• Tretinoin is a medication used to treat acne and sun-damaged skin. It can't erase deep wrinkles, but it can help improve the appearance of surface wrinkles, fine lines, and darks spots. Tretinoin is also known as retinoic acid. It's the generic name for synthetic vitamin A.
• It may sound counterintuitive, but tretinoin works by irritating the skin.
• Tretinoin is able to speed up the life cycle of skin cells. It makes them divide faster and die faster, so newer, healthier cells can take their place.

It’s been used to treat mild to moderate acne for almost 50 years. Tretinoin combination products sometimes contain antibacterial ingredients for treatment of acne. ResearchTrusted Source has shown that tretinoin is helpful in:

•  Reducing inflammation associated with acne
•  Preventing follicular plugging
•  Exfoliating the skin

With regular use, tretinoin may help clear existing acne and reduce the number and severity of acne outbreaks.Other research suggests that tretinoin may:

• reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• improve the health of sun-damaged skin
• improve skin texture and tone
• reduce the appearance of dark spots

•  Remember, tretinoin is likely to irritate your skin a bit when you first start using it. In the first few weeks of treatment, it’s normal to have mild to moderate redness, dryness, peeling, and itchiness.
•  These side effects should lessen as your skin adjusts to the medication. Stop using tretinoin and talk to your doctor if irritation doesn’t improve within a few weeks, or if you develop:
•  persistent or worsening irritation
•  blistering, crusting
•  swelling
•  excessive redness
•  temporary change in skin pigmentation

•  Pregnancy. There haven’t been enough controlled studies yet to evaluate tretinoin’s safety during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, or plan to be, discuss the potential harms and benefits so you can make an informed decision.
•  Breastfeeding. It’s not clear whether tretinoin can pass through breast milk.
•  Sun exposure. Tell your doctor if your job requires you to spend a lot of time in the sun.
•  Medications. List all the medications you’re currently taking, including anything you put on your skin. It’s important for your doctor to know if there could be any interactions with tretinoin.
• If your doctor or dermatologist thinks that tretinoin is right for you, make sure you know how it should be used, how long it will take to know if it’s working, and signs that you should stop using it.

MOMETASONE (moe MET a sone) is a corticosteroid. It is used to treat skin problems that may cause itching, redness, and swelling. Mometasone is a medium-strength corticosteroid. This medication is available in several forms including cream, ointment, and lotion (solution). Mometasone decreases swelling (inflammation), itching, and redness.

Mometasone topical is used to relieve the redness, swelling, itching and inflammation and discomfort of various skin conditions, including psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body and eczema (a skin disease that causes the skin to be dry and itchy and to sometimes develop red, scaly rashes).

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

•  Severe skin rash
•  Redness, swelling, or other signs of skin infection in the place where you applied mometasone
•  Children who use mometasone topical may have an increased risk of side effects including slowed growth and delayed weight gain. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of applying this medication to your child's skin.

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• Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent. It bleaches the skin, which can be helpful when treating different forms of  that is used to lighten areas of darkened skin such as freckles, melasma, age spots, and acne scars.
• The FDA has confirmed that hydroquinone can be safely sold over the counter (OTC) in 2 percent concentrations.
• Hydroquinone bleaches your skin by decreasing the number of melanocytes present. Melanocytes make melanin, which is what produces your skin tone.
• In cases of hyperpigmentation, more melanin is present due to an increase in melanocyte production. By controlling these melanocytes, your skin will become more evenly toned over time.
• It takes about four weeks on average for the ingredient to take effect. It may take several months of consistent use before you see full results.

Hydroquinone is used to treat skin conditions related to hyperpigmentation. This includes:

• Acne scars
• Age spots
• Freckles
• Melasma
• Post-inflammatory marks from psoriasis and eczema

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using hydroquinone topical and call your doctor at once if you have:

• Severe skin redness, burning, or stinging;
• Severe skin dryness, cracking, or bleeding;
• Blisters or oozing; or
• Blue or black discoloration of the skin (especially if you are Hispanic or African-American).

Common side effects may include:

• Mild burning or stinging of treated skin; or
• Mild itching, redness, or other irritation.

In rare cases, hydroquinone has caused a condition called ochronosis. It’s marked by papules and bluish-black pigmentation. This can occur after prolonged daily use. As such, you shouldn’t use products with this ingredient for more than five months at a time.

• You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydroquinone or peroxide.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• Liver or kidney disease;
• Asthma or sulfite allergy; or
• If you are using any antibiotic medicine.

It is not known whether hydroquinone topical will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether hydroquinone topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medicine to anyone under 12 years old without medical advice.