Cream
Acne Cream
Triple-action topical for acne: antibiotic (clindamycin + erythromycin) and antifungal (ketoconazole). Covers bacterial and fungal acne.
Starting at $101/mo
Topical retinoidAcne & photoaging
Tretinoin 0.15% Gel
RxPrescription onlyApplied to the skin · Once a day · 0 a pea-sized amount · Topical retinoid · Acne & photoaging
Starting at $94/mo
A prescription-strength topical retinoid for acne and sun-damaged skin, used nightly to improve skin texture, clarity and firmness.
Choose your plan
Real prices from our pharmacy. Longer plans cost less per month and are billed up front. Pause or cancel anytime.
- Gold-standard for acne and photoaging
- Results appear over 8–12 weeks of consistent use
- Apply nightly; start slowly to let skin adapt
Every plan includes
- Personalized, physician-guided plan
- Monthly, 3-month and 6-month plans
- Dispensed by a US-licensed compounding pharmacy
- Unlimited protocol adjustments and messaging
- Ongoing support and check-ins
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Reviewed by our in-house physicians
- Physician-guided care
- Ongoing, expert support
- 100% online
- Free, discreet shipping
What is tretinoin?
(all-trans retinoic acid, ATRA)
Tretinoin is the active form of vitamin A, a gold-standard medicine for acne and photoaging. It works directly inside skin cells to speed turnover, increase collagen, and reduce sebum production. At 0.15%, this concentration is prescription-strength and requires a physician's guidance on use and sun protection.
- How it is taken
- Applied to the skin
- How often
- Once a day
- Dose range
- 0 a pea-sized amount
- Form
- Topical retinoid · Acne & photoaging
70+ yrs
of established evidence for tretinoin in dermatology
Tretinoin is Category C in pregnancy (risk not ruled out); avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Requires consistent sun protection (SPF 30+) and moisturizing.
How it works,
week by week.
Week 1–2
A US-licensed physician prescribes the formulation, reviews the adjustment period, and emphasizes sun protection. The gel arrives; you review the instructions.
Week 2–8
Adjustment phase: mild dryness and peeling are normal. Many people experience purging (acne worsens briefly). This is expected; keep the routine.
Week 8–12
Skin texture improves, acne starts to clear, and pores look smaller. Stick to the routine; results keep building.
Month 3+
Full results: clearer skin, firmer texture, reduced fine lines from photoaging. Maintain SPF and moisturizer always; tretinoin is a long-term routine.
What you may notice,
and when.
Clearer skin
acne clears and pores appear smaller
Better texture
roughness and fine lines smooth out
Firmness
collagen and elastin rebuild over time
Patience required
12 weeks minimum to see full improvement
Individual results vary. Benefits reflect what Zepym Health members commonly report to their physician at check-ins; they are not the results of a clinical trial.
Safety first:
what to know before you start.
Important safety information and common side effects
Tretinoin is safe for most people when used correctly, but requires care. Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding (Category C). Start low and go slow: even at 0.15%, your skin needs a 4–8 week adjustment period with possible dryness, peeling, or purging (temporary worsening of acne before clearing). Sun protection is not optional: SPF 30+ every morning, even on cloudy days and indoors. Certain medications (doxycycline, some antibiotics, quinolones) increase photosensitivity with tretinoin; tell your physician. Stop and seek care if you develop severe irritation, blistering, or signs of an allergic reaction. Tell your physician about every medication you take.
The research behind
tretinoin.
Tretinoin is a retinoid, a form of vitamin A. It has some of the strongest controlled evidence of any topical for visible photoaging, from vehicle-controlled trials going back to 1988.
- Photoaging30 of 30 improved
Sixteen-week double-blind trial in which each person applied tretinoin to one forearm and vehicle cream to the other. All 30 who finished improved on the tretinoin side, and none improved on the vehicle side.
Weiss et al., JAMA 1988;259(4):527-32 - Face14 of 15 improved
In the same trial, half the participants also treated the face. Fourteen of the 15 treated with tretinoin improved, against none of the vehicle-treated faces; the difference was statistically significant.
Weiss et al., JAMA 1988;259(4):527-32 - Two years204 people
Up to two years of tretinoin emollient cream 0.05% on the whole face, against placebo, in moderate to severe facial photodamage. Treated people improved more on fine and coarse wrinkling, mottled pigment and sallowness, with no increase in atypia on histology. This is a stronger cream than most in the catalog.
Kang et al., Am J Clin Dermatol 2005;6(4):245-53
What the studies found
- All 30 patients who finished a 16-week trial improved on tretinoin-treated forearms and none on vehicle-treated forearms (Weiss et al., JAMA 1988).
- On the face, 14 of 15 treated patients improved, against none of the vehicle-treated faces (Weiss et al., JAMA 1988).
- Over two years, 0.05% tretinoin cream improved fine and coarse wrinkling and mottled pigment more than placebo, with no increase in atypia on histology (Kang et al., Am J Clin Dermatol 2005).
Trial results are for tretinoin at the strengths studied and are averages across people. The creams here are the pharmacy's versions with added ingredients; the trials tested tretinoin on its own. Compounded versions were not studied.
What this does not say
- Photoaging improvement is a visible and histologic change in the skin, not a reversal of age.
- Irritation was the main side effect in the 1988 trial; it is usually worst in the first weeks.
- The two-year trial used 0.05%, a different strength from most creams in the catalog (0.015% to 0.15%).
The research
behind it.
Tretinoin binds retinoid receptors in skin cells, speeding up skin cell turnover, unclogging pores and, over months, stimulating new collagen.
Results for acne appear in 6–12 weeks; photoaging improvement takes 12 weeks or more. Sun protection and a good moisturizer are not optional; they are essential to your protocol.
Getting started
takes a few minutes.
- 1
Connect with a physician
Answer a few questions online and a US-licensed physician reviews your health, history and goals to make sure treatment is right for you. 100% online. No in-person visit required.
- 2
Get your discreet shipment
If approved, your treatment is compounded by a US-licensed, LegitScript-certified pharmacy, inspected for quality, and shipped discreetly to your door.
- 3
Receive continuous support
Start with one goal, then keep building over time. Unlimited physician messaging, easy refills and dose adjustments, all from the Zepym Health app.
Frequently asked questions
Contact supportHow do I use Tretinoin 0.15% Gel?
Applied to the skin, once a day, at bedtime. The starting prescription is 1 mL (a pea-sized amount) each time. Your physician sets your own dose and it is printed on your label.
How much arrives in each shipment?
1 tube at the starting strength, shipped to your door from a licensed US pharmacy.
How do I use tretinoin?
Start with the smallest amount (pea-sized, rice-grain size). Apply once nightly to clean, completely dry skin. Wait 20 minutes after cleansing. Use SPF 30+ every morning, and a good moisturizer every morning and night. Your skin will go through an adjustment phase (dryness, mild peeling, possible purging) for the first 4–8 weeks.
Can I use tretinoin with other actives?
Keep it simple during the adjustment phase (weeks 1–8). Avoid vitamin C, niacinamide, AHAs, BHAs, and benzoyl peroxide while your skin adapts. After 8 weeks, ask your physician which are safe to add. Less is more.
What if my skin gets too irritated?
Reduce frequency (use 2–3 times a week instead of nightly) or skip a night. Use a heavy moisturizer right after tretinoin. If irritation is severe or persistent, contact your physician; they can adjust your routine or the strength.
How long do I use it?
Tretinoin is typically a long-term treatment. Acne-prone skin stays on it as long as results matter. For photoaging, many people use it indefinitely. Your physician guides this based on your goals.
Tretinoin educational content reviewed by our physician
Scott Nass, MD Doctor of Medicine, board-certified in Family Medicine
Charles R. Drew University and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center.
More options
in this area.
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Acne treatment combining antibiotics (clindamycin/erythromycin/ketoconazole) with tretinoin for faster clearance and post-acne healing.
Starting at $101/mo
Cream
Brightening Cream
Stronger prescription cream for stubborn melasma and dark spots: hydroquinone 6% with tretinoin, hydrocortisone, kojic acid and vitamins C and E. A short course, usually up to 8 weeks.
Starting at $109/mo
Cream
Clarity Cream
Acne and post-acne formula combining azelaic acid, niacinamide, clindamycin, and tretinoin. Anti-inflammatory and cell-renewing.
Starting at $109/mo
References
- 1.Topical tretinoin improves photoaged skin. A double-blind vehicle-controlled study. JAMA, 1988
- 2.Topical Retinoids in Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review. Am J Clin Dermatol, 2019
- 3.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2024
Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Products are compounded by a licensed pharmacy. The FDA has not reviewed or approved compounded products for any use for safety, efficacy, or quality. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved brand-name products.