Dr. Irwin: What’s the distinction between Refissa tretinoin cream USP 0.05% vs Perrigo’s tretinoin cream USP 0.05%? I’ve been utilizing Refissa for years, however now I’ve an issue getting it as a consequence of a backlog. I’m wondering if I can use Perrigo’s tretinoin cream USP 0.05% as a substitute? Many thanks Amy.
Some days I believe all of us want a level in chemistry to actually perceive skincare product labels. I like your query as a result of it actually will get again to that challenge.
To reply your query, for those who actually love Refissa (tretinoin 0.05%), I doubt you’ll love the Perrigo tretinion as a result of the bottom is a lot thinner and formulated extra for shiny pores and skin. Refissa had an virtually ointment-like base, and was nice for dry pores and skin. For these of you who don’t know, tretinion is only a concentrated model of retinol.
There are numerous tretinoin merchandise available on the market, they usually are available gels, lotions, and lotions. The traces between these completely different automobiles are sometimes blurred although. You might need a lotion-like gel or a really thick lotion that works extra like a cream. The identical is true for plenty of different merchandise.
Does it actually matter? Having watched sufferers and myself wrestle to exchange a favourite now discontinued product, I believe it does. Why? Learn on.
Why does the bottom or car of the product make such a distinction:
- If you’d like a product that works for dry pores and skin, search for the highest 5-6 substances to be issues like squalene, pure oils, shea butter, and even petrolatum.
- If you’d like a product that works for oilier pores and skin, then search for merchandise which have extra hyaluronic acid, non irritating alcohols, aloe vera and related within the prime 5-6 substances listed.
- The substances almost definitely to trigger pores and skin irritation are preservatives, fragrances, propylene glycol, lanolin and a few alcohols.
- The bottom impacts the bioavailability of the energetic ingredient too. That tretinoin 0.05% could also be considerably stronger, or weaker, relying on what it’s put in; there’s actually no solution to inform that as a client forward of time.
- Pure oils and dry oils are all the craze now, however they will clog pores in prone people regardless of the advertising and marketing.
- Lotions are possibly the toughest to guage with out truly shopping for them as a result of some are extra gel-like. Some are mild and soak up simply, some mid-weight, and a few are very dense and extra occlusive.
- Do samples assist? They may help you inform whether or not you might be allergic to it, if the perfume will be just right for you, and if the consistency is best for you. Apart from that, they aren’t very useful. It takes 30-90 days to see if a product actually makes a distinction within the high quality of your pores and skin. All of us have drawers of them although, and I’d vote for a clear out and dump session twice a 12 months.
Hope this helps!
Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD
Founding father of SkinTour & MadisonMD Skincare
Comply with my pores and skin ideas and travels on Instagram!
