Differin vs. Tretinoin: 5 Things That Make Them Different
Retinoids (a group of medications that come from vitamin A) treat acne. Tretinoin and Differin are some of the commonly used retinoids which treat acne However, these medications differ significantly with regards to their strengths and effectiveness in treating acne. On paper, these medications look similar; however, they have factors that distinguish them
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- Differin can be purchased over the counter whereas Tretinoin can only be bought as a prescription
You can only acquire a dosage of tretinoin via a doctor’s prescription while on the contrary; you can purchase Differin over the counters. Following the 2016 FDA approval of over-the-counter-sale of Differin 0.1%, you can purchase it in form of gels, lotions, and creams in stores near you. However, acquiring the Differin 0.3, which is stronger, requires that you have a prescription.
- Tretinoin is stronger and works efficiently than Differin but also it has a higher potential of irritation.
Recent studies that explore Tretinoin established that it has higher anti-acne efficacy, which comes with a higher risk of skin irritation at the beginning of an administration. While both retinoids are prone to skin irritation at the onset of use, Tretinoin poses a greater chance of irritation. Dermatologists advise those with sensitive skins to use Differin even though it may not be as efficacious as its counterpart.
- Tretinoin is approved for both acne and photo-aging while Dierin treats acne only
FDA approves the use of Tretinoins to treat photoaging (skin damage from sun rays) as well as acne. On the other hand, Differin, whose effectiveness is much lower, is only approved for the treatment of acne.
- Tretinoin is much older than differin
Tretinoin was the initial retinoid to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne in the year 1971. It has been thoroughly researched in well-documented comprehensive studies. On the other hand, Differin is relatively new as it was approved for use in 1996. This age difference depicts that there has been ample time to discover the pros, cons, uses, and benefits of Tretinoin. On the other hand, scientists still have a long way to go to study Differin adequately and establish its features. Differin is a new addition to the retinoid family and perhaps, with more studies in the way, its clinical significance can be broadened.
- Both are available in varying percentage strengths
There is a significance difference in the strengths of both Differin and Tretinoin. The brands indicate their strength in percentage form and come in different percentage levels. Differin comes in the highest percentage of 0.3 while Tretinoid comes in the highest strength of 0.1. The commercially present strengths of Tretinoin are 0.025 gel, 0.05 cream, and 0.1 gel or cream, all of which are prescriptions.
