Tretinoin is a medication used to treat mild, moderate, and severeacne vulgaris.
It’s a vitamin A derivative and the active ingredient in the brand-name acne treatmentRetin-A.
This article discusses Retin-A and tretinoin and why you’re free to substitute one for the other.
Verywell / Emilie Dunphy
It also covers other acne medications with similar names and how they compare to tretinoin.
Products with tretinoin like Retin-A are only available by prescription.
They are used to controlblackheads and whiteheads, orcomedonalacne.
They are also called retinoic acid or vitamin A acid.
The brand Retin-A has become the most popular term used when referring to topical tretinoin.
Many people use Retin-A and tretinoin interchangeably (even healthcare providers).
This is because a generic will often cost less than a brand-name drug.
But don’t think that generic medications are of lower quality or that they won’t work as well.
Here is a guide to what these products do and how they are related.
Retinoids
As stated, tretinoin (and the brand name Retin-A) is a retinoid.
In addition to being prescribed to treat acne, they are commonly used as anti-aging treatments.
Retin-A Micro
Retin-A and Retin-A Microare both brand names for tretinoin.
The main difference between these two medications is how they deliver tretinoin to your skin.
Retin-A Micro delivers the medication more slowly and over time, so it’s less irritating than Retin-A.
Retinol
Considerretinol an over-the-counter (OTC) version of Retin-A.
Like Retin-A, retinol is a topical retinoid.
It’s derived from vitamin A.
It helps soften fine lines and brighten the skin.
Isotretinoin
Tretinoin and isotretinoinboth are prescription medications used to treat acne.
Both are derived from vitamin A.
However, that’s where their similarities stop.
Tretinoin is used topically to treat acne.
Tretinoin and isotretinoin are not interchangeable.
Summary
Retin-A is a brand name for the medication tretinoin.
When a doctor prescribes Retin-A, the pharmacist may fill it with generic tretinoin since it’s less expensive.
Other medications have similar-sounding names to tretinoin.
This includes retinol, which is an over-the-counter version of Retin-A.
Isotretinoin is a prescription medication, and like tretinoin, it’s derived from vitamin A.
However, isotretinoin is an oral medication to treat severe acne, and it’s not interchangeable with tretinoin.
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.RETIN-A (tretinoin).
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.
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