Retinoid dermatitis and retinization: from retinoid structure to tolerability profile and management strategies
https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2026-3-72-79
Abstract
Retinoid dermatitis is a predictable, dose-dependent irritant inflammatory skin reaction that occurs predominantly during the early phase of retinoid therapy and may significantly reduce patient adherence. The increasing frequency of retinoid use and the expansion of indications in both dermatology and cosmetic practice underscore the need for unified approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of retinoid-induced dermatitis. This review systematizes current data on the pathogenesis of retinoid dermatitis, with particular emphasis on RAR/RXRmediated transcriptional reprogramming, epidermal barrier dysfunction accompanied by increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), inflammatory chemokine activation, and neurosensory sensitization involving transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. The phenomenon of retinization is discussed separately as a physiological adaptive phase of the cutaneous response to retinoid exposure. A clinical and practice-oriented concept is proposed linking the chemical structure of retinoids, receptor selectivity, and tolerability profiles. Risk factors for retinoid dermatitis, approaches to differential diagnosis with allergic contact dermatitis and rosacea, as well as prevention and severity-stratified management algorithms are presented, with a focus on maintaining therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.
Keywords
overview,
retinoids,
retinoid dermatitis,
retinization,
skin barrier,
TEWL,
TRPV1,
MCP-1,
IL-8,
trifarotene
About the Authors
A. A. Vashkevich
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vashkevich Arina A., PhD Med Sci, associate professor at Dept of Dermatovenereology
Saint Petersburg
K. B. Olkhovskaya
Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olkhovskaya Kira B., PhD Med Sci, associate professor at Dept of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology
Moscow
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For citations:
Vashkevich A.A., Olkhovskaya K.B. Retinoid dermatitis and retinization: from retinoid structure to tolerability profile and management strategies. Medical alphabet. 2026;(3):72-79. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2026-3-72-79
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