Tretinoin is a prescription-strength topical cream or gel. It’s used mainly to treat acne, sun-damaged skin, and fine wrinkles.
It may sound counterintuitive, but tretinoin works by irritating the skin. Tretinoin 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.
Retinoids are a group of compounds derived from vitamin A. Tretinoin and retinol both fall under this umbrella.
Both tretinoin and retinol are topical skin care products that can treat the same conditions. They both promote rapid exfoliation and stimulation of collagen and elastin, which leads to smoother-looking skin. But they’re not quite the same.
Retinol is:
1.a natural form of vitamin A
2.milder and less irritating to sensitive skin
3.available without a prescription
4.found in many over-the-counter cosmetics and skin care products
Tretinoin is:
1.a synthetic version of vitamin A
2.stronger than retinol
3.only available with a prescription
4.not as well tolerated by sensitive skin
Tretinoin as a topical skin treatment isn’t new. It’s been used to treat mild to moderate acne for almost 50 years. Tretinoin combination products sometimes contain antibacterial ingredients for treatment of acne.
According to a 2017 review, there’s clinical data to show that topical retinoids are highly effective on both noninflammatory and inflammatory acne.
With regular use, tretinoin may help clear existing acne and reduce the number and severity of acne outbreaks.
Post time: Mar-05-2020