Can Retin-A Make the Skin Prone to Scarring?

There are some people on chat forums who are sure that retin-A caused their skin to scar, or made their skin prone to scarring. Is there any evidence that might support this?

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by three in uk

Doctor Answers (3)
Community Comments (2)

Retin A Does Builds Collagen, Does Not Cause Scarring

Retin A does not cause scarring or make a person's skin more prone to scarring. In fact, studies have shown that regular use of Retin A helps build collagen in the derm (deeper layer of the skin) over time. That is why it is such a great maintenance treatment for wrinkles and fine lines. They are safe, FDA approved and have been studied for over 40 year. I wonder if people from the chat forums are referring to trouble tolerating to Retin-A. Frequent application... more

Retin A does not cause scarring

Retin A increases and makes skin turn over more uniform in addition to causing thickening of its inner layer - the dermis. It does NOT cause skin scarring not does it predispose to scarring. Dr. Peter Aldea

Retin A

Retin a does not cause scaring nor makes skin prone to scarring. Retin A is probably the only real ANTI AGING cream on the market. All other CReams are false.

Comments (2)

22bmma22 9 Oct 2012

I believe it can cause scarring, if its not used correctly. while using retin a your skin is more prone to sun damage, wind burn, the cold, etc. so it is very important that you keep your skin hydrated and protected from the harmful rays from the sun. ALWAYS use sunscreen while on retin a ( i recommend a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15). Also, never clean your face with a glycolic acid or salicylic acid acne treatment. This will only make your skin more dry and more likely to damage your skin. Bottom line, if retin a is used correctly, it will do wonders for your skin complexion. I hope this helped answer your question!

three 9 Oct 2012

thank you, i value your comment. As I do with the answers of the above doctors who took the time to post their replies. Scarring - and the difficulties with trying to repair scarred skin - its a bit of a pain, isn't it? It's all going well with the retin-a at the moment. Used in moderation, it's been a good investment.

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