Tretinoin Cream for Skin Rejuvenation
Tretinoin cream, USP is an effective topical medication for skin problems due to UV damages such as acne and aging signs. The active ingredient, tretinoin, which is also known as trans-retinoic acid, is the derivative of Vitamin A. This topical formulation is the only clinically proven and FDA approved topical prescription to effectively treat pimples, acne, wrinkles and dark spots. Tretinoin is a yellowish orange crystalline powder with comfortable floral scent. You might wonder what USP means. It simply refers to emollient and moisturizer.
Tretinoin cream is sold under different brand names such as Obagi, Retin-A, Avita and Renova. All of them, however, serve the same purpose: to rejuvenate skin by increasing skin cells regeneration rate and stimulating collagen production. It is definitely the top choice for individuals with acne-prone skin and aging skin with wrinkles and brown spots. Long-term use of this medication improves repair cycle of the skin which helps to promote the exfoliation of the epidermal cells. Individuals who have been suffering from chronic acne or recurring acne will see a noticeable difference within six to eight weeks. Individual with aging signs due to long-term exposure to sunlight will have a smoother, younger skin after using it as it helps to reduce facial wrinkles and skin discoloration by decreasing the breakdown of collagen in the dermis but instead, increase the synthesis of collagen.
Different manufacturers produce different strengths of tretinoin cream where some concentrations are found in one but not the other brands. An example of this would be Tretinoin Cream 0.04% which can only be found under the brand name Retin-A. The concentration refers to the w/w in oil-in-water emulsion formulation. In other words, in Tretinoin cream 0.05%, 0.05mg of tretinoin is dissolved in 1g of gel or cream. Other than the active ingredient, this formulation also contains benzyl alcohol, butylated hydroxytoluene, medium-chain triglycerides, cetyl alcohol, edetate disodium, methylparaben, propylparaben, water, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, steareth-2, steareth-20 and xanthan gum as inactive ingredients.
This formulation is also manufactured in gel and cream form. I personally prefer cream over gel when the weather is dry as I have a rather dry and sensitive skin. My hypersensitivity to alcohol causes skin irritation and produces red rashes when I apply products with high alcohol content. However, my skin allergic reaction is minimal with both tretinoin cream and gel. For me, cream works better during autumn and winter as it serves as a better moisturizing agent. On the other hand, when the weather is hot and humid, gel is a better option. It is absorbed better and I would not have to worry that it would stain my pillow at night.
Tretinoin cream has become one of the most sought after skin care products for many years due to its effectiveness in treating acne and photaging. Individuals who have been suffering from these skin problems, have seen significant difference and rewarding outcome after long-term use. tretinoin cream