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💊 Tretiva (Isotretinoin)
🚫 Important warning
⚠️ Not safe in pregnancy or if trying to conceive (can cause severe birth defects)
TRETiva is a strong acne medication used for severe or stubborn acne (like nodulocystic acne) when other treatments haven’t worked.
📦 Each box contains 10 tablets
➡️ You will receive 3 boxes = 30 tablets total
🚫 Important warning
⚠️ Not safe in pregnancy or if trying to conceive (can cause severe birth defects)
🔹 Which strength is best for you?
🔶 5 mg
Best if:
- Very-low-dose isotretinoin has been prescribed
- You need a gentler starting dose
- Higher doses have caused troublesome dryness or irritation
- You want to increase your dose gradually
- A longer, lower-dose treatment approach has been recommended
✔️ Pros: Lower daily dose, which may be easier to tolerate and may cause less dose-related dryness
✖️ Cons: Results may take longer and treatment may need to continue for longer
⚠️ Important: 5 mg is still isotretinoin and requires medical prescribing and monitoring. A low dose does not remove the serious pregnancy risk
🔸 10 mg
Best if:
• Mild–moderate acne
• First time using isotretinoin
• Sensitive or dry skin
• Lower body weight
• Prefer fewer side effects
• Long-term low-dose approach
✔ Pros: Less dryness, easier to tolerate
✖ Cons: Slower results, longer course
🔸 20 mg
Best if:
• Moderate–severe acne
• Oily skin, cysts, frequent breakouts
• Acne causing scars
• You can tolerate dryness
✔ Pros: Faster results, stronger effect
✖ Cons: More dryness, side effects earlier
🔸 30 mg
Best if:
• Moderate to severe acne not improving on lower doses
• More persistent breakouts
• Need stronger control but not the highest dose
✔ Pros:
• Faster clearing than 20 mg
• Good balance between effectiveness & tolerability
✖ Cons:
• Increased dryness
• Higher chance of side effects
🔸 40 mg
Best if:
• Severe cystic acne
• Acne with significant scarring
• High oil production
• Need aggressive treatment
✔ Pros:
• Rapid improvement
• Strongest acne control
✖ Cons:
• Significant dryness
• Side effects more noticeable
• Requires closer monitoring
📌 What it treats
• Deep acne, cysts, and scarring
• Acne not improving with creams or antibiotics
⚙️ How it works
• Shrinks oil (sebaceous) glands
• Reduces oil production
• Prevents clogged pores & inflammation
⚠️ Important:
Do NOT use tretinoin creams or gels while on TRETiva
😬 Common side effects
• Dry lips, skin, eyes
• Nose dryness / nosebleeds
⚠️ Possible serious:
• Sun sensitivity
• Joint/muscle pain
• Mood changes (rare)
• Liver/cholesterol changes (blood tests required)
🚫 Important warning
⚠️ Not safe in pregnancy or if trying to conceive (can cause severe birth defects)
💊 How it’s taken
• Usually once daily with food
• Typical course: 4–6 months
🧴 Simple skincare routine
🌞 Morning
• Gentle cleanser
• Moisturizer (ceramides / hyaluronic acid)
• SPF 30–50 sunscreen
🌙 Night
• Gentle cleanser
• Thick moisturizer
👄 Dryness care
• Lip balm all day (Vaseline, Aquaphor, Laneige)
• Petroleum jelly for dry nose
• Artificial tears for dry eyes
🚫 Avoid during treatment
❌ Scrubs / exfoliants
❌ AHA / BHA / salicylic acid
❌ Retinol / tretinoin / adapalene
❌ Benzoyl peroxide
❌ Vitamin C (may sting)
❌ Waxing, peels, laser
💡 Extra tips
• Wash face max 2× daily
• Stay hydrated
• Acne may worsen in the first few weeks — this is normal