Dr Sandeep Cliff outlines the different forms of topical retinoids and discusses their mechanisms of action
Retinoid’ is an umbrella term to describe all forms of vitamin A, including both naturally and synthetically produced derivatives, which have been in regular use in dermatology for more than 70 years.1 Retinoids have been used to treat a variety of cutaneous disorders such as plaque psoriasis, acne, oily skins, epithelial tumours and photoageing with more than 2,500 compounds now available.1 This article will explore the common forms of topical retinoids, how they work and their different functions, as well as how they can be combined with other ingredients.
What are retinoids?There are three generations of retinoids (Figure 1).2 They are compounds that have biological activity similar to naturally occurring vitamin A (retinol) and cover a huge spectrum of effects, from cosmetic to…
