Product Information: Retin-A Cream and Gel (Retirides® & Kefrane®)

Product Information
Still the best anti-wrinkle skin product

This product contains tretinoin, (sometimes called retinolic acid), derived from vitamin A.

Retin-A® is a treatment for acne and black spots, yet displays a remarkable talent to remove wrinkles and improve skin appearance and condition. Retin-A® can reduce severe wrinkles within only 6-weeks and remove fine lines, and it remains at the cutting-edge of beatifying skin treatments.

Indeed, many of the expensive skin-creams found at the local store boast of their extremely minute quantities of retinolic acid! This is because Retin-A® improves blood supply to the skin, which in-turn increases the turnover of dead skin cells. Accordingly, new more subtle and younger looking skin appears at the surface.

Retin-A® remains at the forefront of many celebrities anti-aging skin programs, not only because of its anti-wrinkle and skin enhancing affects, but also because it helps speed cosmetic surgery repair.

Retin-A® should be applied sparingly to the skin's surface avoiding the eyes, at first 5 times a week, and thereafter about 3 times a week. Without your physician's advice, do not apply to skin suffering from psoriasis, eczema, or if you are suffering from a form of skin cancer.

We offer dermatological strengths of the standard 0.025%, the most widely used 0.05% cream (which is designed for wrinkles) and the very high strength 0.1%, (which is designed for acne). If you have never used this product before, we strongly recommend that you start at the lowest dosage and if necessary, work your way up slowly.

Rub the cream or gel sparingly into the skin until the product has been completely absorbed, (avoid the eyes; rinse with cold water immediately if accidentally placed there). It is recommended that a moisturizer be used, (see NeySkin®) and a high factor sunscreen. This is because Retin-A® increases skin sensitivity.

Retin-A® may cause skin reddening at first, this is quite normal as the skin's blood supply is improved and younger looking skin begins to appear presenting that "youthful glowing affect."

Our current brands of Retin-A® cream are called Retirides® and Kefrane®.

Manufacturers Insert

RETIN-A®/ Retirides®

Chemical:
Tretinoin BP 0.025%, 0.05% or 0.1% cream and 1g excipients c.s.p.

Excipients:
Decyl oleate, isopropyl myristrate, glyceryl monostearate, acetyl lanolin alcohol, ceteareth-30, cetyl alcohol, proline, monostearate of polyethylene glycol 400, urea, collagen, methylparaben, propylparaben, lactic acid, sodium citrate, sodium hydroxide, vitamin E, aroma, and purified water.

Description:
Tretinoin or vitamin A acid, the single active ingredient used in Retirides, is a cellular stimulant which is effective in the treatment of common acne.

Information for users:
Retirides 0.05% is recommended for the external treatment of common acne, especially in the case of blackheads, pimples and papules.

Directions:
Apply a sufficient amount of cream so as to cover the affected area with a thin layer. Massage gently. Retirides is available in 3 different strengths (0.025%, 0.5% and 0.1%). Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate strength depending on your skin type and degree of acne, and will also recommend the number of daily applications necessary. It is advisable to start the treatment with a low concentration of the cream and a single daily application. Following this and according to the patient’s individual needs, the strength and/ or number of daily applications may be increased.

Contraindications:
If any ingredient should cause hypersensitivity, discontinue use.

Caution:
Due to the possibility of irritation, it is advisable to begin treatment on a small area of skin. Exposure to the sun or to ultraviolet rays causes additional irritation. During treatment with Retirides, such exposure should thus be avoided as much as possible or a dun filter should be used. In the event of exceptional exposure (such as a day at the seaside), refrain if possible from applying the cream the day before, the day of exposure to the sun and the day after exposure. Keep Retirides away from the eyes, mouth and nose. Should contact occur, rinse the affected area carefully with abundant water.

Please note:
If the patient has been previously treated with keratolytic preparations or exfoliants, he should wait until the skin rash clears up before beginning even low strength Retirides treatment. Studies of the effect of this product on pregnant women are incomplete. For this reason, it should only be applied when absolutely necessary and always under a doctor’s supervision. It is thought that this product may possibly be excreted into mother’s milk. Retirides should thus be used with caution by nursing mothers.

Interaction:
This product should be used with caution due to the possible interaction of tretinoin with concomitant external medication, abrasive soaps, drying cosmetics and products with a high alcohol content. Care should also be taken regarding the application of preparations containing sulphur, resorcinol or salicylic acid.

Side effects:
The effectiveness of tretinoin based products is almost always accompanied by skin irritation. In the treatment of acne, this phenomenon is directly related to the effectiveness of the product and disappears once applications are more spaced out. During the first weeks of treatment there may be an apparent worsening of the problem. Such a reaction is perfectly normal because small cysts deep within the skin are being eliminated at an accelerated rate.

Correct application:
Acne may worsen during the first two or three weeks of treatment. Should this occur, do not interrupt treatment unless skin rash or other symptoms become severe. Avoid washing the face frequently. Doing so with a neutral soap two or three times per day is sufficient. Dry face without rubbing. Wait a full half-hour before applying the cream. Avoid the simultaneous application of other external acne products and the use of perfumes, colognes, and tonics, lotions which are scented or which contain alcohol. These products may irritate the skin.

Intoxication and its treatment:
Overdose of this product is unlikely if the patient realizes that an increased application does not bring better or quicker result. Likely reactions would be a marked inflammation, flaking and discomfort. In addition, the DL 50* of tretinoin is very high and skin absorption very low (approximately 5% of the dosage administered).