You've probably heard a lot about this miracle anti-wrinkle treatment — but how much of it is actually true? These derms set the records straight on retinol.
While retinol, retinoids and Retin-A are all forms of vitamin A, they work differently. "Retinol is a naturally occurring substance in the skin that is found in over-the-counter treatments," explains Dr. Schlessinger. "In order to work effectively, retinol must be converted to retinoic acid by the skin." Retin-A, on the other hand, is the name brand of tretinoin, or prescription-strength retinol. It already contains retinoic acid and begins to work immediately in skin for faster results — no conversion necessary.
