What it means
A retinoid. As a cream or gel, it unclogs pores and speeds skin cell turnover; it causes redness, peeling and sun sensitivity. As a capsule, it treats acute promyelocytic leukemia, where it can cause a serious reaction called differentiation syndrome. Oral tretinoin causes severe birth defects.
For the nurse
Teach the client using the skin form to apply a pea-sized amount to dry skin at night, use sunscreen and expect skin to look worse for the first weeks. Anyone who could become pregnant needs reliable birth control with the oral form.
At a glance
| Drug class | retinoid |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Retin-A, Altreno, Atralin, Avita (topical) |
| Also written | Retin-A, Altreno, Atralin |
Related terms
vitamin
A substance the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and function, mostly from food.