tretinoin

[ truh-tin-oh-in ]

noun

1. a drug chemically related to vitamin A, used as a topical ointment to treat skin disorders, especially acne.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tretinoin¹

1960–65; t(ri-) + retino- (< Greek rhētī́nē resin) + -in ¹

Example Sentences

Since Kligman’s 1986 work, there have been thousands of studies on tretinoin, making it one of the most researched anti-aging ingredients in dermatology.

From Washington Post

“For example, tretinoin is retinoic acid, so it’s much more potent than over-the-counter versions, because there is no conversion necessary before it has a biological effect on the skin,” said Joshua Zeichner, a New York-based dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

From Washington Post

In the 1960s, he notoriously tested tretinoin on inmates at Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia until he found a dosage that could be tolerated.

From Washington Post

This led to tretinoin’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1971, subsequently marketed under the brand name Retin-A.

From Washington Post

In 1986, after adult patients using tretinoin to treat acne reported that the product was also reducing their wrinkles and improving their complexion, Kligman and his associates conducted a study on 400 adult women, concluding that topical tretinoin is capable of at least “partly reversing the structural damages of excessive sunlight exposure and may be useful in decelerating the photoaging process.”

From Washington Post