Tretinoin ®
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Reviewed on Mar 6, 2026. by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer Next review due on March 05, 2029.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Last updated on Mar 06, 2026.

Daily cream for dark patches of skin.

Tretinoin is an off-label prescription-strength cream treatment for melasma, a condition that causes dark patches of skin and usually affects the face. Applying it daily can help to even out the skin tone of any affected areas.

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Tretinoin Tretinoin

What is Tretinoin?

Tretinoin is a cream that can be used off-label to treat melasma. Melasma is a common condition that typically causes grey-brown patches to appear on your face. It tends to affect women more than men.1

Applying Tretinoin can help restore your skin’s natural tone by replacing older skin cells with newer ones. This can help fade the appearance of areas affected by melasma.

Do not use Tretinoin if you’re pregnant and suffer from melasma due to a potential risk of birth defects.4 Instead, discuss with your doctor what the safest and most appropriate treatment course is.

How does Tretinoin work?

Tretinoin belongs to a group of medications called retinoids. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A, which is needed for the healthy growth of hair and skin.2 Tretinoin accelerates the turnover of skin cells, which means it can help shed melasma-affected skin cells and replace them with new cells that are more consistent with your natural skin tone.

What doses of Tretinoin are there?

Tretinoin is available as a 0.05% cream.

Your clinician will advise you about how much Tretinoin to use. They might recommend you start using the cream every other day to see how your skin responds to it. After this, the standard dose is one application of cream a day, usually in the evening.

How long does Tretinoin take to work?

You might need to use Tretinoin consistently for several weeks before you start to see improvements to any areas affected by melasma. It’s intended to be used daily as a long-term treatment. In one 40-week study of women who applied tretinoin to their face once daily, significant improvements were seen after 24 weeks of daily use.3

Treated trusted source:

  1. Basit, H., Godse, K.V. and Al, A.M. (2023). Melasma. Nih.gov.
  2. VanBuren, C.A. and Everts, H.B. (2022). Vitamin A in Skin and Hair: An Update. Nutrients, 14(14), p.2952.
  3. Griffiths, C.E.M, et al (1993). Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves melasma. A vehicle-controlled, clinical trial. British Journal of Dermatology, 129(4), pp.415–421.
  4. Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2026). Tretinoin cream label.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell 23938
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on March 05, 2026. Next review due on March 05, 2029.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Tretinoin Tretinoin

How to take Tretinoin

You usually apply Tretinoin once a day, before bedtime. Because it’s being used off-label to treat melasma, your clinician will give you specific advice about how much you need to use.

  • Before applying the cream, wash your skin with a mild soap.
  • Wait for around 20-30 minutes after washing before using Tretinoin so your skin can thoroughly dry.
  • Squeeze about half an inch (a pea-sized amount) of Tretinoin onto your fingertip — this should be enough to cover your entire face.
  • Gently massage the cream into affected areas until it’s no longer visible.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell 23938
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on March 05, 2026. Next review due on March 05, 2029.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Tretinoin Tretinoin

Tretinoin isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things to be aware of when using it.

Here’s all the official info about your medication. If anything is unclear, let your physician know and they can talk with you about it.

 

 

 

Tretinoin Tretinoin

Tretinoin: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Is Tretinoin similar to other melasma treatments?

Answer:
One of the most commonly used treatments for melasma is hydroquinone. Like Tretinoin, it’s usually a topically applied formula, and works by inhibiting melanin synthesis. This can help to even out skin tone. Hydroquinone is sometimes combined with tretinoin, as well as medications like niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that can help reduce inflammation while also affecting melanin production.

As well as any medications they recommend, your clinician might advise you to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher if you plan on being out in the sun. This is because sunlight exposure can darken any existing melasma patches you have.2

Will Tretinoin cause side effects?

Answer:
Tretinoin might cause dry, red, or itchy skin when you first start using it. These kinds of side effects, if you experience them, should settle down as your skin gets used to the medications.

If any side effects you do get persist while using the cream, let your clinician know.

Do I need a prescription for Tretinoin?

Answer:
You will need a prescription for Tretinoin as it’s being used ‘off-label.’ Off-label prescribing is when medications are used outside of their license, to treat conditions they’re not approved for.

It’s a common practice that clinicians use if they think using medication in this way will benefit you. In the US, up to a third of prescriptions are thought to be off-label.1

Can I get Tretinoin through private health insurance?

Answer:
Your health insurance provider may cover the costs of melasma treatments like Tretinoin, but policies regarding off-label use of medications might vary across the different providers. So it’s best to check with yours to see what is and isn’t covered.

If Tretinoin isn’t included in your plan, you can get it from an online pharmacy. If you get your treatment this way, you should always make sure any online healthcare services you use are fully registered, and that their clinicians are board-certified.

Treated trusted source:

  1. Van Norman, G.A. (2023). Off-Label Use vs Off-Label Marketing of Drugs. JACC: Basic to Translational Science, 8(2), pp.224–233.
  2. www.aad.org. (n.d.). Melasma: Diagnosis and treatment.

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