tretinoin

noun

tre·​tin·​o·​in tre-ˈti-nə-win 

: the all-trans isomer of retinoic acid that is applied to the skin to treat severe acne and reduce facial wrinkles, roughness, and pigmented spots

Examples of tretinoin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Winona Estriol Cream with Tretinoin $150 for three months Buy Now Winona’s estriol cream includes tretinoin to smooth out lines and wrinkles while evening your skin tone; meanwhile, the estriol is designed to tighten and plump your skin. —Korin Miller, Flow Space, 28 Mar. 2025

Since it’s personalized for your skin, your exact formula will vary, the brand states that most formulas contain tretinoin (a prescription-level retinoid that addresses fine lines) paired with azelaic acid and other skin-brightening ingredients like tranexamic acid and niacinamide. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Allure, 19 Mar. 2025

Do not apply face tape after using strong active ingredients such as retinol, tretinoin, AHA/BHA. —Enrica Petraglia, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025

Try substituting less irritating sodium ascorbate for vitamin C and retinal for retinol or tretinoin. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from trans- + retinoic acid

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tretinoin

• adjoin
• benzoin
• bitcoin
• conjoin
• enjoin
• fibroin
• rejoin
• sirloin
• subjoin
• coin
• coyne
• groin

Medical Definition

tretinoin

noun

tre·​tin·​o·​in tre-ˈtin-ə-wən 

: the all-trans isomer of retinoic acid that is applied topically to the skin to treat acne vulgaris and to reduce facial wrinkles, roughness, and pigmented spots and that is administered orally to induce remission of acute myelogenous leukemia in which more than half the cells are malignant promyelocytes

called also all-trans-retinoic acid, retinoic acid, vitamin A acid

see isotretinoin, retin-a