The difference between them is depth and speed! Retin-A penetrates immediately and into deeper layers of your skin to repair instantly. Retinol takes a while to penetrate and repair. They are both good quality anti-aging skin care products.
In addition, several over-the-counter products containing retinoids, such as retinol, are available. Because they're not as strong (and thus less irritating), they are not as effective in reducing wrinkles as tretinoin; but they do improve the appearance of photo-aged skin.
Given that they both are designed to create peeling in the skin, retinol is usually the better option for those with very dry and/or sensitive skin. Those with serious cases of acne that require more substantial interventions may want to opt for tretinoin.
Retin-A is the brand name for a prescription retinoid. Its generic name is tretinoin. Other prescription retinoids include adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac).
Retin- A (Tretinoin)
Retin-A is referenced as being 100 times stronger than retinol. It also has a more immediate effect because it is formulated as retinoic acid; unlike retinols, no conversion by the body is required. As such, many users of Retin-A experience notable improvements in as little as 4-8 weeks.
The difference between them is depth and speed! Retin-A penetrates immediately and into deeper layers of your skin to repair instantly. Retinol takes a while to penetrate and repair. They are both good quality anti-aging skin care products.
Studies have shown a significant improvement of fine lines and wrinkles after just four weeks of tretinoin use, while the same level of improvement takes an average of 12 weeks for retinol 2. So you'll achieve the same level of improvement eventually, but tretinoin shows results faster.
These two anti-aging ingredients aren't entirely different. In fact, retinol is a type of retinoid. However, retinoid most often describes more powerful prescription products, while retinol generally refers to weaker over-the-counter (OTC) formulas. As board certified dermatologist Dr.
Additionally, Retin-A comes in a variety of strengths such as 0.25% (the lowest), 0.5% and 1.0 % (the strongest). You'll definitely want to start using the lowest dose once or twice a week.
1% tretinoin. Most anti-aging studies show that the best results usually come from moderate strength tretinoin creams, such as those that contain . 05% tretinoin.
Retinoic Acid. As mentioned earlier, retinoic acid is the most potent form of retinoids. “This is the end point molecule that is biologically active on skin, and is therefore the strongest,” says Dr. Rabach.
"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."
Tretinoin gel, cream, or lotion requires a prescription because it's more powerful than retinol. Doctors prescribe tretinoin to treat skin conditions like: Acne. Psoriasis.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
Tretinoin has been proven to prevent, reduce, and treat wrinkles. It also helps to treat and prevent age spots. By stimulating collagen production in the skin, it strengthens the skin at a structural level, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Retin-A Micro is a costlier, time-released version that is available only as a gel. It is less likely to cause irritation and dryness and can be applied immediately after cleansing. However, it may not be as effective as Retin-A cream for anti-aging treatments and may be better suited than creams for oilier skin types.
Tazarotene 0.1% gel (once daily) is more effective than tretinoin 0.025% gel (once daily) in reducing the numbers of papules and open comedones, and achieves a more rapid reduction in pustules in mild to moderate facial acne. Alternate-day tazarotene 0.1% gel is as effective as once-daily adapalene 0.1% gel.
Retin-A doesn`t improve appearance instantly. But within a month or two, dermatologists say, the drug visibly plumps up the skin, smoothes fine wrinkles and begins to reverse other, less visible, sun damage. Those effects can be fleeting, though.
So, is retinoid better than retinol? If strength is your main concern—typically the case for mature patients with moderate to severe skin damage, says Shah—then, yes, retinoids are better than retinol.
“This is different from traditional retinol because it causes less skin dryness, irritation, and flaking, which makes the product more tolerable.” This technology also creates a more stable product with a prolonged shelf-life, adds Dr. Marie V.
It may seem surprising, but even small percentages of retinol can benefit your skin. Percentages of 0.01% retinol or greater are proven to be effective at improving multiple signs of ageing, reducing pore size and improving the overall health of your skin.
Engelman agrees: "Retinol is the most potent ingredient that helps build collagen and elastin, which leads to tighter, smoother skin."This mixture has the added bonus of hyaluronic acid, which "can smooth, firm, and tighten the appearance of the skin," Dr. Bowe says.
Resveratrol is known to protect the skin from free radicals and helps interrupt and rebuff environmental stressors, whilst retinol helps with already present skincare issues; enlarged pores, uneven skin texture and fine lines.
Absolutely. The skin should always be protected during the day and restored at night. Since retinol is reparative, you should apply at night.