Retinol vs Retin A

What is the difference between retinol and Retin A?

Both belong to the retinoid family, a group of vitamin A based ingredients. Retinol helps unclog pores and increases collagen production, which can soften the appearance of fine lines. Tretinoin increases new skin cell production and unclogs pores. Retinol is sold without a prescription.234

How does retinol compare with Retin A cream?

Among prescription retinoid formulations, creams tend to be the least irritating and gels the least noticeable on the skin. Texture alone does not tell you which treatment to choose, which gives the word "cream" less authority than its position on the packaging suggests.35

Which should you choose?

For mild uneven tone, texture changes or fine lines, start with the least intense retinol formula you can find. For acne that is not improving with self treatment, ask about prescription options, including tretinoin. Deep, painful spots or acne causing scars need medical assessment rather than another cosmetic purchase. Severe acne often needs more than a topical retinoid alone.256

How do you use them?

1. 1For retinol, test a small patch first and watch for redness or itching over a couple of days.
2. 2At bedtime, wash with a gentle cleanser and dry your skin. For tretinoin, let the skin dry as directed.
3. 3Apply a thin layer. General retinol guidance is a pea sized amount for the face, avoiding the eyes, mouth and nose. For Retin A, follow your prescription rather than borrowing retinol directions.
4. 4Start retinol every other night for the first couple of weeks. Tretinoin is generally used daily at bedtime, but your prescribed schedule takes priority.
5. 5Finish retinol with a moisturizer that will not clog pores. If tretinoin irritates your skin, your dermatologist can adjust frequency, amount or moisturizer placement.

During the day, use a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, seek shade and wear protective clothing. Do not add other topical medicines to tretinoin, especially benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, unless your doctor directs you to.14

How long before you see results?

Retinol takes several weeks to produce visible changes, and improvements in wrinkles or dark spots can take months. Acne can look worse initially with either treatment. For tretinoin, early acne improvement can appear within several weeks, but topical retinoids can take 12 weeks or longer. Fine wrinkle improvement takes about 3 to 6 months. Tretinoin reduces fine wrinkles rather than removing them, and benefits can fade after stopping.345

Who should be careful?

Do not use retinoids during pregnancy. Discuss pregnancy plans or breastfeeding with your clinician. Dry, sensitive or allergy prone skin needs caution; tretinoin should not be applied to eczema or sunburn. Irritation can trigger dark marks in darker skin. Dryness and peeling can occur, but severe or persistent symptoms need medical advice. Stop and contact your doctor immediately for a rash, hives or pain at the tretinoin treatment area.24