Retinaldehyde: This is an OTC retinoid that is stronger than retinol but not as strong as prescription topical retinoids. Tazarotene: Sold under the brand names Fabior, Tazorac, Avage, and others, this is a prescription topical retinoid often used to treat psoriasis .
Second, adapalene has a more stable chemical structure than tretinoin, making it okay to use alongside other acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide. Studies show that adapalene is effective at treating acne.
Tazarotene. This is the most powerful retinoid, available by prescription only.
Conclusions: Tazarotene 0.1% cream can offer superior efficacy over tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream in the treatment of facial photodamage, particularly with respect to the speed of improvement.
Preliminary results from the tazarotene versus tretinoin trial suggest that once-daily tazarotene is more efficacious than once-daily tretinoin in reducing the numbers of papules and open comedones, and achieves a more rapid reduction in pustules. Both drugs appear to be equally efficacious against closed comedones.
The 0.1% tazarotene cream produced significantly higher treatment success rates than the 0.05% tretinoin cream at weeks 12 and 20.
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.
Tazorac (tazarotene)
In studies, it is as effective as tretinoin for photoaging and wrinkles but can cause more skin irritation. Because of this and the higher cost, tazarotene isn't usually recommended as the first-choice anti-aging cream.
Differin 0.1% Adapalene Gel, for example, can help treat acne. Studies have found evidence to suggest adapalene is just as effective as stronger retinoids, but the skin tends to tolerate it better.
Tazorac is a brand name for tazarotene, and Retin-A is a brand name of tretinoin. Other medications in the retinoid class include retinol, adapalene, alitretinoin and bexarotene.
For the purposes of skin care, tretinoin can be thought of as a more concentrated version of retinol. This means that tretinoin is stronger than retinol. This difference in strength can help guide your decision-making when it comes to choosing a skin care product.
Retin-A is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of acne and facial wrinkles. Retin-A may be used alone or with other medications. Retin-A belongs to a class of drugs called Acne Agents, Topical. It is not known if Retin-A is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age.
Retinaldehyde, also known as “retinal” — not to be confused with retinol — is the strongest of the over-the-counter retinoids. One step closer to retinoic acid on the conversion scale, it only takes one step for it to convert and become active, making it more potent than the aforementioned retinyl esters and retinol.
Tretinoin strength studies
While both were equally effective over a one year period, Tretinoin 0.1% was able to achieve cosmetic improvement in 6 months while 0.05% required closer to 12 months. Finally, 0.025% was compared to 0.1% and it was found that both produced similar improvements in photoaging.
"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."
1. SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream. Formulated with the highest concentration of 1.0% pure retinol, this night cream is enhanced with the latest stabilization and delivery technologies to ensure maximum efficacy and stability.
Though it's not yet understood exactly how these treatments reduce acne symptoms, testing has suggested a fairly simple account of how they differ: adapalene is less likely to cause further irritation, but tretinoin is more potent.
Are Retin-A and Differin the Same Thing? Retin-A (tretinoin) Cream and Gel and Differin (adapalene) are retinoids (a form of vitamin A) used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Differin is available over-the-counter (OTC).
Adapalene vs Tretinoin: What's the difference? The primary difference between adapalene and Tretinoin is that adapalene has mostly been studied for treating acne, while Tretinoin has also been proved through multiple studies to prevent and improve premature skin aging.
Are Accutane and Tazorac the Same Thing? Accutane (isotretinoin) and Tazorac (tazarotene) are forms of vitamin A called retinoids used for the treatment and prevention of severe acne. Tazorac is also used to treat plaque psoriasis (psoriasis with scaly patches).
In this study, tazarotene 0.1% cream was significantly more effective than adapalene 0.3% gel in the treatment of PIH in patients with at least moderate acne.
Tazorac cream is also available in a generic form called tazarotene. This generic is available in one strength: 0.1%. (Generics have the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs but typically cost less.)
Tretinoin is a medication used to treat acne and sun-damaged skin. It can't erase deep wrinkles, but it can help improve the appearance of surface wrinkles, fine lines, and darks spots.
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.
Tretinoin degrades quickly when exposed to sunlight, meaning you probably won't get the best results by using it in the morning. Instead, the best time to apply tretinoin is at nighttime — usually 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing your face before you go to bed.