Skincare enthusiasts will be familiar with retinol, but one of the latest beauty ingredients to circulate on social media is tretinoin, an even more potent retinoid.
Often touted as an effective acne cure, tretinoin, commonly known as “tret”, is widely available in the UK, but you will need a prescription from a doctor or dermatologist.
Tretinoin, or retinoic acid, is a synthetic form of vitamin A and is primarily prescribed to treat acne, sun-damaged skin, and fine lines and superficial wrinkles.
Skincare influencer Dani Nicholls explained the product to her followers on TikTok and suggested they contact an online dermatologist in the UK if they want to receive a prescription for the product.
However, in an extreme new trend, some UK skincare enthusiasts are eschewing the prescription and instead travelling abroad to Europe where they can buy the product over the counter.
Skincare ingredient tretinoin has exploded on TikTok, with many users like @ItzShekina recognizing its benefits.
Other UK TikTokers, including @PharmastistGillian, have provided advice on their platform on how to get tretinoin in the UK “for fine lines and wrinkles”.
Speaking to her followers on TikTok, Dani said: “I would recommend seeing a dermatologist online like Dermatica, Skin + Me, or seeing a dermatologist in person, if you have access to one,” referring to those who wanted to try tretinion.
Dani’s followers shared their own experiences, with one replying: ‘I asked my GP for a prescription for tretinoin (although I had a history of acne so that’s probably why they gave it to me so readily).
But elsewhere, people have started sharing tips on other ways to get their hands on the ingredient.
On the Reddit thread r/30PlusSkinCare, one user wrote: “I buy this in Spain when I’m on holiday. No prescription required. So you can go to Spain once a year and buy as many tubes as you want.
“It is worth it! It can also be bought without a prescription in other “holiday” countries such as Turkey or Egypt.”
Another person on r/EuroSkincare said: “I go to Greece every summer and stock up on tret – it’s like 3 euros a tube.”
And another wrote: ‘You can buy tretinoin at the pharmacy in Italy. It’s called ‘Tretinoina Same’. But you have to speak to them in English or they will ask for the doctor’s prescription.’
Other users warned buyers to be careful with tretinoin, with another writing: “I’m an EU citizen. I can’t recommend ordering it online without a legitimate prescription because, at least in my country, that’s a criminal offense (you can’t import prescription drugs without a prescription).
Some buyers have been stocking up on European pharmacies where tretinoin can be purchased without a prescription.
TikTok user @ItzShekina also warned against using the powerful cream without proper knowledge or guidance.
“If I were you, I would first try to find a local doctor who is willing to prescribe tretinoin. Maybe someone who works at a cosmetic medicine clinic.”
However, not everyone is so enthusiastic about the product. Danielle Gronich, founder of CLEARSTEM Skincare, shared a video on TikTok saying: “Tretinoin, I hate it! I absolutely hate the prescription version. It’s so harsh and extremely toxic.”
Another skincare TikToker, @ItzShekina, wrote on the social media platform: ‘People using tretinoin without proper knowledge and guidance’ alongside a video with a disapproving expression.
Cigdem Kemal Yilma, skincare expert and founder of Skin Masterclass, told FEMAIL: ‘Tretinoin is used to treat skin problems such as photoaging, acne, pigmentation, skin firming and texture improvement. Long-term use of tretinoin can produce significant improvement in sun-damaged skin.
‘It has also been shown to be effective in reducing microcomedones, which are early acne lesions that have not responded to other treatments and acts by blocking inflammatory mediators, improving the production of procollagen and collagen types one and three.
‘There are three concentrations and a professional will decide which is best: 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%.’
The danger of buying tretinoin without a prescription is that customers may opt for the wrong dosage for their skin type, which can do more harm than good.
Tretinoin comes in cream or gel form and can have different effects on the skin.
“The more potent the type of retinoid, the more active it is, meaning the greater its effect on the skin,” Kemal Yilma explained. “The higher the potency, the greater the side effects, such as irritation, redness or dryness of the skin.”
Dermatologist Abbi Ingram added that buying tretinoin abroad can be dangerous.
“Tretinoin is an extremely potent form of vitamin A. Due to its potency, it is only available in the UK on prescription and should be used with the guidance of a healthcare provider,” Ingram told FEMAIL.
‘Not everyone is suitable or a suitable candidate for tretinoin, so when purchasing from abroad, not only are there huge risk factors for skin irritation, but it could also cause long-term damage to your skin.’
She added: ‘Tretinoin comes in different percentages and when applied incorrectly, it can cause a lot of damage to your skin. You could basically be using a medical skincare product for a skin problem you don’t even have.
‘It’s also important to look at the ingredient list when purchasing abroad.’
Skin influencer @uj_beauty_store shed some more light on using tretinoin and which formula might be right for you.
‘Let me explain about this product: we have tretinoin gel and tretinoin cream,’ she wrote on TikTok.
‘The cream is less irritating to the skin and produces less purging, while the gel produces more irritation and more purging.’
Purging refers to the term “skincare purge,” which is where the skin removes unwanted toxins and pushes everything to the surface to detox, and this can sometimes be an unpleasant process.
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