Q: Effects of Retinol vs. Retin-A?
A: Although they work in similar ways, retinol is not the same as Retin-A. Some may call retinol an over-the-counter version of Retin-A, but they aren’t interchangeable.
As Retin-A is considered as a strong retinoid and you may get unwanted side effects while using it, you need to get a doctor’s prescription for Retin-A. Use it according to your doctor’s advice and suggestion.
Technically, retinol and Retin-A do the same thing. But retinol is much weaker than Retin-A because it first has to be converted into retinoic acid in order to be used by the skin. Retin-A is retinoic acid, so it can be used directly by the skin as soon as it’s applied.
As such, Retin-A is much more powerful than retinol. Even the lowest strength Retin-A is stronger than the highest strength retinol product.
How much retinol is actually converted into retinoic acid is dependent on many things, including the amount of retinol in the product to begin with, and if it’s degraded (basically how old your product is or how long it’s been opened). And, interestingly, some people convert retinol into retinoic acid more quickly than others.
Also, bear in mind that Retinol is sometimes added to over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications, but it’s not an acne treatment in itself. It’s used most often as an anti-ager.
Whichever retinoid you use, sunscreen is a must. Retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn, because of the new skin cells at the surface of your skin.
Even if you aren’t burning, sun damage can still be occurring. To protect your skin, use your retinoid at night and apply sunscreen with an SPF of 50 every morning.
