Selected therapeutic applications of topical tretinoin.

Since topical retinoic acid was first used for acne in 1959, many additional uses have been described for lesions on the skin, oral mucosa, and ocular surface epithelia. The topical application of retinoic acid has been shown to be effective in the treatment of several disorders of keratinization, keloids and hypertrophic scars, and various infections and inflammatory, pigmentation, and malignant and premalignant disorders. This article briefly reviews the use of topical retinoic acid for selected cutaneous conditions.