Can you take vitamin A while using tretinoin?

Author: Abbigail Keebler  |  Last update: Thursday, January 22, 2026

You should not take vitamin A supplements while taking this medication. This medication can interact with other medications including oral contraceptives, multivitamins, gemfibrozil, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, monteleukast, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, phenobarbital, aminocaproic acid, and rifampin.

Can you take vitamin A and use tretinoin?

Tretinoin (Retin-A) is usually prescribed as a skin cream to treat acne or reduce wrinkles and is not as concentrated as other retinoids. However, you may still want to avoid taking a vitamin A supplement while using Retin-A.

Can you use retinol and vitamin A at the same time?

Often, irritated skin can be a sign that your skin has been lacking vitamin A! Don't mix your prescription retinol with other products - apply it by itself and let it absorb before applying anything else!

What to avoid while using tretinoin?

Precautions
  • Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur).
  • Hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products.
  • Skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, including those containing spices or limes.

Can tretinoin cause excess vitamin A?

vitamin A tretinoin

Using vitamin A together with tretinoin is generally not recommended. Combining these medications may increase the risk of hypervitaminosis A, a condition that stems from excessive vitamin A-related effects.

Not Seeing Results with Retin-A (TRETINOIN)? Watch This Before You Quit & Avoid My Biggest Mistake

Is tretinoin stronger than vitamin A?

Retinol is naturally derived from vitamin A, while tretinoin is a synthetic form. Tretinoin is significantly stronger than retinol. Tretinoin requires a prescription, while retinol compounds are typically over the counter. Typical skin shedding during early use of retinol is less pronounced than tretinoin.

What ingredients cancel out tretinoin?

Avoid other topical retinoids, and skin care products containing retinol, with tretinoin. You may also want to avoid salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and erythromycin gel (Erthygel), as these ingredients and products can cause dryness.

What cancels tretinoin?

What cancels out tretinoin? The effectiveness of tretinoin can be reduced by sun exposure as tretinoin is photosensitive, which means it degrades in daylight.

Is topical tretinoin bad for the liver?

Retinoids have been implicated in causing mild-to-moderate elevations in routine liver tests, but these elevations are usually asymptomatic and transient, resolving spontaneously even with continued therapy.

What makes tretinoin less effective?

Using Tretinoin Correctly

The best time to use Tretinoin is at night. This is because light can degrade Tretinoin and make it less effective. Even more importantly, your skin regenerates the most at night and so your skills will get the maximum benefits from Tretinoin when it is applied during this period.

What's better, vitamin A or retinol?

Retinol is actually just another word for vitamin A. It is an extremely effective cell-communicating ingredient, meaning the substance can literally attach itself to almost every skin cell and it 'tells' the cells that they should behave like healthy, younger skin cells. Retinol is an antioxidant.

What is the best nighttime moisturizer to use with tretinoin?

The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Multi-Purpose Balm.

It's a shea butter and glycerin-based balm, so it's super-rich and healing-- great for night routines. Tretinoin users have reviewed this product and named it the “holy grail of moisturizers.” It's helped countless people get through tretinoin irritation.

Can vitamin A help acne?

In addition, vitamin A can regulate skin tone and reduce the red, purple and brown colouring that acne can leave on the skin. It can also reduce the size and productivity of your oil glands, meaning that your skin produces less acne-causing oil.

How much vitamin A do you absorb from tretinoin?

Tretinoin (a form of vitamin A) is usually absorbed between 1-2% from facial application on healthy skin. That means about 0.00025 - 0.0005% of your tretinoin could potentially be absorbed into the body. Tretinoin is a perfectly safe topical treatment, so just because it's absorbed doesn't mean it's bad!

Does tretinoin increase facial hair in females?

Dr Kiran acknowledges some evidence that suggests tretinoin may aid in hair growth: Tretinoin promotes cell turnover, which can help rejuvenate hair follicles. It may enhance the absorption of other hair growth treatments, such as minoxidil.

What not to take with vitamin A?

Possible interactions include:
  • Anticoagulants. Oral use of vitamin A supplements while taking these medications used to prevent blood clots might increase your risk of bleeding.
  • Bexarotene (Targretin). ...
  • Hepatotoxic drugs. ...
  • Orlistat (Alli, Xenical). ...
  • Retinoids.

Can tretinoin cause vitamin A toxicity?

Retinoid Toxicity

Do not administer tretinoin with vitamin A due to symptoms of syndrome of hypervitaminosis A. Pseudotumor cerebri/intracranial hypertension may also occur, especially if given in combination with other medications that increase intracranial hypertension.

What is the downside of tretinoin?

Topical tretinoin can cause your skin to become dry, red, swollen, blistered, or flaky. It may also cause your skin to itch, be painful, or feel like it is burning. Stop using topical tretinoin and call your healthcare provider if these symptoms become worse or do not go away.

Does tretinoin destroy collagen?

Tretinoin counteracts the destruction of collagen and elastic fibers by inhibiting the regulation of MMPs.

What cannot be mixed with tretinoin?

Unless your skin care specialist tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as tretinoin: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, *lactic acid, *glycolic acids, *citric acid, high strength ascorbic acid. These acids & actives will increase skin irritation.

What is the sandwich method of tretinoin?

Option one: The sandwich technique

After washing your face, apply a layer of moisturiser. Allow it to dry down for 5-10 minutes. Then, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin to your entire face. Allow this to dry down for 5-10 minutes.

Can I use tretinoin forever?

It's true that some people with persistent acne use tretinoin for years, but generally speaking, most stop once they have clearer skin or if they're no longer seeing results. Other people may continue to use tretinoin after their breakouts subside for the most part for maintenance therapy.

What deactivates tretinoin?

The tretinoin in Retin A cream is very prone to break down by exposure to light. UVA breaks down tretinoin the most but the peak wavelength that does this is 420nm, which is just into the visible light spectrum right outside of the UVA wavelength spectrum.

What is the horrible tretinoin purge?

“The symptoms related to tretinoin purging typically involve acne breakouts, severe skin dryness and peeling, redness and irritation, but it is important to know that this phase is temporary and once it's over, the skin will generally begin to improve, and you will be able to see the positive effects.

What pairs well with tretinoin?

Vitamin B3 or Niacinamide is a common choice for compounding with Tretinoin due to its skin brightening and pore tightening properties.

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