Definition

A man-made medicine that helps treat severe acne by reducing oil production in the skin.

Example

The doctor prescribed isotretinoin to help clear up my severe acne.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of isotretinoin for acne treatment?

Yeah, I read it’s supposed to be really effective.

I’m thinking about asking my doctor about isotretinoin soon.

That sounds like a good plan; just make sure to discuss the side effects.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Isotretinoin is formed from "iso-" (meaning equal or similar), "tretin" (derived from the Latin word "tretinoin", which is a derivative of vitamin A), and "-oin" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote substances). The word refers to a compound that is a similar form of tretinoin, used primarily in the treatment of severe acne.

Memory Tip

Think of 'iso-' meaning 'similar' and 'tretin' relating to a form of vitamin A — this helps you remember that isotretinoin is a similar compound used for treating acne.

Visually Confused Words