ZENKAI SKIN
Prescription skincare.
Doctor-formulated.
Delivered to your door.
Licensed US physicians prescribe tretinoin, azelaic acid, and custom compounded skincare formulas online. The same treatments dermatologists charge $300+ for — from $49/month with free shipping.
- Prescription-strength tretinoin — 20x more effective than retinol
- Licensed US physician reviews within 24 hours
- Custom-compounded formula for your skin type
- Free shipping · No insurance required
- Cancel anytime · No long-term commitment
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🔒 If you don't qualify, you pay nothing. 4-minute assessment.
ZENKAI SKIN — SELECT YOUR FORMULA
Physician-prescribed skincare
Choose your treatment
Anti-Aging Formula Most Popular
Tretinoin + niacinamide · fine lines + texture
$49
/month
Acne Formula
Tretinoin + azelaic acid + niacinamide
$49
/month
Dark Spots + Even Tone
Tretinoin + azelaic acid · hyperpigmentation
$49
/month
Complete Skin Upgrade Best Results
Custom 4-ingredient compound · all concerns
$69
/month
🔒 Free shipping · Cancel anytime · You pay only if prescribed
The Science
Why tretinoin is the gold standard.
Tretinoin is the only topical ingredient with over 40 years of clinical evidence for anti-aging, acne, and hyperpigmentation. Everything else is trying to be tretinoin.
20x stronger than retinol
Tretinoin is retinoic acid — the active form. Retinol must be converted by your skin first, losing most of its potency. Tretinoin works directly, producing results in weeks rather than months.
Clinically proven anti-aging
Multiple controlled trials show tretinoin reduces fine lines, improves skin thickness, increases collagen production, and improves overall skin texture. No other ingredient has this evidence base.
Clears acne at the source
Tretinoin prevents comedone formation by accelerating cell turnover. It's the only topical retinoid FDA-approved for acne. Works on blackheads, whiteheads, and cystic lesions.
Fades hyperpigmentation
Tretinoin disperses melanin granules and speeds up the skin cell cycle, helping dark spots, sun damage, and uneven tone fade faster. Most effective when combined with azelaic acid.
Azelaic acid — the partner ingredient
Azelaic acid reduces inflammation, kills acne bacteria, and inhibits tyrosinase (the enzyme responsible for dark spots). Prescription-strength 15–20% azelaic acid is significantly more effective than OTC versions.
Custom-compounded for your skin
Unlike off-the-shelf products, ZENKAI physicians formulate your cream based on your skin type, concerns, and history. Starting strength, add-in ingredients, and base are all personalized.
ZENKAI vs. The Competition
Better than Curology. Better than Apostrophe.
What you getZENKAICurologyApostrophe
Prescription tretinoin✓ From $49/mo✓ $30+/mo✓ $45+/mo
Licensed physician (MD)✓ YesNP only✓ Yes
Custom-compounded formula✓ Yes✓ YesLimited
Free shipping✓ Always$4.95/bottleVaries
Bundle with HRT / weight loss✓ Full stack✗ Skin only✗ Skin only
Month-to-month billing✓ Yes✓ Yes✓ Yes
The Process
Prescription skincare in 3 steps.
1
Skin assessment
Answer questions about your skin concerns, history, and goals. Upload photos of your skin if helpful. 100% private.
2
Physician review
A US-licensed physician reviews your assessment within 24 hours and formulates your custom prescription.
3
Custom formula ships
Your compounded prescription cream ships from an FDA-regulated pharmacy. Free shipping. Arrives in 3–5 days.
4
Ongoing adjustments
Physician monitors your progress, adjusts strength or formula as your skin improves. Refills ship automatically.
Patient Stories
Physician-led dermatology.
"I'd been using The Ordinary retinol for 2 years with minimal results. Three months on prescription tretinoin and my skin looks like it did a decade ago. The difference is staggering."
"I had cystic acne for 10 years. Nothing OTC worked. ZENKAI prescribed tretinoin + azelaic acid and within 8 weeks my skin was the clearest it's been since high school."
"I'm 47 and honestly my skin looks better than it did at 38. The ZENKAI anti-aging formula with tretinoin and niacinamide is extraordinary. Plus I bundled it with my HRT — the combination is unreal."
Frequently Asked Questions
Prescription skincare — answered.
Can I get tretinoin online without seeing a dermatologist?
Yes. ZENKAI connects you with a US-licensed physician who reviews your skin concerns online via a detailed questionnaire and photo assessment. If appropriate, they prescribe tretinoin and your formula ships free to your door.
What's the difference between tretinoin and retinol?
Tretinoin is prescription-strength retinoic acid — the biologically active form that directly stimulates skin cell turnover and collagen production. Retinol is an OTC precursor that your skin must convert to retinoic acid, losing significant potency in the process. Tretinoin is approximately 20x more potent than equivalent retinol concentrations.
Will tretinoin make my skin worse before it gets better?
Some patients experience a "purge" in the first 4–8 weeks — a temporary increase in breakouts as the accelerated cell turnover brings existing congestion to the surface. This is normal and resolves. Starting at a lower strength (0.025%) minimizes this reaction. Your physician will guide you through this process.
Is ZENKAI skincare cheaper than Curology?
Yes. Curology's custom formula starts around $30/month but charges separately for shipping. ZENKAI prescription skincare is $49/month with free shipping and is prescribed by an MD (not just a nurse practitioner as with Curology).
Can I combine prescription skincare with HRT or weight loss?
Yes — and this is a very powerful combination. HRT improves skin thickness, hydration, and collagen. Tretinoin accelerates cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. Many ZENKAI women's patients bundle ZENKAI Skin with ZENKAI Women for dramatically enhanced results.
The skin you've been trying to get from serums.
Prescription-strength. Physician-formulated. Free shipping. You only pay if prescribed.
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