Retinol and Tretinoin are both part of the “retinoid” family, but they’re not identical. They both increase cell turnover to help with skin texture and elasticity, but Tretinoin is about 20x more potent than its over-the-counter cousin. So when you see that we offer .1% prescription Tretinoin but .5% over-the-counter retinol products, that doesn’t mean that the retinol is stronger. Tretinoin is a different, more powerful substance that we prescribe for people looking to treat wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration, and more.