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Difference Between Retinol and Tretinoin
Retinol and Tretinoin are two types of vitamin A derivatives that have gained popularity in recent years for their skin benefits. While both Retinol and Tretinoin are derived from vitamin A, there are significant differences between the two compounds in terms of their effectiveness, application, and side effects.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is naturally found in animal products such as liver, eggs, and dairy. Retinol is often used in skincare products due to its ability to improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance skin radiance. Retinol is less potent than Tretinoin and requires more time to see visible results.
Retinol should not be taken by people, hypersensitive to vitamin A, peanuts, soy, or having hypervitaminosis A, severe liver or kidney diseases.
The possible adverse reactions to retinol include headache, drowsiness, increased nervousness, gum bleeding, dyspnoea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatosplenomegaly, yellowish and dry skin, menstrual disorders, fever, allergic reactions, anemia, bone and joint pain.
Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin, essential for many processes in the body.
Alcohol and synthetic retinoids may increase the toxicity of retinol. Oral contraceptives may increase its levels in the body.
The oral dose for adults and adolescents is 2500 IU per day, for children from 1 to 14 years the dose is 1250 IU per day.
What is Tretinoin?
Tretinoin is a prescription-only medication that is stronger than Retinol. It is used to treat acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Tretinoin works by increasing cell turnover, which leads to the shedding of dead skin cells and the production of new cells. Tretinoin is absorbed into the skin more quickly than Retinol and often results in faster results.
Tretinoin has a strong comedonolytic, exfoliative, and keratolytic effect. Its local application reduces adherence between follicular epithelial cells, which reduces the formation of microcomedones.
The concurrent use with topical agents containing sulfur, resorcinol, and salicylic acid has to be avoided.
Tretinoin is usually applied to the skin once daily, at bedtime. The effect is observed after 2-6 weeks. Continuous use results in a long-lasting therapeutic effect. If severe erythema and itching develop, treatment should be stopped. The oral dose is 45 mg daily, administered in 2 evenly divided doses.
When tretinoin is applied to the skin to treat acne, adverse drug reactions include transient erythema, burning, and itching. The oral admission may lead to the retinoic acid syndrome, leukocytosis, thrombosis, benign intracranial hypertension in children, hypercholesterolemia and/or hypertriglyceridemia, liver damage, etc.
Differences: Retinol and Tretinoin
Retinol is available over the counter, while Tretinoin is only available by prescription. Retinol is often used as a preventative measure against skin aging, while Tretinoin is used to reverse signs of aging and treat acne.
While Retinol is generally well-tolerated, it can cause skin irritation, redness, and flakiness when first starting to use it. Tretinoin can cause similar side effects, but they are usually more severe due to its potency. Tretinoin is also more likely to cause sun sensitivity, which means that individuals using Tretinoin should be diligent about using sunscreen.
The following table highlights the major differences between Retinol and Tretinoin −
Characteristics |
Retinol |
Tretinoin |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
Retinol (vitamin A) is a fat-soluble vitamin. |
Tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid) is an acidic form of vitamin A. |
Chemical formula |
The chemical formula of retinol C20H30O. |
The chemical formula of tretinoin is C20H28O2. |
Use |
Retinol is used for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases affecting the eyes, skin and mucosal diseases, respiratory diseases, and gastrointestinal tract diseases. It is also used to support the immune system and affects the synthesis of the growth hormone. |
Tretinoin is applied dermally for the treatment of heavy forms of acne vulgaris (Stage II-III) in which papules and pustules predominate, and orally, for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. |
Adverse reactions |
Retinol should not be taken by people, hypersensitive to vitamin A, peanuts, soy, or having hypervitaminosis A, severe liver or kidney diseases. |
Tretinoin should not be used by people, hypersensitive to the drug or any of its excipients, with acute inflammatory skin processes, acute eczema, rosacea, photoallergy, or during pregnancy. |
Pharmacodynam ics |
Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin, essential for many processes in the body. |
Tretinoin has a strong comedonolytic, exfoliative, and keratolytic effect. Its local application reduces adherence between follicular epithelial cells, which reduces the formation of microcomedones. |
Interactions |
Alcohol and synthetic retinoids may increase the toxicity of retinol. Oral contraceptives may increase its levels in the body. |
The concurrent use with topical agents containing sulfur, resorcinol, and salicylic acid has to be avoided. |
Dosage |
The oral dose for adults and adolescents is 2500 IU per day, for children from 1 to 14 years the dose is 1250 IU per day. |
Tretinoin is usually applied to the skin once daily, at bedtime. The oral dose is 45 mg daily, administered in 2 evenly divided doses. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Retinol and Tretinoin are vitamin A derivatives that offer significant benefits for the skin. Retinol is less potent than Tretinoin and is available over the counter, making it a good option for those looking to prevent signs of aging. Tretinoin, however, is a prescription- only medication that is more potent and effective for treating acne and reversing signs of aging.
Both Retinol and Tretinoin can cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity, but Tretinoin is more likely to cause severe side effects. It is important to consult with a dermatologist to determine which compound is best suited for individual skin needs
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