Tretinoin works. Most people just use it wrong.
Tretinoin is one of the most effective prescription treatments for acne, pigmentation, and skin aging — but irritation and misuse are common without proper guidance.
We guide you through a structured, personalized approach that starts where your skin is and progresses at the right pace.
Assessment takes 5 minutes · Clinician-reviewed before every prescription
Increase gradually.
Adjust as you respond.
Three steps to your personalized retinoid plan.
Complete a short assessment
Answer guided questions about your skin, history, and goals. Upload a current photo. Takes under 5 minutes — no clinic visit required.
A clinician reviews your case
A licensed Canadian medical professional reviews your assessment and prescribes the right retinoid concentration and formula for your skin — not a default starting point.
Compounded and delivered
Made fresh in a licensed pharmacy using pharmaceutical-grade tretinoin. Shipped to your door every 30 days. Adjusted as your skin responds.
Pharmacist-developed formulas
Built by compounding pharmacists — tretinoin concentration, base, and supporting ingredients are chosen specifically for your skin.
Licensed medical review
Every prescription reviewed by a licensed Canadian medical professional before it's compounded and dispensed.
Licensed Canadian pharmacy
Compounded fresh per order using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. Not a standard generic tube — your formula, specifically.
The gold standard prescription retinoid
Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and one of the most studied and clinically supported prescription skincare ingredients available. Unlike OTC retinol, it works at a cellular level — with effects that have decades of clinical evidence behind them.
It treats multiple concerns simultaneously, which is why it forms the foundation of the Laevo Core Formula for most patients.
See how we use it →"Tretinoin is not just another active. It's one of the most clinically supported ingredients in dermatology — when used correctly."
Tretinoin is not forgiving of misuse. Starting wrong often means weeks of unnecessary irritation — and patients who quit before the results arrive.
The ingredient is right.
The approach is wrong.
Tretinoin has an undeserved reputation for being too harsh. In most cases, the problem isn't the ingredient — it's how it was started, dosed, or supported.
Starting too strong
High concentrations without tolerance-building cause excessive irritation, peeling, and barrier damage — leading most people to quit.
Using it too frequently
Daily application before the skin has adapted overwhelms the barrier. Most people need to start 2–3 times per week and build from there.
No barrier support
Tretinoin increases skin sensitivity. Without barrier-repair ingredients in the formula, dryness and reactive redness are almost inevitable.
No guidance or progression plan
Without a clinician adjusting concentration and frequency over time, patients either stagnate at a dose that's too low or push too hard and damage their skin.
How Laevo guides tretinoin treatment
Every retinoid plan is built around your skin's current tolerance and progresses deliberately — so you get the results without the damage.
Start low, increase gradually — your initial concentration is set based on your history and tolerance, not a one-size-fits-all starting point. Strength is increased only when your skin is ready.
Combine with barrier-repair ingredients — every formula includes barrier-supportive compounds to reduce the dryness and sensitivity that causes most people to abandon tretinoin before it works.
Adjust based on tolerance — your formula is not static. As your skin adapts, your clinician updates concentration and application frequency to keep progression moving without causing damage.
Acne — tretinoin unclogs pores, reduces comedone formation, and accelerates cell turnover to prevent new breakouts. See our acne treatment page.
Pigmentation and dark spots — accelerated cell turnover fades post-inflammatory marks and uneven tone over time. See our hyperpigmentation treatment page.
Early and established signs of aging — clinically supported collagen stimulation, fine line reduction, and skin texture improvement with continued use.
What happens when you start tretinoin
Tretinoin has a predictable adjustment period. Knowing what to expect is the difference between patients who push through and those who quit too early.
Find your formula →
Adjustment phase
Some dryness, mild flaking, or sensitivity is normal — especially in the first two weeks. This is your skin adapting to accelerated cell turnover, not a sign that the formula is wrong.
Skin adaptation
Dryness and sensitivity settle. Skin starts to normalize. Some patients experience a brief increase in breakouts (purging) as congestion clears — this passes.
Visible improvement
Texture improves noticeably. Pores appear smaller. Acne breakouts reduce. Dark spots begin to fade. Skin tone becomes more even.
Progressive gains
Concentration increases as tolerance builds. Long-term collagen support, pigmentation fading, and skin clarity continue to improve with consistent use.
Individual results vary. Timeline is illustrative. Your clinician sets realistic expectations and adjusts your formula based on how your skin responds.
Is tretinoin right for you?
A guided tretinoin plan may be suitable if you recognize yourself in any of the following.
You have persistent acne that hasn't cleared with topical OTC treatments
You have post-acne dark spots, uneven tone, or sun-induced pigmentation
You want to address early signs of aging — texture, fine lines, and collagen support
You've tried tretinoin before and experienced irritation or gave up before seeing results
You want a clinician-guided plan instead of self-dosing from an online pharmacy
"I'd tried tretinoin twice before and gave up both times because of the irritation. Laevo's approach was completely different — it actually worked."
Acne · Aging · Age 36
"I was nervous about prescription-strength ingredients. My clinician started me low and I never had the dryness I'd read about. My skin is the clearest it's been."
Pigmentation · Texture · Age 42
Not a generic tretinoin tube.
A personalized retinoid system.
Right concentration from day one
Your starting dose is set by a clinician based on your skin — not the highest available standard concentration.
Barrier support built in
Every formula includes ingredients that protect and repair the skin barrier — reducing the irritation that causes most tretinoin failures.
Progresses with your skin
Concentration and frequency are updated over time as your skin adapts — so you never plateau or push too hard.
Compounded fresh in Canada
Made per order in a licensed Canadian compounding pharmacy — not a mass-produced generic dispensed without guidance.
"Tretinoin works when used correctly. Laevo exists to make sure you use it correctly — from day one."
Find your formulaFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before starting tretinoin.
More questions? Contact us →
Do I need a prescription for tretinoin in Canada?
Yes — tretinoin is a prescription-only medication in Canada. At Laevo, you complete an online skin assessment and a licensed Canadian clinician reviews your case before any prescription is issued. No in-person visit or referral required.
Is tretinoin safe for long-term use?
Yes — when used correctly and with proper barrier support, tretinoin is one of the most well-researched long-term skincare ingredients available. Decades of clinical evidence support its safety and efficacy for acne, pigmentation, and aging when guided by a clinician.
Can I use tretinoin with other actives?
A guided approach is required. Combining tretinoin with other strong actives — like AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C — without guidance is one of the most common causes of barrier damage and irritation. Your clinician will advise on what to simplify or pause when starting treatment.
Will tretinoin make my skin worse before it gets better?
Some initial adjustment — mild dryness, sensitivity, or a brief increase in breakouts — is common and expected in the first few weeks. At Laevo, formulas are calibrated to minimize this adjustment period. Barrier-repair ingredients are included from the start to reduce irritation.
How is this different from ordering tretinoin online?
Ordering tretinoin without clinical oversight means getting a standard concentration with no barrier support, no progression plan, and no adjustment over time. Laevo provides a personalized formula compounded to your skin, reviewed by a clinician, and updated as you progress — not a generic tube.
Is this available across Canada?
Yes. Your formula is compounded in a licensed Canadian pharmacy and shipped directly to your home anywhere in Canada. The entire process — assessment, clinician review, compounding, and delivery — happens online.
Tretinoin is the foundation of most Laevo formulas. For condition-specific treatment, explore our acne treatment page, hyperpigmentation treatment page, or melasma treatment page.
Tretinoin works when used correctly.
Start a personalized retinoid plan guided by a licensed clinician. The right concentration, the right support, and a progression plan built for your skin.
Assessment takes 5 minutes · support@laevo.ca · 1 (888) 482-4852