Tretinoin
Prescription-strength retinoic acid, compounded at the concentration your skin can actually tolerate — texture, pigment, fine lines.
- Doctor-reviewed in 24 hours
- Free 2-day shipping
- Pause or cancel anytime
Prescriptions require an online visit reviewed by a U.S.-licensed provider. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed U.S. pharmacies and are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary.
Who it’s for
- Mild-to-moderate acne, melasma, or texture concerns
- Want prescription-strength formulas matched to skin type
- Willing to commit to daily SPF and 8–12 week consistency
Most people want to quit right before it starts working.
how it works
Prescription-strength retinoic acid — the gold-standard topical for acne, photoaging, fine lines, and texture irregularity.
What we can and can't tell you
Fifty-plus years of evidence, but none of it shortcuts the biology: results come from consistent use over months, and daily sunscreen is part of the treatment, not an accessory.
- Who makes it A LegitScript-verified 503A compounding pharmacy, from your prescription — never a gray-market or overseas supplier
- To what standard USP <797> sterile compounding and USP <800> hazardous-drug handling, where applicable
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness, and are not generic equivalents of any brand-name drug.
what the first months look like
Adjustment. Some dryness and irritation as your skin meets prescription-strength retinoic acid — start at the frequency your skin tolerates, not the maximum.
The purge. Faster cell turnover pushes existing comedones to the surface, so breakouts can look worse before better. That's the mechanism working, not failing.
Texture smooths and active acne quiets as turnover normalizes and new comedones stop forming.
Pigment, fine lines, photoaging. Collagen remodeling is the slowest change — judge it in months, not weeks, and keep the sunscreen on.
Dosing, step by step
| Amount | Pea-sized — for the whole face — more doesn't work faster, it just irritates |
|---|---|
| When | At night, on clean dry skin — tretinoin degrades in sunlight |
| Frequency | 3–7 nights per week — tolerance-led; ramping up is normal |
| Strength | 0.025% start for sensitive skin — your clinician titrates from there |
| Every day | SPF 30+ — mandatory, not optional |
Frequency is the dial, not quantity. If your skin protests, dropping to fewer nights per week is the protocol — not a setback.
And when it gets rough
- Dryness and peeling Moisturize generously, buffer (moisturizer first, tretinoin after), and drop to fewer nights per week until skin adapts.
- Initial breakout (purge) Expected in the early weeks — existing comedones surfacing faster. If it's severe, painful, or not settling, message your clinician.
- Photosensitivity SPF 30+ every morning, no exceptions. Skip layering with AHA/BHA exfoliants or benzoyl peroxide unless your clinician has sequenced them.
- Darkening patches (darker skin tones) A sign of using it too aggressively — pause and contact your clinician to slow the ramp rather than pushing through.
We reach for a retinoid before almost anything else in skin, because it's the rare active that works on texture, pigment, and breakouts at once — we'd rather get one thing right than have you layer five. What we watch for is tolerance: most of the irritation we see comes from going too strong too fast, so we start people at a low concentration and build, and pair it with niacinamide and azelaic to keep the skin calm while it adjusts. The early weeks can look worse before they look better, and that's usually the drug doing its job, not failing at it. The one part we don't negotiate on is daily sunscreen — skip it and you undo the point.
Three steps, no insurance hoops
Take the quiz
Two minutes. Tell us your symptoms, history, and goals.
Clinician reviews
A U.S.-licensed clinician reviews and writes your plan within 24 hours.
Care ships free
Your medication arrives in days. Refills auto. Check-ins included.
see it in real life
What members say
4.5Absolutely love Zappy Health. Very professional, customer service is amazing. Fast shipping and everything is certified. Zappy Health has transformed my life. I am in the best shape with my health! Thank you Zappy Health for helping me achieve my goals on a wellness journey.
Zappy Health is extremely easy to enroll in. They were helpful every step of the way & I knew within the hour of submitting my application that I was a candidate. As soon as I made my decision to start my journey the communication from them has been impressive.
The initial process of ordering the medication was extremely easy. The app is very helpful and I cannot wait to receive my medication and start my journey. Thank you so much!!
Verified Trustpilot reviews, published as written. Individual results vary and are not typical.
Questions, answered.
How fast will my skin change?
Can I use this with retinol?
What about sun exposure?
Read before you start
From the Zappy clinical team, in plain language.
Care that shows up — and stays.
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