Trifarotene – a prescription drug that made my skin flake for a couple months.
Actives:
- trifarotene – a selective gamma retinoid receptor agonist that’s said to irritate less and act more effectively on acne than other, less selective prescription retinoids.
- allantoin (soothing)
On application:
Lightweight gel that’s easily spreadable. Not nourishing. This is a texture that’s purely functional and enables the drug delivery.
My thoughts:
Prescription drugs should be used under the supervision of a physician after excluding contraindications. This ‚review’ is ONLY about my experiences with the drug as a well-aging retinoid. I also wanted to feel how my patients feel. This should not be the cause of any discontinuations of treatment. It’s purely educational, not a drug endorsement.
Trifarotene is an effective acne treatment, used twice weekly. It starts working at the 2-3 weeks’ mark, but the full potential is reached after somewhere about a year of use. It normalises keratinisation and sebum secretion, as well as acts as a well-aging agent (much like every retinoid). Trifarotene is also registered in body acne – its molecule is engineered to be metabolised quickly, and it’s safe to apply over larger surface areas. It can also be used in scar/stretch mark treatment (I combine it with in office treatments in my patients), but here the dosage is different and should be discussed with your doctor. A bottle is enough for a few months – don’t use anything more than a pea-sized amount!
I’ve been using this drug for well-aging, and it’s quite effective, giving a tightened appearance to the skin. It is quite drying and can cause redness, but it isn’t very irritating per se. Aaaaand there’s the flaking. I’ve had my skin peel the entire time I’ve been using it, and that makes me a bit discouraged from using it as a well-aging treatment – why age well when you’re looking like a lizard? There are gentler options. I’d still go for tretinoin or adapalene out of the prescription options.
In medical indications, however, it’s one of my favourite medications.
Disclosure: I’ve collaborated with Galderma (makers of Aklief, the trifarotene-containing drug) on a paid post before.
