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Retin-A Micro (Tretinoin): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

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Prescription (Rx)
Strength:
1 mg/g, 0.4 mg/g, 0.6 mg/g, 0.8 mg/g
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Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Retin-A Micro

What is RETIN-A MICRO?

RETIN-A MICRO is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat acne in adults and children 12 years of age and older. Acne is a condition in which the skin has blackheads, whiteheads, and other pimples.

It is not known if RETIN-A MICRO is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

Before using RETIN-A MICRO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a skin condition called eczema.
  • have a sunburn. You should not use RETIN-A MICRO until your skin has healed.

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if RETIN-A MICRO will harm your unborn baby.

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if RETIN-A MICRO passes into your breast milk. If you breastfeed during treatment with RETIN-A MICRO, use RETIN-A MICRO on the smallest area of the skin with acne and for the shortest time possible. Do not apply RETIN-A MICRO directly to the nipple and areola to avoid contact with your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you use any skin products that contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. Using these topical skin products may increase the irritation of your skin when used with RETIN-A MICRO.

How should I use RETIN-A MICRO?

  • Use RETIN-A MICRO exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to use it.
  • Before you apply RETIN-A MICRO, gently wash the affected skin area with a mild, non-medicated soap. Rinse and pat your skin dry.
  • Apply a thin layer of RETIN-A MICRO to the affected area 1 time a day in the evening.
  • Do not use more RETIN-A MICRO than you need to cover the affected area and do not apply RETIN-A MICRO more than 1 time a day. Using too much RETIN-A MICRO or using it too often will not give you faster or better results, and you may get skin redness, peeling, or discomfort.
  • You may use moisturizers after applying RETIN-A MICRO.
  • Early in your treatment, you may get new pimples. At this stage, it is important to continue using RETIN-A MICRO.
  • Your acne may not get better right away. Improvement in your acne may be noticed after 2 weeks of RETIN-A MICRO treatment, but more than 7 weeks of treatment may be needed before you get the full benefit. Wash your hands after applying RETIN-A MICRO.
  • RETIN-A MICRO taken by mouth in large amounts may lead to the same side effects as those seen with large amounts of Vitamin A taken by mouth. Call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if RETIN-A MICRO is taken by mouth.

What should I avoid while using RETIN-A MICRO?

  • You should avoid sunlamps, tanning beds, and ultraviolet light during treatment with RETIN-A MICRO.
  • Minimize exposure to sunlight.
  • If you have to be in the sunlight, are sensitive to sunlight, or are using medicine that cause sensitive to sunlight, use a sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or other protective clothing to cover the treated areas, even on days when it is not sunny, or you are inside.
  • Do not use RETIN-A MICRO on sunburn skin until your skin has healed.

What are the possible side effects of RETIN-A MICRO?

RETIN-A MICRO can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Skin irritation. RETIN-A MICRO can cause skin dryness, redness, swelling, peeling, itching, blistering, burning, or stinging. If you develop these symptoms, your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with RETIN-A MICRO.
  • To help reduce the risk of skin irritation with RETIN-A MICRO:
  • Avoid use of RETIN-A MICRO in skin areas affected by eczema.
  • Minimize or avoid use of RETIN-A MICRO with weather extremes, such as severe wind or cold.
  • Avoid washing the treated skin too often or scrubbing it hard when washing. RETIN-A MICRO is not recommended with use of medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, products that have a strong drying effect, products with high amounts of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime peels.
  • Apply a topical moisturizer when using RETIN-A MICRO.
  • It is not known if RETIN-A MICRO is effective when used less than 1 time a day.
  • Sensitivity to sunlight. See “What should I avoid while using RETIN-A MICRO?”

The most common side effects of RETIN-A MICRO include skin redness, pain, and itching.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of RETIN-A MICRO.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store RETIN-A MICRO?

  • Store RETIN-A MICRO at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
  • Store RETIN-A MICRO pump upright.

Keep RETIN-A MICRO and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of RETIN-A MICRO.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use RETIN-A MICRO for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give RETIN-A MICRO to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about RETIN-A- MICRO that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients of RETIN-A MICRO?

Active ingredient: tretinoin

Inactive ingredients: benzyl alcohol, butylated hydroxytoluene, carbomer 974P, cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyol, disodium EDTA, glycerin, methyl methacrylate/glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer, PPG-20 methyl glucose ether distearate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, purified water, sorbic acid, and trolamine

Distributed by: Bausch Health US, LLC, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 USA

Manufactured by: Bausch Health Companies Inc., Laval, Quebec H7L 4A8, Canada

RETIN-A MICRO is a registered trademark of Bausch Health Companies Inc. or its affiliates.

Microsponge is a registered trademark of AMCOL International Corporation. All other products/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners.

© 2025 Bausch Health Companies Inc. or its affiliates

For more information, call 1-800-321-4576.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Revised: 09/2025

9454709

Patient Information

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: NDA 020475 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: September 2025

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Retin-A Micro

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • Rx
Drug class Retinoid
Active ingredient Tretinoin
Dosage form Gel
Route Topical
Marketing status listed in the FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) BAUSCH
FDA approval NDA 020475New Drug Application (NDA) Approved February 7, 1997
Reference listed drug This is the reference listed drug (RLD) that generics are compared with.
Therapeutic equivalence (TE) code ABCodes starting with A mean the FDA rates the drug therapeutically equivalent to its reference drug (Orange Book).
Generics Atralin with the same TE code
Manufacturers 1 labelers list this drug on DailyMed
Packages (NDC)
Package
1 mg/g – 20 g in 1 tube / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5140-20
1 mg/g – 45 g in 1 tube / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5140-45
1 mg/g – 50 g in 1 bottle, pump / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5140-50
0.4 mg/g – 20 g in 1 tube / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5144-20
0.4 mg/g – 45 g in 1 tube / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5144-45
0.4 mg/g – 50 g in 1 bottle, pump / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5144-50
0.6 mg/g – 50 g in 1 bottle, pump / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5146-50
0.6 mg/g – 2 g in 1 tube / 24 in 1 tray NDC 0187-5146-02
0.8 mg/g – 2 g in 1 tube / 24 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5148-02
0.8 mg/g – 50 g in 1 bottle, pump / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0187-5148-50

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.