Tret VS Vit A

[ascendent]

What is the difference between tret/isotret vs taking vitamin A supplements/high vitamin A foods?

@pinterest

 

[mirinmirinmirin]

A very simple explanation is as follows:

Tretinoin and isotretinoin are already-active retinoic acid (retinoic acid is a form of vitamin a) drugs.

Vitamin A supplements/vitamin a in foods provide retinol (a precursor) that your body converts to retinoic acid in limited amounts.

You might be thinking "well, if vitamin a is converted, even in limited amounts, cant you dose hella vitamin a and get results similar to isotretinoin?"

Thats pretty reasonable to think, but your body, after converting a certain amount of vitamin a, would just stop converting it.

Since your body tightly controls the conversion of vitamin A → retinoic acid, supplements never produce the high local (tretinoin) or systemic (isotretinoin) levels of active retinoic acid you would actually need to strongly remodel skin, shrink oil glands, clear severe acne, et cetera. You just get normal nutritional support, and not a drug-level effect.

I would appreciate you repping my reply (just click thumbs up), and marking it as solution (click the checkmark somewhere on this post)!
Personally message me (@mirinmirinmirin ) if you need any guidance or assistance with anything, I'll try my best to help you out!

Also bro you stole @Pay 's PFP

@pinterest you can rest bro

 

[ascendent]

A very simple explanation is as follows:

Tretinoin and isotretinoin are already-active retinoic acid (retinoic acid is a form of vitamin a) drugs.

Vitamin A supplements/vitamin a in foods provide retinol (a precursor) that your body converts to retinoic acid in limited amounts.

You might be thinking "well, if vitamin a is converted, even in limited amounts, cant you dose hella vitamin a and get results similar to isotretinoin?"

Thats pretty reasonable to think, but your body, after converting a certain amount of vitamin a, would just stop converting it.

Since your body tightly controls the conversion of vitamin A → retinoic acid, supplements never produce the high local (tretinoin) or systemic (isotretinoin) levels of active retinoic acid you would actually need to strongly remodel skin, shrink oil glands, clear severe acne, et cetera. You just get normal nutritional support, and not a drug-level effect.

I would appreciate you repping my reply (just click thumbs up), and marking it as solution (click the checkmark somewhere on this post)!
Personally message me (@mirinmirinmirin ) if you need any guidance or assistance with anything, I'll try my best to help you out!

Also bro you stole @Pay 's PFP

@pinterest you can rest bro

Love it bhai

Absolutely mirin