patients need to strengthen skin barrier care after discontinuing medication. After teenagers stop taking medication, it is recommended to switch to a low concentration maintenance plan.

(5) Adverse reaction monitoring

If severe skin irritation persists for more than 2 weeks after discontinuation of medication, or if acne symptoms quickly rebound, timely follow-up visits should be made to adjust the treatment plan.