Retinoid

Under Retinoid one understands a group of different active substances, collectively under the term Retinoids be summarized. All of these active ingredients are derived from vitamin A and have a positive effect on a wide variety of skin diseases. They can be used both externally and internally. However, they can also develop serious side effects and are therefore contraindications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

What is retinoid?

As mentioned above, substances called retinoids are a whole group of vitamin A derivatives known under the collective term retinoids. The first generation of retinoids are the non-aromatic retinoids. These include, for example, tretinoin, isotretinoin and alitretinoin.

All first-generation retinoids occur naturally in the vitamin A metabolism of humans, even in small amounts. The second generation retinoids are mono-aromatic retinoids, for example acitretin, etretinate and motretinide. Finally, there is a third generation of retinoids, the poly-aromatic retinoids. These include adapalene, tazarotene, arotenoid and the acetylene retinoids.

Pharmacological effect

So far it has not been possible to clarify exactly how retinoids achieve their effects. Some presumably bind to certain receptors and work in this way, with other retinoids it is now known that they do not bind to receptors and are nevertheless effective.

In general, retinoids help treat various skin diseases and are extremely effective, even when it comes to chronic skin diseases that are otherwise difficult to treat.

However, the treatment of skin conditions with retinoid is not always free from side effects. It must therefore be carefully observed in each individual case whether the treatment is helpful for a person or rather harms due to side effects. Since there are different retinoids, each of these individual active ingredients does not have to have the same effect. It must be weighed individually which of the retinoids can be helpful.

Medical application & use

The retinoid tretinoin is used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and for the treatment of acne and other hyperkeratory skin diseases.

Isotretionin is mainly used to treat acne, copper rose, psoriasis, and eczema. As an alternative to isotretionin, acetretin can also be used in the treatment of psoriasis.

Motretinik is only approved as a medicinal substance in Switzerland and is used there to treat acne and other hyperkeratory skin diseases. Adapalen, a third generation retinoid, is approved in many countries and is mainly used to treat acne. This active ingredient is approved as a medicinal product in North America, Australia and Europe.

There are also many other retinoids and many more that are currently in the development and research phase.

Risks & side effects

As already mentioned above, retinoids are often effective and helpful, but unfortunately not free from sometimes sensitive side effects. These include increased sensitivity to light and the associated greater risk of sunburn, itching, burning, stinging and other skin irritations. There may also be reddening of the skin. With overpigmented skin, the use of retinoids often lighten the treated areas.

In general, the side effects that can occur during treatment with retinoids vary from retinoid to retinoid and from person to person. It is therefore very important to always stay in close contact with the treating doctor during treatment in order to be able to decide in each individual case what to do if side effects occur.

A change of the remedy can be helpful in case of complaints, since the mentioned side effects do not occur in every person with every retinoid, but other retinoids can be used with luck without side effects.

In principle, women should not be treated with retinoids during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It is therefore forbidden to prescribe drugs containing retinoids to pregnant and nursing mothers.