Acretin 0.05% Topical Cream is a medicine that is used for the treatment of acne vulgaris; an inflammatory skin disorder that is known as common acne and that is caused by hair follicles that become plugged with oil and dead skin cells causing blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples. It works by irritating the skin and 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. Many dermatologists advise their patients to moisturize while using it to reduce their chance of developing dry skin irritation and peeling, especially when you first start using it. While it can irritate the skin at first and you may not see results for months, it can help promote smoother, healthier skin and your doctor or dermatologist could find out if tretinoin is a good option for you. Burning, itching, stinging, scaling, or redness of the skin are the side-effects of Tretinoin. Tretinoin purging is when the skin gets worse before it gets better. Tretinoin speeds up the skin cell turnover process, causing some initial breakouts, drying, and peeling.