Dr. Teo Soleymani

And for some reason, it's still not well-known in the population. Its original indication was for acne and still is first line for acne because what it does is it dries out the oil glands. But in doing so, it also helps repair skin. So I recommend every single person to be on a prescription-strength retinoid, which is different than over-the-counter retinol.

And for some reason, it's still not well-known in the population. Its original indication was for acne and still is first line for acne because what it does is it dries out the oil glands. But in doing so, it also helps repair skin. So I recommend every single person to be on a prescription-strength retinoid, which is different than over-the-counter retinol.

And there's a lot of confusion, and I think the confusion is intentional in the cosmeceutical world as to why this is, but everybody should be on a prescription-strength retinoid. Usually topicals is all you need. The most common are things like tretinoin, adapalene, or tazeratine. And there's oral forms. The most common is Accutane or Isotretinoin.

And there's a lot of confusion, and I think the confusion is intentional in the cosmeceutical world as to why this is, but everybody should be on a prescription-strength retinoid. Usually topicals is all you need. The most common are things like tretinoin, adapalene, or tazeratine. And there's oral forms. The most common is Accutane or Isotretinoin.

And there's a lot of confusion, and I think the confusion is intentional in the cosmeceutical world as to why this is, but everybody should be on a prescription-strength retinoid. Usually topicals is all you need. The most common are things like tretinoin, adapalene, or tazeratine. And there's oral forms. The most common is Accutane or Isotretinoin.

And to a lesser known drug called Acetretin or Ceriatane. And I usually reserve that for my high sun damage skin cancer patients. It really makes a difference. I'm going to touch back about retinol versus retinoids. So many, many years we studied retinoids. The way retinoids work is they activate transcription factors, they're nuclear messaging hormones.

And to a lesser known drug called Acetretin or Ceriatane. And I usually reserve that for my high sun damage skin cancer patients. It really makes a difference. I'm going to touch back about retinol versus retinoids. So many, many years we studied retinoids. The way retinoids work is they activate transcription factors, they're nuclear messaging hormones.

And to a lesser known drug called Acetretin or Ceriatane. And I usually reserve that for my high sun damage skin cancer patients. It really makes a difference. I'm going to touch back about retinol versus retinoids. So many, many years we studied retinoids. The way retinoids work is they activate transcription factors, they're nuclear messaging hormones.

So these compounds bind retinoic acid receptors and they activate the transcription of certain genes. One of the genes we know that it can affect is the sonic hedgehog pathway and some of the embryologic genes. Why that's important is when we first studied retinoids in oral or cream version, we noticed that these can affect the development of a fetus.

So these compounds bind retinoic acid receptors and they activate the transcription of certain genes. One of the genes we know that it can affect is the sonic hedgehog pathway and some of the embryologic genes. Why that's important is when we first studied retinoids in oral or cream version, we noticed that these can affect the development of a fetus.

So these compounds bind retinoic acid receptors and they activate the transcription of certain genes. One of the genes we know that it can affect is the sonic hedgehog pathway and some of the embryologic genes. Why that's important is when we first studied retinoids in oral or cream version, we noticed that these can affect the development of a fetus.

And they can be passed through breast milk and through sperm or semen. So because of this issue, the FDA regulated it very tightly. And it's pretty regulated worldwide because the effects are devastating. You know, missing arms, missing legs type of birth defect.

And they can be passed through breast milk and through sperm or semen. So because of this issue, the FDA regulated it very tightly. And it's pretty regulated worldwide because the effects are devastating. You know, missing arms, missing legs type of birth defect.

And they can be passed through breast milk and through sperm or semen. So because of this issue, the FDA regulated it very tightly. And it's pretty regulated worldwide because the effects are devastating. You know, missing arms, missing legs type of birth defect.

Because the medication was so effective and we saw an improvement in both quality and appearance of skin, the cosmeceutical beauty world said, oh, okay, this is awesome. We need to figure out a way to get this on the shelf, but not be a prescription. Out came retinols with an OL, which is the inactive version of retinoic acid, which is retinoids.

Because the medication was so effective and we saw an improvement in both quality and appearance of skin, the cosmeceutical beauty world said, oh, okay, this is awesome. We need to figure out a way to get this on the shelf, but not be a prescription. Out came retinols with an OL, which is the inactive version of retinoic acid, which is retinoids.

Because the medication was so effective and we saw an improvement in both quality and appearance of skin, the cosmeceutical beauty world said, oh, okay, this is awesome. We need to figure out a way to get this on the shelf, but not be a prescription. Out came retinols with an OL, which is the inactive version of retinoic acid, which is retinoids.

And what has to happen is retinol needs to be converted in a two-step process to become active retinoic acid. Otherwise, it's a completely inactive prodrug, which is sold over the counter at concentrations that are not biologically active. That's how cosmeceutical companies can get away with prescribing this for people of childbearing age.

And what has to happen is retinol needs to be converted in a two-step process to become active retinoic acid. Otherwise, it's a completely inactive prodrug, which is sold over the counter at concentrations that are not biologically active. That's how cosmeceutical companies can get away with prescribing this for people of childbearing age.

And what has to happen is retinol needs to be converted in a two-step process to become active retinoic acid. Otherwise, it's a completely inactive prodrug, which is sold over the counter at concentrations that are not biologically active. That's how cosmeceutical companies can get away with prescribing this for people of childbearing age.