Retin-A
Meaning of Retin-A: Retin-A is a brand name for topical tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative applied to skin to treat acne and reduce signs of photoaging.
Definition of Retin-A
Retin-A is a brand name for tretinoin, a topical medication derived from vitamin A and applied directly to the skin. It belongs to a class of compounds called retinoids, which act on skin cells to normalize how they mature and shed.
In acne, tretinoin works by keeping hair follicles from becoming clogged with dead skin cells and oil, which helps prevent the formation of new blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed lesions over time rather than treating existing breakouts immediately.
Tretinoin is also used to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and mottled pigmentation caused by long term sun exposure. Common side effects include dryness, redness, and peeling of the skin, treated skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight, and tretinoin is available under other brand names as well as in generic form.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Topical tretinoin was prescribed to help manage the patient's acne.
Good to know
Tretinoin typically requires weeks of regular use before improvement in acne becomes noticeable, and skin irritation is common when treatment is first started.