Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSimilaritiesDifferencesWhich Is Right for You?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Similarities
Differences
Which Is Right for You?
Despite the similar names, Retin-A and Retin-A Micro aren’t exactly alike. There are some big differences between the two products, namely in the way they are formulated and deliver the active ingredient to the skin. Tretinoin can come as a cream, gel, or liquid and the delivery method is one of the key differences between Retin-A and Retin-A Micro.
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This article describes the similarities and differences between Retin-A and Retin-A Micro, including when each is used. It also looks at other treatments with similar mechanisms of action that your doctor may prescribe.
Retin-A and Retin-A Micro Similarities
Both Retin-A and Retin-A Micro contain the same active ingredient calledtretinoin. The active ingredient is the ingredient that makes the medication work.
Retin-AComes in cream, gel, and liquidFull potency is delivered immediatelyMust wait 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing before applyingMore irritatingCreams are better for dry skinLess costlyRetin-A MicroComes only in a gel formMedication released more slowly, over timeCan be applied immediately after washing your faceLess irritatingGels are better for oily skinMore costly
Retin-AComes in cream, gel, and liquidFull potency is delivered immediatelyMust wait 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing before applyingMore irritatingCreams are better for dry skinLess costly
Comes in cream, gel, and liquid
Full potency is delivered immediately
Must wait 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing before applying
More irritating
Creams are better for dry skin
Less costly
Retin-A MicroComes only in a gel formMedication released more slowly, over timeCan be applied immediately after washing your faceLess irritatingGels are better for oily skinMore costly
Comes only in a gel form
Medication released more slowly, over time
Can be applied immediately after washing your face
Less irritating
Gels are better for oily skin
More costly
Tretinoin is a type of drug known as atopical retinoid. These are medications derived from vitamin A used to treat a variety of skin conditions.
Tretinoin can be used to treat acne,keratosis pilaris(a non-contagious skin rash), andhyperpigmentation(the abnormal darkening of the skin), among others.It is also used as an anti-aging product because it can help soften lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture.
Retinaldehyde: Another Skin Care Solution?
How They Work
Because they contain the same active ingredient, Retin-A and Retin-A Micro work in essentially the same way. Both medications speed up thecell turnover rate. Simply put, they help dead skin cells shed more quickly and effectively than they would on their own.
Tretinoin also helps pores blocked with dead skin cells and oils become less sticky. By doing so, pores are less likely to form whiteheads or blackheads (also known ascomedones). This, in turn, reduces the risk of acne.
The Difference Between Retin-A and Tretinoin
Tretinoin Cream vs. Tretinoin Gel
Tretinoin comes in different formulations: liquid, cream and gel.Retin-A comes as a cream and liquid, and Retin-A Micro comes as a gel. The difference between tretinoin liquid and cream vs. tretinoin gel is that the gel formulation releases the medication more slowly. This is advantageous because it reduces the irritation that the main ingredient can sometimes cause.
How The Medications Differ
Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are basically different versions of the same medication. They work in the same way, are used to treat the same skin problems, and contain the same active ingredient.
Where they differ is in the formulation (the composition of ingredients), the application, their recommended uses, and their price.
Formulation
While the active ingredient in Retin-A and Retin-A Micro is the same, the vehicle is not. The vehicle is the base that delivers the active ingredient to the skin.
Retin-A comes in a variety of different forms, including cream, gel, and liquid. When you apply Retin-A, the full potency of the medication is delivered immediately to the skin. Because you’re getting the full strength of the medication all at once, the risk of side effects—namely dryness and irritation—is increased.
Retin-A Micro is formulated differently and is available only as a gel. After it is applied, some of the medication is held in reserve and released into the skin slowly. This allows the medication to be effective for longer periods of time.
Retin-A Micro is composed of microspheres of tretinoin that break open over time rather than all at once. As a result, there is less risk of irritation. This doesn’t mean that it never causes dryness or irritation, but it is generally less likely to do so than Retin-A.
Application
There is also a slight difference in how Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are applied.
The manufacturer recommends waiting 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing before applying Retin-A.This ensures that the skin is completely dry (since the evaporation of moisture from wet skin can enhance the drying effects of tretinoin).
A waiting time is not necessary with Retina-A Micro, and the medication can be applied immediately after cleansing.
Uses
Retin-A is used more often than Retin-A Micro to improve signs of aging. Much of this is due to the fact that Retin-A comes in a cream formulation. Creams contain far moreemollients(substances that add moisture to the skin) than gels. This gives skin a plumper appearance and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
On the other hand, gels are less likely to give the skin a greasy appearance than emollient-rich creams. For this reason, Retin-A Micro may be preferred over Retin-A cream for people with oily skin.
Price
Another key difference between Retin-A and Retin-A Micro is the price. Retin-A Micro costs roughly $200 to $300 per tube, while Retin-A is more in the $50 to $60 range.
Retinol vs. Retin-A (Tretinoin): What’s the Difference?
Your dermatologist will help you choose between Retin-A and Retin-A Micro or let you know ifanother acne treatmentis more appropriate. This includes other types of topical retinoids. Among them is a less potent over-the-counter (OTC) version of Retin-A known asretinol.
Other Topical Retinoids
Retin-A and Retin-A Micro aren’t the only medications that utilize tretinoin as the active ingredient. A few even containtopical antibioticsthat can help control bacteria on the skin.
Other brands that contain tretinoin include:
There are also topical retinoids that are not made with tretinoin. These include:
Summary
Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are prescription topical retinoids used to treat acne. They both contain a medication called tretinoin that increases the speed at which dry skin cells are shed. This decreases the risk of blackheads, whiteheads, and acne.
Retina-A is available as a cream, gel, or lotion. Because it acts immediately on the skin, Retin-A is more likely to cause skin dryness or irritation. To reduce the risk of these, you should wait 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing before applying Retin-A to the skin.
Retin-A Micro is a more costly, time-released version that is available only as a gel. It is less likely to cause irritation and dryness and can be applied immediately after cleansing. However, it may not be as effective as Retin-A cream for anti-aging treatments and may be better suited than creams for oilier skin types.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A micro® (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.1% and 0.04%.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatology and Therapy. 2017;7(3):293. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A tretenoin cream.Additional ReadingKircik LH.Microsphere technology: Hype or help?J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011 May;4(5):27-31.Kircik LH.Evaluating tretinoin formulations in the treatment of acne.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2014 Apr;13(4):466-70.MedlinePlus.Tretinoin topical. U.S. National Library of Medicine.Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.Retin-A Micro prescribing information.Yeh L, Bonati LM, Silverberg NB.Topical retinoids for acne.Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.2016 Jun;35(2):50-6. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.024
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A micro® (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.1% and 0.04%.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatology and Therapy. 2017;7(3):293. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A tretenoin cream.Additional ReadingKircik LH.Microsphere technology: Hype or help?J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011 May;4(5):27-31.Kircik LH.Evaluating tretinoin formulations in the treatment of acne.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2014 Apr;13(4):466-70.MedlinePlus.Tretinoin topical. U.S. National Library of Medicine.Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.Retin-A Micro prescribing information.Yeh L, Bonati LM, Silverberg NB.Topical retinoids for acne.Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.2016 Jun;35(2):50-6. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.024
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A micro® (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.1% and 0.04%.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatology and Therapy. 2017;7(3):293. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A tretenoin cream.
National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A micro® (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.1% and 0.04%.
Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatology and Therapy. 2017;7(3):293. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2
Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091
National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.Retin-A tretenoin cream.
Kircik LH.Microsphere technology: Hype or help?J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011 May;4(5):27-31.Kircik LH.Evaluating tretinoin formulations in the treatment of acne.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2014 Apr;13(4):466-70.MedlinePlus.Tretinoin topical. U.S. National Library of Medicine.Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.Retin-A Micro prescribing information.Yeh L, Bonati LM, Silverberg NB.Topical retinoids for acne.Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.2016 Jun;35(2):50-6. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.024
Kircik LH.Microsphere technology: Hype or help?J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011 May;4(5):27-31.
Kircik LH.Evaluating tretinoin formulations in the treatment of acne.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2014 Apr;13(4):466-70.
MedlinePlus.Tretinoin topical. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.Retin-A Micro prescribing information.
Yeh L, Bonati LM, Silverberg NB.Topical retinoids for acne.Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.2016 Jun;35(2):50-6. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.024
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