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Difference Between Retinol, Retinoids, and Tretinoin

Retinoids are a class of synthetic and naturally occurring Vitamin A compounds and derivatives that include retinol and retinoic acid, which are naturally occurring in humans.1 Some retinoids, such as retinoic acid (tretinoin), are available with a prescription only. Other retinoids, such as retinols, are cosmetic. Retinoids work to provide smoother-looking skin.1

Retinoic acid: a prescription-only treatment

Tretinoin is the generic name for synthetic, first-generation all-trans-retinoic acid.1 Topical tretinoin first arrived on the dermatology scene in the 1960s.1,2 It is a prescription drug approved to treat acne,5,6 and in a few FDA-approved products, to treat fine facial wrinkling,7 limited psoriasis, and other conditions.1,† Patients who use tretinoin may experience skin irritation and photosensitivity in the first few weeks of treatment, which can sometimes be counteracted with less frequent application or a less potent strength.2 Obagi offers topical tretinoin in prescription-only creams and a gel*:

Tretinoin Cream 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1% and Tretinoin Gel 0.05%—available in multiple strengths and formulations by prescription only, Obagi tretinoin creams and gel work deep inside the skin to treat acne.5,6

Retinol: a cosmetic treatment

Topical retinol has been used in cosmetic skin care products for more than 30 years2 to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Generally a well-tolerated treatment, retinol users typically experience minimal skin redness and irritation.2 A plethora of cosmetic creams, gels, and serums contain retinol. Obagi offers 2 concentrations of retinols to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In a clinical study, patients reported a noticable difference in 1 to 3 weeks.3,**:

Obagi Retinol 0.5%—contains 0.5% retinol entrapped for gradual release, to help minimize irritation while improving the look of uneven skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.2,4

Obagi Retinol 1.0%—contains a higher, 1.0% concentration of entrapped retinol to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture with minimal irritation.2,4

Contact buy tretinoin gel 0.1 online to see which retinoid is right for your skin.

†The exact method of action of tretinoin is unknown.

Obagi® Tretinoin Cream 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%, and Tretinoin Gel 0.05% prescriptions may not be available in certain states. Please check with your physician.

**Study results for daily application of the Obagi360 System in a 12-week study; N=40.

Tretinoin Cream and Gel

Indication

Tretinoin Gel 0.05% and Tretinoin Cream (0.1%, 0.05% and 0.025%) are indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Important Safety Information

If a reaction suggesting sensitivity or chemical irritation occurs, discontinue use of Tretinoin.

The skin of some patients may become dry, red, or exfoliated while using Tretinoin and patients may need to temporarily reduce the amount or frequency of application, or discontinue use temporarily or altogether.

Tretinoin should not be used on eczematous or sunburned skin due to potential for severe irritation. Patients should protect their skin from sun, tanning lights, and extreme wind or cold. Use of effective broad spectrum sunscreen products and protective clothing over treated areas is recommended when exposure cannot be avoided.

Caution should be exercised when using Tretinoin with products that have a strong drying effect, particularly those containing benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid.

Tretinoin Gel should be used with caution in patients allergic to fish due to potential for allergic reactions to fish protein; patients who develop pruritus or urticaria should contact their healthcare providers.

Tretinoin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus, and it should be used with caution in nursing women.

The safety and efficacy of Tretinoin have not been established in the treatment of patients younger than 10 years of age (gel) and 12 years of age (cream).

The most common adverse reactions are dry skin, peeling/scaling/flaking skin, skin burning sensation, and erythema. In some subjects the skin-related adverse reactions persisted throughout the treatment period.

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Tretinoin vs. Retin-A: is there a difference?

If you’re exploring the world of retinoids and retinols, you’ve probably heard of “Retin-A.” Unlike over-the-counter retinols, Retin-A is a prescription-strength treatment for preventing or reducing fine lines and wrinkles. You may have also seen another word: tretinoin. How do tretinoin and Retin-A differ? Is one more effective than the other? How do you know which is a better fit for you? Read on to find out!

First, a little history

Dr. Albert Kligman first studied Retin-A2 (also known as retinoic acid) in 1967 as a possible treatment for keratonic disorders (disorders characterized by thick, scaly skin). He noted that retinoic acid worked as a treatment by removing the top layer of skin and theorized that the medication might also work as a treatment for acne. The FDA approved it in 1971 and retinoic acid began to be marketed under the brand name Retin-A.

The fountain of youth

Retin-A was typically prescribed2 to treat adolescent acne, but it was also used to treat adult acne and older women who used the medication reported that their skin felt smoother and firmer after using it. Following more rounds of testing, Retin-A was repackaged under the name Renova3 Renova and prescribed as a treatment for fine lines and wrinkles in the early 90s. Dermatologists have relied on retinoic acid as a proven way to reduce signs of aging ever since!

Where does tretinoin come in?

Tretinoin is another name for the active ingredient in Retin-A and Renova. When you purchase this medication as a generic (as opposed to under a brand name like Retin-A), it will be labeled as tretinoin. However, the active ingredient is exactly the same! In fact, all generic medications have identical active ingredients as compared to their brand name counterparts. The difference between a generic and a brand name is in their inactive ingredients1: the compounds that make up the base that carry the active ingredient. Inactive ingredients neither help nor hinder the therapeutic effects of active ingredients and generic medications are often provided in place of the brand name because they are usually much cheaper. It is important to note that inactive ingredients can still cause allergic reactions4 or other side effects, but they will not directly affect the effectiveness of your treatment.

Tretinoin Formula

With Apostrophe’s own tretinoin gel 0.05 buy online, we wanted to create a product that would maximize tretinoin’s effectiveness and minimize irritation and dryness. Tretinoin Formula contains the same active ingredient as Retin-A, but our medical director, Dr. Aimee Paik, formulated our product to avoid the most common irritating ingredients and included niacinamide which has smoothing and moisturizing properties (learn more about what goes into developing our skincare formulas here!).

Tretinoin and Retin-A use the same active ingredient and, as long as their strengths are the same, are equally effective treatments. To decide which is the best choice for you, you should see if you are allergic or sensitive to any of the inactive ingredients in the different available formulas and compare prices (which vary depending on location, pharmacy and insurance coverage). Whether you go with generic tretinoin or brand name Retin-A, you can be confident the treatment you are using contains the active ingredient you are looking for!

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Cozy up to topical retinoids

Topical retinoids are the next most important step in your skin care regimen. They have been extensively studied and proven to be effective. The greatest benefits are seen after consistent long-term use and it’s never too early to start.

 Retinoids are our most effective acne treatment and continued use helps maintain healthy youthful skin. I have been using one since I was 16 – for decades now (note from the editor: check her out on our Meet The Derms page – she looks great)! If you are new to retinoids, you can expect the following skin changes:

An increase in pinkness and smoothness2 of the skin is noted in the first month. You can start to see improvement in fine lines4 by the third month of treatment, which will continue to improve with consistent use. By four months of use, the skin reflects more light which provides a more youthful appearance to the skin (that “youthful glow” everyone is always going on about). Sun spots2 Sun spots can lighten at this stage, but will not disappear completely.

After six months of use, new collagen4 starts to form underneath the surface of the skin. In most patients, substantial improvement2 is achieved between 9-16 months of treatment. After 2-3 years of treatment, there is a greater degree of improvement in fine and coarse wrinkling. Areas of skin laxity or sagging,2 especially around the eyes, are tightened.

Irritation can occur anytime in the first ten weeks after starting treatment. Your skin will adjust to the medication and the irritation will go away after three months of treatment. Continued use2 is important to develop this tolerance so keep using the medication, even if you can only use it every other day. As always, make sure to apply sunscreen! Tretinoin gel 0.05 buy online can make the skin a little more sensitive to UV light, especially in the first three to six months, but you already know how important daily sun protection is to prevent skin aging.

Now you’re armed with the info you need to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Turns out your mom was always right and now she has a doctor to back her up: stay away from cigarettes and slather on sunscreen to keep your skin radiant for years to come!

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MY TRETINOIN ROUTINE

SCHEDULE

WEEK 1: SHORT CONTACT THERAPY

Application: 30 min in the evening, 3 days apart. I applied a ½ pea sized amount each time, and washed it off afterwards with a gentle cleanser.

Skincare: Humectant toner and moisturiser afterwards (Stratia Liquid Gold on one side and Dr Jart+ Cicapair Cream on the other).

Irritation: Zero irritation or peeling, only a tiny bit of dryness.

Results: None visible yet, although I didn’t get any new pimples

I decided to step it up.  buy tretinoin gel 0.1 online

WEEK 2: OIL UNDERNEATH

Application: I slathered a thick layer of oil (Stratia Fortify or Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil Light and More) on my face, then applied a very small amount (maybe ¼ pea) of tretinoin cream on top. The oil helped the cream spread really nicely. I did this every second day.

Skincare: Moisturiser afterwards (Stratia Liquid Gold on one side and Dr Jart+ Cicapair Cream on the other). On alternate days I used either humectant toner or weak AHA.

Irritation: Here’s when the peeling started in earnest. My peeling has a lag time of around 36 hours, so I kept thinking I was off the hook but then my skin would start peeling in the middle of the day when I didn’t expect it. But then it’d clear up after a day. There was also some dryness and very mild stinging.

After the second application I zoned out during my skincare routine and ended up applying 10% AHA… bad idea! It left my skin feeling tight and stingy the next day when I applied sunscreen. I tried some 5% AHA later and it was fine, so I banned my regular acid exfoliants from my skincare table until further notice.

There was also a noticeable difference between the Stratia Liquid Gold and Dr Jart+ Cicapair Cream sides – Dr Jart+ was significantly better at calming down the flaking than the Stratia. I also tried the Bioderma Cicabio product, but I found that it was a bit too thick and gave me a few whiteheads near my nose (probably also partly from the irritation).

Results: I usually get a few big pimples around this time of month, but I didn’t get any which was nice but could have also been a fluke. I also noticed that some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from a couple of old pimples was clearing up faster than usual.

WEEKS 3 AND 4: ON BARE SKIN, EVERY THIRD DAY

Application: 1/4 pea of tretinoin cream on dry skin (eep!) every 3rd day. Spreading wasn’t a huge issue. I tried to apply less on the parts of my skin that tends to flake and get irritated more (around my nostrils and chin).

Skincare: Humectant toner every day before tretinoin. Moisturiser afterwards (Dr Jart+ Cicapair Cream all over). Weak acid the day before tretinoin.

Irritation: For the first week there was some flaking around my nostrils and chin, but it was only visible near the end of the day thanks to foundation, and there was no irritation! By the end of Week 4 I was able to use tretinoin every second day.

Results: I didn’t really see much of a change – maybe a bit more glow?

WEEK 5: NONE

Here’s where disaster struck and I tested a foundation that gave me an irritant breakout. I haven’t broken out from a foundation before, so it’s possible that the tretinoin-induced irritation made my skin more sensitive. During this week I switched over to my emergency breakout routine and didn’t use any tretinoin.

WEEK 6 TO PRESENT: ON BARE SKIN, EVERY THIRD OR SECOND DAY

I was a bit worried about going back on tretinoin, since I built up my tolerance so carefully. But I applied 1/4 pea of tretinoin cream on my dry bare skin after my breakout subsided, and to my surprise there wasn’t any irritation! So for me at least, tretinoin tolerance doesn’t go away in a week. I moved up to a 1/2 pea-sized amount every second day and it was still fine.

Here’s where I am now: a 1/2 pea-sized amount, every second day, with mild acid exfoliant once a week on a day when I’m not using tretinoin. There’s no irritation, and I don’t have to use any special moisturisers (although I’m still using Stratia Liquid Gold on most nights).

That’s my tretinoin skincare routine, in excessive detail. I hope it helped some of you! I’d love to hear what you found helpful during your retinoid break-in period (if you survived it).

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TRETINOIN IRRITATION

The main drawback to using tretinoin is that it’s quite irritating and often gives you dry, flaky skin that’s more prone to stinging and redness. This is worst in the first few weeks until your skin gets used to it, but for some people (around 15% of people) this doesn’t happen at all, and for others it can take 6 weeks to clear up.

Tretinoin is one of the more irritating retinoids, but it’s also the one with the most studies to back up its benefits, so I decided to go for it anyway. Tazarotene is more irritating, while adapalene (Differin), retinol and retinaldehyde are less. In particular, tretinoin causes dryness and peeling.

Since retinoids increase skin turnover, they can also cause purging, which is when a product makes your skin worse before it gets better because they basically make your skin expel all the baby pimples that were there before much faster. You can  buy tretinoin gel 0.1 online

Purging is worse when your skin’s irritated, so it’s best to add the tretinoin in slowly so your skin can adjust. The two main ways to limit how purgey your skin gets is to introduce the product slowly, and look after your skin, so that’s the aim of my routine.