What is the commercial name for the vitamin-A derivative retinoic acid?

What is the commercial name for the vitamin-A derivative retinoic acid?

• A. Retin-A
• B. Retinol
• C. Vitamin D
• D. Beta-Carotene

Answer: (A)

Retinoic acid is the active metabolite of vitamin A that’s used pharmaceutically on the skin. The widely known commercial name for this topical vitamin A derivative (tretinoin) is Retin-A. This distinguishes it from other vitamin‑A related forms: retinol (the alcohol form of vitamin A, not the acid), beta-carotene (a provitamin A that converts to retinol), and vitamin D (a different vitamin altogether). Retin-A works by influencing skin cell turnover and gene activity through retinoic acid receptors, which is why it’s used for acne and aging-related concerns.

Retinoic acid is the active metabolite of vitamin A that’s used pharmaceutically on the skin. The widely known commercial name for this topical vitamin A derivative (tretinoin) is Retin-A. This distinguishes it from other vitamin‑A related forms: retinol (the alcohol form of vitamin A, not the acid), beta-carotene (a provitamin A that converts to retinol), and vitamin D (a different vitamin altogether). Retin-A works by influencing skin cell turnover and gene activity through retinoic acid receptors, which is why it’s used for acne and aging-related concerns.