What is the cheapest way to get a prescription for Retin-A (tretinoin)?
March 29, 2016 2:42 PM Subscribe
I would like to try Retin-A on my late-thirties skin that is starting to show signs of age. How can I get a prescription as easily and inexpensively as possible?
I would prefer not to make an expensive appointment with a dermatologist -- if I have to, I want to be pretty sure that s/he's not going to refuse to write me a prescription or make me come in multiple times a year for further expensive appointments just to get refills. I'm not going to order it illegally from another country (I'm in the U.S.) and I'm also not going to lie and say that it's for acne, which I've heard that you need to do to get it at a Minute Clinic or similar.
I would prefer not to make an expensive appointment with a dermatologist -- if I have to, I want to be pretty sure that s/he's not going to refuse to write me a prescription or make me come in multiple times a year for further expensive appointments just to get refills. I'm not going to order it illegally from another country (I'm in the U.S.) and I'm also not going to lie and say that it's for acne, which I've heard that you need to do to get it at a Minute Clinic or similar.
I think a lot of this will depend on your insurance coverage. For example, I am on a high-deductible plan, which means that I pay out of pocket for prescriptions up to my limit. You can call a pharmacy to get their out of pocket pricing if you already know insurance is not an option.
posted by Atrahasis at 2:53 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Atrahasis at 2:53 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Check with the guys and girls over at /r/skincareaddiction.
posted by pintapicasso at 3:19 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by pintapicasso at 3:19 PM on March 29, 2016
I use Curology -- they recently (during the transition from PocketDerm, I think, which happened only a few months ago) merged their acne and anti-aging programs, so all clients pay $20/mo regardless of "why" they want the stuff. (Truthfully, I signed up under the acne program because I could use my few zits as a reason to not shell out the $40/mo for anti-aging.)
This may or may not be cheaper for you than going to a derm and getting a tube of tretinoin, because you pay $20 regardless of whether or not you got a shipment that month. However, customer service with Curology is great, and part of the allure is that you get three ingredients in one formulation, as opposed to having to apply three separate things (or alternately, missing out on the benefits).
Relatedly, but tangential to your question: Get a good sunscreen. Due to the high turnover of skin cells (and the consequential thinning of the epidermis), tretinoin makes your skin extremely vulnerable to UV damage. Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Essence is the best one I've found (no whitecast, not greasy), but everyone's skin is different.
posted by opossumnus at 3:33 PM on March 29, 2016
This may or may not be cheaper for you than going to a derm and getting a tube of tretinoin, because you pay $20 regardless of whether or not you got a shipment that month. However, customer service with Curology is great, and part of the allure is that you get three ingredients in one formulation, as opposed to having to apply three separate things (or alternately, missing out on the benefits).
Relatedly, but tangential to your question: Get a good sunscreen. Due to the high turnover of skin cells (and the consequential thinning of the epidermis), tretinoin makes your skin extremely vulnerable to UV damage. Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Essence is the best one I've found (no whitecast, not greasy), but everyone's skin is different.
posted by opossumnus at 3:33 PM on March 29, 2016
I've been using Retin-A for twenty-five years and I have never had a conversation with a GP that is more complicated that:
"I use the 0.1% strength of the Retin-A cream and I'm about to run out of refills on it. Could you refill it for me?"
"Sure."
The only bad that happens is that they write a script with so many refills and it takes me so long to go through a tube that eventually the pharmacy tells me they can't fill a script from three years ago or whatever and I have to go get a fresh one.
I don't look particularly spotty or particularly wrinkly and if any doctor was ever bothered to ask "What for?" I can't remember. (Maybe they just figure out I'm not spotty/wrinkly because I'm using it...)
A quick Google says it is more expensive in the US than here. It's not illegal to buy it on an above-board Canadian site like canadadrugs.com -- you need a prescription, but it can be from a doctor where you live rather than a Canadian physician. A WikiHow page is telling me "The cost of Retin-A can vary from $80 to $150 for a month supply" -- I'm used to paying CAD$25ish for a tube that lasts me nearly a year, of the strongest stuff. So definitely check out Canadian pharmacies, which look to be more expensive than my local Costco but cheaper than anything I'm reading about in the US.
(If you want to try out a high-strength retinol, that's easy to buy -- I cut it with jojoba, and now use less Retin-A than I used to, for what that's worth.)
posted by kmennie at 4:14 PM on March 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
"I use the 0.1% strength of the Retin-A cream and I'm about to run out of refills on it. Could you refill it for me?"
"Sure."
The only bad that happens is that they write a script with so many refills and it takes me so long to go through a tube that eventually the pharmacy tells me they can't fill a script from three years ago or whatever and I have to go get a fresh one.
I don't look particularly spotty or particularly wrinkly and if any doctor was ever bothered to ask "What for?" I can't remember. (Maybe they just figure out I'm not spotty/wrinkly because I'm using it...)
A quick Google says it is more expensive in the US than here. It's not illegal to buy it on an above-board Canadian site like canadadrugs.com -- you need a prescription, but it can be from a doctor where you live rather than a Canadian physician. A WikiHow page is telling me "The cost of Retin-A can vary from $80 to $150 for a month supply" -- I'm used to paying CAD$25ish for a tube that lasts me nearly a year, of the strongest stuff. So definitely check out Canadian pharmacies, which look to be more expensive than my local Costco but cheaper than anything I'm reading about in the US.
(If you want to try out a high-strength retinol, that's easy to buy -- I cut it with jojoba, and now use less Retin-A than I used to, for what that's worth.)
posted by kmennie at 4:14 PM on March 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
No experience with Retin-A, but I can confirm that my US-based GP was happy to refill maintenance prescriptions that I originally got from the dermatologist (including a strong topical cortisteroid that is not used as a first-line treatment). No questions or hassle at all.
posted by serelliya at 5:11 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by serelliya at 5:11 PM on March 29, 2016
You don't need a prescription, and Retin-A is fairly cheap. You can go to alldaychemist.com and buy tubes for a few dollars each (retin A gel .05% currently $3.30 a tube). It is the exact same stuff as the expensive kind. Unless they're having a free delivery sale, their delivery fee is kinda high though. I usually stock up and get a bunch of tubes at a time. I suggest reading up on what different strengths are available and getting a variety to try out to see what works best for you, starting with the lowest/mildest strength.
There are bunches of reviews around the internet about the site, they are AFAIK reputable, and I've never had a problem in the years I've been ordering from them.
posted by newpotato at 6:26 PM on March 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
There are bunches of reviews around the internet about the site, they are AFAIK reputable, and I've never had a problem in the years I've been ordering from them.
posted by newpotato at 6:26 PM on March 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oh wait, nevermind, I missed the part about not wanting to order outside the US. Disregard and carry on..
posted by newpotato at 6:34 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by newpotato at 6:34 PM on March 29, 2016
If you decide to ever use all day chemist, I love their high shipping price and cheap tubes because I don't have to pay VAT when it arrives.... I also think your regular doctor would give you a prescription for it.
posted by catspajammies at 10:28 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by catspajammies at 10:28 PM on March 29, 2016
My dermatologist practically threw it at me when I went in to ask about some lingering late-20s light acne problems I wanted to nip in the bud.
I get the impression it's a low-risk, high-reward enough medication that if you do end up going to see a dermatologist, just mentioning that you're generally unhappy with the quality of your skin and had heard good things about Retin-A creams could well be enough for them to set you up on it.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 8:57 AM on March 30, 2016
I get the impression it's a low-risk, high-reward enough medication that if you do end up going to see a dermatologist, just mentioning that you're generally unhappy with the quality of your skin and had heard good things about Retin-A creams could well be enough for them to set you up on it.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 8:57 AM on March 30, 2016
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posted by Hypatia at 2:52 PM on March 29, 2016 [4 favorites]