Tretinoin
Also called beta-Retinoate, trans-Retinoate, Retinoate and trans-Retinoic acid.
All-trans retinoic acid, the acid form of vitamin A. It is the prescription retinoid for acne and photoaging, and a treatment for one leukaemia.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Tretinoin on our curated lists, and on the product labels we hold.
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- Our curated lists and their amountsfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach amount is an editorial figure from our food and drink lists, not a measurement of any one product.
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A carbon carrying both a C=O and an O-H, written COOH. In water it gives up that hydrogen, which is what makes the molecule an acid.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Isotretinoin
Tretinoin
The same atoms; the marked double bond is cis in isotretinoin and trans in tretinoin.
Isotretinoin and tretinoin share one formula and differ in one double bond; tretinoin is mostly used on skin and isotretinoin by mouth for severe acne.
Isotretinoin vs Tretinoin, side by sideAlso compared
Sources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C20H28O2
- Molecular weight
- 300.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 6.3
- Polar surface areatopological
- 37.3 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 2
- Rotatable bonds
- 5
- Complexity
- 567
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
1,960 mg/kg pure tretinoin, rat, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, HSDB via PubChem
Danger Irritant pictogram (GHS07), Health hazard pictogram (GHS08) and Environmental pictogram (GHS09); hazard statements H302, H315, H319, H335, H360, H400, H401, H410, H411
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Tretinoin for human use (NDA 017340, authorized January 26, 1973). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Retinoids
- Chemical groups
- Carboxylic Acids
- Product lists
- Skincare
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, Environmental hazard, GHS Danger
CC1=C(C(CCC1)(C)C)/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C(=C/C(=O)O)/C)/CPubChem CID 444795 · Wikidata Q29417 · InChIKey SHGAZHPCJJPHSC-YCNIQYBTSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Tretinoin?
- All-trans retinoic acid, the acid form of vitamin A. It is the prescription retinoid for acne and photoaging, and a treatment for one leukaemia.
- Where is Tretinoin found?
- Tretinoin is in these product groups: skincare. from source
- How toxic is Tretinoin?
- The reported LD50 of Tretinoin is 1,960 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Irritant, Health hazard and Environmental. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Tretinoin?
- Tretinoin has the formula C20H28O2 and a molecular weight of 300.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under retinoids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Tretinoin called?
- Tretinoin is also called beta-Retinoate, trans-Retinoate, Retinoate and trans-Retinoic acid. from source
- Who licenses Tretinoin as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Tretinoin for human use (NDA 017340, authorized January 26, 1973). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: rat, another route, 53 mg/kg; rat, intravenous, 78 mg/kg; rat, another route, 96 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- 11-cis retinal No functional group in common: 11-cis retinal carries an aldehyde group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Retinol No functional group in common: Retinol carries an alcohol group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- β-Ionone No functional group in common: β-Ionone carries a ketone group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Zeaxanthin No functional group in common: Zeaxanthin carries an alcohol group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Astaxanthin No functional group in common: Astaxanthin carries an alcohol group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Lutein No functional group in common: Lutein carries an alcohol group, while Tretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
Sources and notes
- A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
- Compared side by sidefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesA molecule we compare it with on its own page.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit