retin-a
Pharmaranks rates Retin-A 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Retin-A (Tretinoin) is a retinoid used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Facial Dermatoses, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Hyperpigmentation.
Tretinoin · by Valeant Pharm Intl
Available as a generic: Tretinoin
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Tretinoin
- Drug class
- Retinoid
- Form
- Topical
- Strength
- Tretinoin 0.025%
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- Manufacturer
- Valeant Pharm Intl
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$1.05 per gm — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA017579
What is Retin-A?
From the FDA label:RETIN-A Gel and Cream, containing tretinoin, are used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. RETIN-A Gel contains tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin A acid) in either of two strengths, 0.025% or 0.01% by weight, in a gel vehicle of butylated hydroxytoluene, hydroxypropyl cellulose and alcohol (denatured with tert -butyl alcohol and brucine sulfate) 90% w/w. RETIN-A (tretinoin) Cream contains tretinoin in one of three strengths, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.025% by weight, in a hydrophilic cream vehicle of stearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum, sorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, and purified water. Chemically, tretinoin is all - trans -retinoic acid and has the following structure: Chemical Structure
How to use
RETIN-A Gel or Cream should be applied once a day, before retiring, to the skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected area lightly. Gel: Excessive application results in “pilling” of the gel, which minimizes the likelihood of overapplication by the patient. Application may cause a transitory feeling of warmth or slight stinging. In cases where it has been necessary to temporarily discontinue therapy or to reduce the frequency of application, therapy may be resumed or frequency of application increased when the patients become able to tolerate the treatment. Alterations of vehicle, drug concentration, or dose frequency should be closely monitored by careful observation of the clinical therapeutic response and skin tolerance. During the early weeks of therapy, an apparent exacerbation of inflammatory lesions may occur. This is due to the action of the medication on deep, previously unseen lesions and should not be considered a reason to discontinue therapy. Therapeutic results should be noticed after 2 to 3 weeks but more than 6 weeks of therapy may be required before definite beneficial effects are seen. Once the acne lesions have responded satisfactorily, it may be possible to maintain the improvement with less frequent applications, or other dosage forms. Patients treated with RETIN-A (tretinoin) acne treatment may use cosmetics, but the area to…
Side effects
The skin of certain sensitive individuals may become excessively red, edematous, blistered, or crusted. If these effects occur, the medication should either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the medication should be adjusted to a level the patient can tolerate. True contact allergy to topical tretinoin is rarely encountered. Temporary hyper- or hypopigmentation has been reported with repeated application of RETIN-A. Some individuals have been reported to have heightened susceptibility to sunlight while under treatment with RETIN-A. To date, all adverse effects of RETIN-A have been reversible upon discontinuance of therapy (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Who should not take Retin-A
Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
If medication is applied excessively, no more rapid or better results will be obtained and marked redness, peeling, or discomfort may occur. Oral ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
Concomitant topical medication, medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect, and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices or lime should be used with caution because of possible interaction with tretinoin. Particular caution should be exercised in using preparations containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with RETIN-A. It also is advisable to “rest” a patient’s skin until the effects of such preparations subside before use of RETIN-A is begun.
Drug class
How this class works, per Tretinoin - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Retin-A ranks — best-rated retinoid for:
Dosage forms
Topical
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Retin-A treat?
- Retin-A (Tretinoin) may be used to treat acne vulgaris, facial dermatoses, acute promyelocytic leukemia, hyperpigmentation, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Retin-A work?
- Retin-A is a retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that enter skin cells and switch on retinoic acid receptors in the nucleus, which changes how genes are read. This normalizes how skin cells grow and shed, unclogs pores, calms inflammation, and over time boosts collagen production.
- How is Retin-A rated?
- pharmaranks gives Retin-A a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- How much does Retin-A cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $1.05 per gm, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Retin-A?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Retin-A. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Retin-A?
- Retin-A is marketed by Valeant Pharm Intl. You can see Valeant Pharm Intl's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Retin-A a brand-name or generic drug?
- Retin-A is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Tretinoin. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Tretinoin are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Retin-A available over the counter?
- No. Retin-A is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Retin-A come in?
- Retin-A is currently marketed as topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Retin-A?
- Retin-A is classified as retinoid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Retin-A FDA-registered?
- Retin-A is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA017579. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Retin-A been recalled by the FDA?
- Retin-A has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Retin-A safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Retin-A a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Retin-A?
- Retin-A's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The skin of certain sensitive individuals may become excessively red, edematous, blistered, or crusted. If these effects occur, the medication should either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the medication should be adjusted to a level the patient can tolerate.… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
People also viewed
Compare Retin-A head-to-head
More retinoid drugs
Guides for this medication
Browse medications A–Z
Research products from A to Z, compare independent ratings, and find alternatives.
retin-a
70/100