Skin Health Acne Treatment What Is the Difference Between Retin-A and Tretinoin? By Angela Palmer Updated on July 15, 2023 Medically reviewed by Katlein Franca, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Retin-A vs. Tretinoin Generic Tretinoin Tretinoin Medications Similar Medications Tretinoin is a medication used to treat mild, moderate, and severe acne vulgaris. It's a vitamin A derivative and the active ingredient in the brand-name acne treatment Retin-A. Both the generic tretinoin and the brand Retin A are retinoids, a class of medication that works to exfoliate dead skin cells and promote new skin cell growth. Other brand-name medications use tretinoin as well to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, make skin smoother, or treat discoloration of skin. Although not approved for these treatments, Retin-A may is sometimes used off-label for these reasons as well. This article discusses Retin-A and tretinoin and why you can substitute one for the other. It also covers other acne medications with similar names and how they compare to tretinoin. Retin-A vs. Tretinoin If you've been given a prescription for tretinoin by your dermatologist when you expected Retin-A, don't worry: Tretinoin is the name of the active ingredient in the brand-name medication. Products with tretinoin like Retin-A are only available by prescription. They are used to control blackheads and whiteheads, or comedonal acne. They are also called retinoic acid or vitamin A acid. The brand Retin-A has become the most popular term used when referring to topical tretinoin. Many people use Retin-A and tretinoin interchangeably (even healthcare providers). It's like the way people use the brand name "Q-Tip" rather than the generic term "cotton swab." Generic Tretinoin If your healthcare provider prescribes Retin-A, your pharmacist may fill your prescription with generic tretinoin. This is because a generic will often cost less than a brand-name drug. But don't think that generic medications are of lower quality or that they won't work as well. All tretinoin products work in the same way, by speeding cell turnover rates and keeping pores free from blockages, or comedones. Tretinoin medications also help soften fine lines, fade dark marks and discolorations, and leave your complexion looking brighter and feeling smoother. Generic vs. Name Brand Acne Treatments Medications That Contain Tretinoin Many companies manufacture topical tretinoin medications, so tretinoin is sold under many different names. Some medications, besides Retin-A, that contain tretinoin include: Retin-A Micro Avita Renova Ziana (a combination of tretinoin and topical clindamycin) Verywell / Emilie Dunphy Similar Medications In skincare, there are so many sound-alike ingredients that do similar things, which can get confusing. Here is a guide to what these products do and how they are related. Retinoids As stated, tretinoin (and the brand name Retin-A) is a retinoid. Topical retinoids work by speeding up cell turnover, rapidly exfoliating the skin, and promoting new skin cells. They also help clear out blocked pores and soften fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to being prescribed to treat acne, they are commonly used as anti-aging treatments. Besides tretinoin, other topical retinoids include Tazorac (tazarotene) and Differin (adapalene). Differin is more aptly described as a retinoid-like compound, to be precise, but works the same way. Retin-A Micro Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are both brand names for tretinoin. The main difference between these two medications is how they deliver tretinoin to your skin. Retin-A Micro delivers the medication more slowly and over time, so it's less irritating than Retin-A. Retinol Consider retinol an over-the-counter (OTC) version of Retin-A. Like Retin-A, retinol is a topical retinoid. It's derived from vitamin A. It helps soften fine lines and brighten the skin. Retinol doesn't work as quickly, nor does it work on the deeper layers of the skin like prescription retinoids do. You can find retinol in many OTC anti-aging skincare products. Isotretinoin Tretinoin and isotretinoin both are prescription medications used to treat acne. Both are derived from vitamin A. However, that's where their similarities stop. Tretinoin is used topically to treat acne. Isotretinoin, better known by the now-defunct brand name Accutane, is an oral medication used to treat severe inflammatory acne. Tretinoin and isotretinoin are not interchangeable. Summary Retin-A is a brand name for the medication tretinoin. When a doctor prescribes Retin-A, the pharmacist may fill it with generic tretinoin since it's less expensive. Both brand-name and generic tretinoin have the same effects, including keeping pores clear, softening fine lines, and fading discolorations. Other medications have similar-sounding names to tretinoin. This includes retinol, which is an over-the-counter version of Retin-A. Isotretinoin is a prescription medication, and like tretinoin, it's derived from vitamin A. However, isotretinoin is an oral medication to treat severe acne, and it's not interchangeable with tretinoin. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Tretinoin Topical. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. RETIN-A® (tretinoin). Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037 Russel, J. Topical Therapy for Acne. American Family Physician. Kong R, Cui Y, Fisher GJ, et al. A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016;15(1):49-57. doi:10.1111/jocd.12193 Additional Reading Kircik LH. Evaluating Tretinoin Formulations in the Treatment of Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2014 Apr;13(4):466-70. Nohynek GJ. Commentary on the Safety of Topical Vitamin A in Cosmetics. Regululatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2017 Oct;89:302-304. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.08.002 Watson KD, Miest RY, Tollefson MM. Isotretinoin for Acne and Rosacea. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2016 Jun;35(2):79-86. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.023 By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit