What is "tretinoin"

Retinoic acid \Ret`in*o"ic ac"id\, n. (Chem.) A retinoid compound ( C20H28O2), closely related to vitamin A. It is also called tretinoin and vitamin A acid.

n. (context organic compound pharmaceutical drug English) Acid form of vitamin A commonly used to treat acne vulgaris and keratosis pilaris.

Tretinoin is the pharmaceutical form of retinoic acid. One of several retinoids, it is the carboxylic acid form of vitamin A and is also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). It is a first generation topical retinoid commonly used topically to treat acne vulgaris. It is also used orally to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Its isomer, isotretinoin, is also an acne drug.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medications needed in a basic health system.