ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Retinoic acid

Retinoic acid is a special kind of substance that our bodies can make from vitamin A. It's like a little helper that works to make sure our bodies grow and develop in the right way.

Think of retinoic acid like a traffic cop. It tells our cells what to do and where to go to make sure everything is running smoothly. For example, when we're babies, our bodies use retinoic acid to help grow and develop our organs, like our lungs and heart. As we grow older, it continues to help keep our body working the way it should.

But just like a traffic cop, too much retinoic acid can be a bad thing. If we have too much of it, it can cause our skin to become dry and flaky, and even make us feel sick. So, like with most things, it's important to have the right amount of retinoic acid in our bodies.