Does Retin-A It Expire? If Yes, How Long Will a Jar Last?

Question

I received a large jar of Retin-A from my doctor 11 months ago and I still have quite a bit left b/c I haven't used it consistently. My brown spots and old scares are worse then ever so I plan to commit to using the product as he directed almost a year ago. Is it safe and still effective if the product is almost a year old? Does Retin-A expire? If yes, how long will a jar last in the medicine cabinet?

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

All drugs slowly degrade over time. Your Retin-A may have lost some of its potency but it is probably still active enough for you to continue using it. I would expect that by 18 months it would be time for a refill.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

Retin A is like any other drug has an expiration date. The expiration date is usually on the jar. If the Retin A is from a compounding pharmacy, and no expiration date on it ask your doctor where you got the Retin A.

Does Retin-A It Expire? If Yes, How Long Will a Jar Last?

Answers (2)