Prescription-strength retinol is a powerful version of the best-known wrinkle fighter.
It’s used to treat acne, as well as other skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema.
It’s also used as an anti-aging treatment, but is prescription strength retinol worth it?
Let’s talk about that in this article!
Is prescription strength retinol worth it?
So, is prescription strength retinol worth the additional cost?
That all depends on your skin, and your budget.
If you have sensitive skin or are trying to avoid inflammation, then a lower dose of over-the-counter retinol may be more suitable for you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for more dramatic results from your skincare routine—or if you want to try using retinol but haven’t yet found an OTC product that works for your skin—then it might be worth considering a prescription version of this ingredient.
Is It Better to Use Prescription Retinol?
Prescription retinol, also known as tretinoin, is a stronger form of retinol.
It comes from the same family of vitamins as over-the-counter retinol does, but it’s more purified and concentrated for your skin to absorb.
Tretinoin is available only through a doctor—you can’t buy it at a drugstore or online.
When you use prescription retinol, you should expect to see results in one to two weeks.
You might notice that your acne has cleared up or that your fine lines are less noticeable after just one week!
If you’re thinking about purchasing prescription retinol online without seeing a medical professional first: don’t do it!
It’s important that you get all of your prescriptions from a licensed medical professional who knows what will work best for your skin type and needs before using any kind of pricey product on yourself (or anyone else).
How Strong is Prescription Strength Retinol?
The strength of prescription retinol is measured in terms of its concentration.
The higher the concentration, the stronger the retinol.
For example, tretinoin 0.1% cream (brand name Renova) is made with a higher concentration of tretinoin than Retin-A 0.025%, which has a lower concentration.
This means that even though both products are considered to be “prescription strength” by the FDA and contain very similar ingredients, they have different concentrations—meaning that Renova will be more effective at treating acne than Retin-A if you use it on your face every night for two weeks straight.
What is the Difference Between Over-the-counter Retinol and Prescription Retinol?
Over-the-counter retinol is weaker than prescription strength, and it can be found in many skin care products.
Both have the same active ingredient of tretinoin, which is also known as vitamin A.
Tretinoin helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines by increasing collagen production while reducing inflammation.
This can also help to improve acne scars, dark spots, and even stretch marks!
The problem with over-the-counter products is that they are not strong enough to produce long-lasting results.
In fact, most people will see an improvement in their appearance after about six months of using these products consistently every day.
This can get expensive if you are having to buy new bottles every few months since most companies only offer limited sizes of their products (usually between 0.5 ounces up 3 ounces).
However, if used daily for several weeks then there may be some noticeable results such as smoother skin texture or better tone balance throughout your face area making them more youthful looking overall versus using nothing at all so it’s worth trying out some different brands before deciding which one works best for YOU personally since everyone reacts differently depending on how much sun exposure they get each day etcetera so keep experimenting until something sticks!
What is the Strongest Prescribed Retinol?
There are three types of retinoids:
1. Retinoic acid
You may have heard this referred to as tretinoin, which is its generic name (tretinoin is also the active ingredient in Retin-A).
Your dermatologist will prescribe this for you if it’s appropriate for your skin and condition.
2. Adapalene
It’s available over the counter under the brand name Differin, and tends to be prescribed in between retinoic acid and tretinoin.
The FDA has approved adapalene for acne treatment when it’s used with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid products.
3. Retinol
Also known as vitamin A1 (retinyl palmitate), can be found in many over-the-counter anti-aging products as well as prescription strength creams like Tazorac 0.05%.
While retinyl palmitate may help improve fine lines and wrinkles, it won’t shrink pores or prevent breakouts as other retinoids do; therefore it isn’t usually included in prescription strength formulas that contain higher concentrations of retinoic acid or tretinoin
How Long Should You Use Prescription Retinol?
The length of time you should use prescription retinol depends on how much wrinkles and skin damage you have.
If your wrinkles are severe, or if you want to prevent future ones from forming, then it’s best to use it as long as possible.
You can also use it for a shorter period of time if you’re concerned about the side effects or simply can’t afford the treatment.
If wrinkles aren’t an issue for you at all, there’s no reason why you couldn’t just use the cream once every two weeks or so with no negative effects—but be warned: this will not make them go away! Rather than helping existing lines disappear.
This type of usage would only help prevent new ones from appearing over time—and keep in mind that prevention won’t happen overnight either; this might take months!
How Often Should I Use Prescription Retinol?
If you’re going to use prescription retinol, it’s important that you don’t skimp on the strength.
If your dermatologist gives you a sample at her office and recommends that you apply it every evening, listen to her. She knows more than anyone else about what will work for your skin type and treatment goals.
Once you have the right prescription strength in hand, though, there are still some guidelines for when exactly to apply it.
Your doctor should give these instructions as well—but depending on his or her office hours (and yours), this conversation may occur in person or over the phone while he or she is writing up your prescription order on their computer screen.
Here are some general rules of thumb:
- Apply every night until your skin gets used to the treatment; then apply three nights out of every four nights as maintenance therapy once per week after 12 weeks of therapy have ended
- It can take two weeks before any results start appearing; keep using it until then!
Is Prescription Retinol Good for Wrinkles?
The answer is yes, but prescription strength retinol is better than over-the-counter retinols.
It’s stronger and more effective at smoothing skin and reducing wrinkles.
But because it’s more expensive and you have to see your dermatologist to get it, many people shy away from getting prescription strength retinol creams or serums.
However, if you can afford it, going with prescription strength is worth it—not only will it work better than non-prescription retinol products but they’re also less likely to irritate sensitive skin due to their gentler properties
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, prescription retinol is a powerful anti-aging ingredient that should be used responsibly.
It can help you achieve younger-looking skin faster than over-the-counter options, but it’s important to consider the risks of using this product as well as how long you need it for and how often you should use it.
