Retinoic Acid Cream or Gel

Retinoic acid comes as different brands, we stock Retino – A which is made by Johnson and Johnson and A Ret is made by Menarini. You may choose between a gel and a cream and also between the two strengths available.

Possible Side Effects

Like all drugs Retino A has some side effects, the most common being:

Peeling and redness of the skin

Tingling of the skin

Discolouration of the skin

Cautions

Do not use Retino A while taking some antibiotics such as tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and other photosensitising drugs.

Do not use if you are or trying to become pregnant or are breastfeeding without first consulting your doctor.

Help and Advice

Retinoic acid, also known as tretinoin, is a derivative of vitamin A and, in the UK, is only available on prescription. It first became popular in the 1970’s as a cream to treat acne. It is currently prescribed for both acne and antiaging.

It has become difficult to find in the UK now since the famous brand Obagi incorporated it into their antiaging line. Also, perhaps as a result of the high prices Obagi charge, the cost of it has significantly increased. We offer a much more cost effective way to purchase Obagi Nu- Derm- Tretinoin. We stock Retino A 0.05% cream, Tretin 0.025% cream, Supatret 0.01% gel and Supacret 0.1% gel

What is the difference between retinol, retinoic acid and tretinoin?

Retinoic acid is only available on prescription and brands of retinoic acid in the UK and US include Retin A and Renova. Retinol and retinoic acid are related as they are both derived from vitamin A. The form of vitamin A the skin needs to cause the antiaging effect is retinoic acid. Many cosmetics products contain retinol and are far less effective than retinoic acid.

This is because the retinol first has to be converted into retinoic acid which is a very slow process and much of the retinol is degraded when in contact with the air. As retinol is much weaker it also has less side effects. Only retinoic acid will speed up the skins natural exfoliation process and reduce the break down of collagen resulting in a youthful glow and firmer skin. The effects of retinol are subtler and take about 3-6 months to show.

How long will it take to see the effects of retinoic acid?

It will take between 6 to 8 weeks to see the results. The results will be much more pronounced than when using retinol based products. This is because retinol first needs to be converted into retinoic acid before it can be used by the skin.

What is the difference between the gel and the cream?

The gel will penetrate better than the cream and is therefore slightly stronger. If you are using this for acne, then use the gel as it will not clog the pores which the cream may do. However, the gel may cause more irritation and dryness than the cream.

The cream may be better if you are using this for anti ageing or have have sensitive skin. If you are using it to mix with the Obagi blender, then you can only use the cream. It may clog your pores and will not be as strong as the gel.

How To Use:

A pea sized amount should be applied to the clean, dry area at night.

Do not use at the same time as other products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide as this can cause skin irritation.

If using this for the first time apply a small amount on your hand and leave it for 12 hours to check whether you are allergic to any ingredients. If you do not have an allergic reaction to it then apply a small amount to the area every other night and then gradually increase to applying every night.

If you do suffer from excessive peeling, then take a break of a few days and wait for the skin to heal then try again with a smaller amount. Most people who experience redness and peeling report that it settles down after a few weeks. Obagi recommends to use a small amount of hydrocortisone 1% cream to help lessen the irritation.

Retino A will cause photosensitivity so wear a sun block of at least SPF 30 throughout the day.