What's The Difference Between Tretinoin And Over-The-Counter Retinol? by What's The Difference Between Tretinoin And Over-The-Counter Retinol?Do you wonder what's the difference between retinol, Retin-A, and tretinoin, or whether you're choosing the wrong anti-aging medication? Not to worry, we're here to break down the differences so you know exactly what you want to put on your face and how to get it. First of all: the two words you’re probably most familiar with, retinol and Retin A (which is actually tretinoin—but we'll get to that later), are not the same thing. However, they both fall under this umbrella of retinoids - the term used to describe a group of compounds that are derived from vitamin A. Let’s start with retinol There's so much buzz in the beauty world about retinol—but is it really all that? Tons and tons of OTC anti-aging and skin rejuvenation products contain retinol, a natural form of vitamin A. Retinol can help brighten your skin and make it feel softer and smoother. It also helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles. But retinol itself doesn't actually affect the skin directly. Enzymes within the skin first must convert retinol into retinoic acid. It's only when it is converted to retinoic acid that it becomes effective. This process can take several weeks because retinol is a slow worker, meaning it can be awhile before it actually improves your skin. In the end, retinol is so easily oxidized that 95% of that conversion is lost in the process, so your skin won't get to fully benefit from retinol.So what's tretinoin? Tretinoin is a synthetic form of vitamin A, and the medication name for what you might know as Retin-A. Tretinoin is used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, brighten the complexion, and fade dark spots left by acne or sun damage. Tretinoin is also known as retinoic acid, so because you don't have to wait for the skin to convert it, it directly affects the skin. Tretinoin works faster and is more powerful than retinol products. In fact, you can see improvement of the skin in six to eight weeks time. Unlike retinol, tretinoin is a prescription-only medication, and is recommended and used by 10/10 of dermatologists for slowing down and reversing the skin's aging process. It is so effective that it is the only anti-aging medication approved by the FDA. Are retinol and tretinoin interchangeable? No. Although they work in similar ways, they aren't interchangeable. Clinical studies have shown that tretinoin is 20 times more powerful than retinol. Even the lowest strength tretinoin is stronger than the highest strength retinol product—meaning you'll see more visible results much sooner than you would with retinols.