Tretinoin usually comes in three strengths, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%. The stronger 0.05% and 0.1% creams are usually used to treat the appearance of wrinkles. The 0.1% cream may have better results for some people, but it can be harsher, so if your skin is sensitive, you may find the 0.05% cream is best for you.
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.
Tretinoin Cream 0.025% or 0.05% is available in most pharmacies. As the generic equivalent of pricey Retin-A, Atralin, and Avita, Tretinoin provides the same great results at a much lower price. Because it is stronger than over-the-counter retinol products, Tretinoin Cream is available only with a prescription.
If you have mild or moderate acne, both tretinoin and adapalene are likely to produce a lasting, significant improvement if used consistently. On the whole, studies comparing tretinoin and adapalene typically find that tretinoin is slightly more effective as an acne treatment.
Tazarotene. This is the most powerful retinoid, available by prescription only.
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.
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.
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.
High-strength retinol – 0.3%-1%
Look for those with a retinol percentage of between 0.3% and 1%. The strongest retinol product that we offer is our Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment and 1% Retinol Booster.
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 .
Tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage) is another type of retinoid that also comes in a cream or a gel, but is usually more expensive than tretinoin. In studies, it is as effective as tretinoin for photoaging and wrinkles but can cause more skin irritation.
1% tretinoin, or one unit of tretinoin per 100 units. The weakest cream contains . 005% tretinoin, or approximately 5% as much tretinoin as the strongest . 1% cream.
"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."
For over 30 years Obagi Tretinoin Cream has been the most effective treatment to combat acne and aging. Available in 3 strengths of Cream: 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%.
Like other acne medications, tretinoin needs time to have a noticeable impact on acne. For the most part, scientific research shows that it typically starts to produce improvements after about 12 weeks (approximately three months).
Tretinoin and Retinol Have Different Strengths
As the stronger substance, tretinoin is a more effective substance when treating conditions such as acne and is an ideal choice for those with oily or highly-tolerant skin. It also has substantial anti-wrinkle properties.
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 is used to treat acne or other skin diseases as determined by your doctor. It works partly by keeping skin pores clear. One of the tretinoin creams is used to treat fine wrinkles, dark spots, or rough skin on the face caused by the damaging rays of the sun.
Tazorac versus tretinoin for acne
Both Tazorac and tretinoin (Retin-A) are equally effective for treating acne, according to a 2019 review of 54 studies in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.
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.
Tretinoin (aka retinoic acid) is a prescription retinoid you can get from a doctor. It's 20 times more potent than OTC retinol and achieves faster results 1.
Retin-A Micro is available in four strengths: 0.1%, 0.08%, 0.06% and 0.04%.
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.
“Studies suggest you need to use at least 0.25% retinol or 0.025% tretinoin to be effective, so I recommend using a product that specifies the percentage.” When choosing a retinol product, Dr. Rogers says it's best to start with the lowest concentration before moving up.