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The two are often believed to be interchangeable, but the main difference is that retinol is eventually converted into retinoic acid. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A, while Retin-A is derived from retinoic acid, a synthetic derivative of vitamin A, and considered pharmaceutical.
While both retinol and Retin-A contain retinoids, they differ in their concentration. Retinol and other forms, such as retinal and retinyl palmitate are found in many over-the-counter anti-aging creams. While these all contain a form of vitamin A, the concentration of retinoids is weak. Retin-A is a prescription retinoid and is a brand name for tretinoin, which is the carboxylic acid form of vitamin A and was one of the early topical acne treatments. Retin-A is sold by prescription because its acid composition is much greater than in over-the-counter products.