A-Z — Retinoic acid

Retinoic acid (tretinoin) — (See Active Ingredients, see Vitamin A) A vitamin A derivative that is prescription strength. At the end of the day, it’s only RA (retinoic acid) that modulates gene expression and influences cellular processes in both the epidermis and the dermis, and the path to get there is either indirect via retinol (the Vitamin A derivative, not to be confused with Vitamin A) or retinaldehyde, or directly with tretinoin (retinoic acid). And now that we’ve cleared that up let’s forge right ahead. RA has demonstrated an ability to alter collagen synthesis, increase dermal hyaluronic acid levels, and...