“Retinol vs Retin A”

Retina is stronger.

Both Retinol and Retin-A (tretinoin) are derivatives of vitamin A. Retinol will turn into Retin A on the skin, but by the time it happens, the active ingredient tretinoin is not as concentrated. Using retin A is using the full strength of the active ingredient. That said, using either/or will give some benefit to the skin. They turn on a gene that increases production of collagen and decrease the activity of collagenase, an enzyme that breaks collagen. I see retinol as the training wheels to move up to the full strength tretinoin prescription.

Retin-a is tretinoin which is vitamin A and a prescription cream. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A usually with moisturizer or other types of ingredients such as polyphenols, green tea and used for sensitive skin. It is dispensed as a cosmeceutical. Tretinoin can be up to 100 times stronger than retinol.

Suzanne Sirota Rozenberg, DO, FAOCD

Retinol is a weaker derivative of a retinoid and a fraction of the strength and efficacy.

Thank you,

Sapna Palep, MD