Skip to content
Start consultationStart
Dermatology · Medicine

Tretinoin 0.05%

Tretinoin 0.05% is prescribed on Hi-Doctor when the licensed doctor considers it appropriate within dermatology.

€40once

Consultation price. The medicine is paid at your pharmacy.

Start consultation
Tretinoin 0.05%
About the medicine

What it is and how it works

Tretinoin is the acid form of vitamin A and the reference prescription retinoid. In Spain the 0.05% cream (Retirides) is authorised for acne and as an adjunctive treatment for photoageing (fine wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, roughness); its use for fine lines, rough texture and sun-damage pigmentation is supported by randomised, vehicle-controlled trials of up to 2 years, and is prescribed at the doctor's discretion.

It is contraindicated in pregnancy and in women planning a pregnancy. A licensed doctor confirms this, checks for eczema or rosacea, and reviews at 3 months and 6 months.

Who it is for

  • A pea-sized amount at night on dry skin
  • The retinoid with the longest photoageing evidence record

Safety summary

Always read the patient leaflet supplied with your medicine. Your doctor reviews risks and interactions before prescribing.

Read the safety summary
Pricing

One consultation, one clear price

You pay for the doctor's consultation. If a prescription is issued, the medicine is paid at your own pharmacy.

  • Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
  • Private follow-up in the in-app chat
  • Full refund if the doctor does not approve
One-off

Dermatology

One-offPhoto review included€40once
  • Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
  • Photo review of your skin
  • Electronic prescription if approved
Start consultation

Full refund if a review is not approved

FAQs

Your questions answered

Tretinoin 0.05%13 questions
What is tretinoin 0.05% cream used for?
Tretinoin is the acid form of vitamin A and the prescription retinoid with the longest evidence record. In the EU the 0.05% cream is authorised for acne and as an adjunctive treatment for photoageing; its use for fine lines, uneven texture and sun-damage pigmentation is supported by randomised trials of up to 2 years and is prescribed at the doctor's discretion. Over-the-counter retinol is a weaker precursor.
A pea-sized amount for the whole face once at night, on skin that has been dry for 20 to 30 minutes, avoiding the eyelids, lip corners and nostrils. Most people start 2 or 3 nights a week and build to nightly over 4 to 8 weeks. A moisturiser afterwards and SPF 50+ every morning are part of the routine.
More questions
Redness, peeling, dryness and a warm or stinging feeling are expected in the first 2 to 6 weeks and settle as the skin adapts. It increases sun sensitivity, and waxing or peels should be avoided while using it. Stop and contact your doctor for severe redness, swelling or blistering.
Texture and tone usually improve by 3 months; changes in fine lines are judged at 6 months and continue with ongoing use. Tretinoin is contraindicated in pregnancy and in women planning a pregnancy, and is avoided while breastfeeding. It is also unsuitable on eczema, rosacea flares or sunburnt skin.
Write to your doctor in the private chat in your account: describe what you notice and when it started. The doctor can adjust the plan, pause it or suggest another option. If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or chest pain, call 112 or go to an emergency department straight away.
It depends on what you take. List every medicine, supplement and herbal product in the questionnaire, including ones you use only occasionally. The doctor checks for interactions before prescribing, and your pharmacist checks again when you collect Tretinoin 0.05%.
The doctor can choose another topical option for your skin, adjust how you use it, or refer you to an in-person dermatologist when your skin needs an examination or a treatment that is not prescribed online.
Skin treatments need several weeks to show a change. You can write to your doctor in the private chat about irritation or doubts, and at the end of the course a follow-up consultation with new photos decides whether to continue, change or stop.
Yes. Hi-Doctor runs 100 % online across the EU, so if you live in Madrid you can fill in the questionnaire and receive the medical review without travelling. The electronic prescription issued by the licensed doctor is valid in any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU; in Spain it is dispensed directly from the prescription QR.
The doctor reviews its appearance and progression, your history, allergies, current products and clear photos when needed. If your skin needs an in-person examination, the doctor refers you before prescribing.
The private electronic prescription (Receta Médica Privada Electrónica) is issued by a licensed doctor in Spain. It is a PDF carrying every field required by EU Directive 2011/24/EU (patient, prescriber with country of registration, active ingredient, dose), which makes it legally recognised across all 27 EU member states. In Spanish pharmacies it is dispensed from the QR; outside Spain, the pharmacist dispenses the locally marketed equivalent of the same active ingredient.
1) Fill in an online medical questionnaire in about 4 minutes. 2) The plan is €25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth; sexual health is €35 per consultation and a skin consultation is €40. 3) An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if appropriate, issues an electronic prescription. 4) Collect it at any EU pharmacy. If the review is not approved, the applicable fee is refunded in full.
The plan is €25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth; a one-off sexual-health consultation is €35 and a skin consultation covering acne, rosacea, melasma and ageing skin is €40. Each includes a licensed doctor's review and an electronic prescription if approved. If the review is not approved, the applicable fee is refunded in full. Medication is paid for separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets.
Also for Dermatology

Related medicines

Medicine information and safety

Also available in

Azelaic acid 15%
Azelaic acid 15%
Adapalene + benzoyl peroxide
Adapalene + benzoyl peroxide
Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide
Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide
All content on this page has been medically reviewed by: Dr. Alejandro Infante, General medicine, on 25 August 2026. Registration: 080869277 View profile

Pay nothing if a doctor doesn't approve your treatment. Every consultation is fully refundable. How refunds work