Retinoic acid is the active form of Vitamin A. Retinoic acid is available on the market under different names (Retin A®, Tretinoin®, Renova®, Complex A®). Retinoic acid comes in different bases (creams and gels), in different concentrations, ranging from 0.2% - 0.1%, and is used for a variety of medical conditions, such as acne, rosacea, discoloration, sun damage, and skin aging. Use of retinoic acid may initially result in redness, dryness and exfoliation of the skin. Retinoic acid is a prescription agent, requiring proper selection of strength, frequency of application, and medical supervision.
At OSHI, Dr. Obagi prescribes Complex A, a formulation of retinoic acid that achieves a more even distribution when mixed with Nu-Derm Blender®.