Tretinoin: study card

Tretinoin — Topical retinoid. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Tretinoin
Class: Topical retinoid
Mechanism: Activates retinoic acid receptors (RAR-alpha, beta, gamma) that may modify epithelial cell growth and differentiation.
Used for: Acne vulgaris in adults and children aged 12 or older, for the cited microsphere gel
Common side effects: Skin irritation; Skin burning; Erythema; Peeling; Dryness
Warnings: Local skin irritation; Photosensitivity; Initial worsening of inflammatory acne

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20260429 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Tretinoin: TRET-i-noyn

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Body system

Dermatology · 18 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Clindamycin

Same body system: Dermatology

Mechanism: Mechanism in treating acne vulgaris is unknown.

On both cards: Common side effects — Erythema; Dryness

Only on the Clindamycin card: Used for — Acne vulgaris; safety and effectiveness below age 12 are not established for the cited gel · Common side effects — Burning; Itching; Oily skin · Warnings — Antibiotic-associated colitis history (contraindicated); Regional enteritis or ulcerative colitis (contraindicated); Diarrhea, bloody diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis can occur even with this topical product

Clotrimazole

Same body system: Dermatology

Mechanism: Broad-spectrum antifungal acting primarily on dividing and growing organisms; fungistatic and fungicidal activity is demonstrated in vitro against specified susceptible fungi.

On both cards: Common side effects — Skin irritation; Erythema

Only on the Clotrimazole card: Used for — Topical treatment of skin candidiasis caused by Candida albicans; Tinea versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur · Common side effects — Stinging / burning; Blistering / peeling; Pruritus · Warnings — Hypersensitivity to any component (contraindicated); This skin solution must not be used in the eyes

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.