After decades of ignoring my skin, the consequences finally came as I went into middle age: melasma, hyperpigmentation, and the like. My dermatologist prescribed a couple of remedies, one of which was Tretinoin cream. The instructions were to apply it daily in the evening, so that’s what I did. After four days, I began to feel like my entire face was on fire.
When researching for side effects, I realized why Tretinoin is still a prescription medicine rather than just an over the counter cream. It works on the cellular level, boosting collagen production and skin cell turnover. If used incorrectly, it causes severe skin irritation, and can lead to chemical burns as your cells purge itself quicker than normal.