This stuff is really great. I've been on it for only about a week, and my skin is virtually clear now, and the zits I do have are much smaller and less significant than those I'd have before. Before, I'd have times where my skin would be clear for a few days, and then I'd break out with some pretty painful cysts and huge pustules. I didn't have an initial breakout when I started on it, though I see from the other posts that that's probably normal. Maybe it's because I started treatment while my skin was having a pretty clear period, I don't know. It has flared up my whiteheads a bit, but then they disappear entirely within a day or two. But anyway - This product rocks! :)

I'm 25 and have always suffered from bad acne. It was totally cleared by 2 courses of the highest dose of Accutane during my freshman year of college. Over the years, though, it became more problematic. My derm gave me doxycycline to take for 7-10 days for flare-ups, which I would need every couple months or so. I used Proactiv religiously twice a day.

For some reason, when I started my second year of medical school, my acne became worse than it has been since I've completed Accutane 7 years ago. I guess it was the stress, combined with the effects of Accutane wearing off. The second week of this school year, my face became extremely greasy, and my face was eventually covered with pimples. Many of them were large, painful, and full of pus. As you all know, and as I knew from past experience, it was completely humiliating.

When I realized that the doxy and Proactiv were doing nothing, I called my derm, who switched me to minocycline, and Differin. The initial breakout was pretty bad - worst around weeks 3-4. Things started to get a little better around week 6, and then 8, and then 10. Each time, though, I would break out again. These breakouts were not as bad as my original, but were frustrating because I thought I was making progress. Anyway, I'm on week 13, and I'm pretty much clear! I still have many imperfections and hyperpigmented areas that are slowly fading and smoothing. But, (fingers crossed) I think this is finally working well! Just hang in there. The instructions say 8-12 weeks, and I felt that it took me even longer. It was worth the wait. I hope that I'm out of the woods, because I don't think my liver wants to deal with another course of Accutane!

Recently (weeks 10-present), my previously-oily skin has been very dry. I assume that the side effects of the Differin are being made worse by the windy, cold weather. I've switched from a very strong cleanser for oily/combination skin, to Cetaphil, which is working well. Also, I find it's best to wait 20-30 min after washing to apply the Differin, to minimize dryness and irritation.

I've been really disapointed with this because I know of at least one person for whom ot worked really well and the doctor was adamant that if I gave it a couple of months it would work brilliantly. I've been on it for 5 months (applied at night time before bed) and I haven't had any terrible side effects. A couple of weeks of really dry skin that cleared up on its own would be the worst of it. But really it just hasn't done anything to improve my skin.

I am one of the 3% of the population who is allergic to benzoyl peroxide, and of course I just happen to have acne. Since I am unable to use BP, I have had to stick to other acne treatments that typically don't work as well. My dermatologist prescribed Differin 0.1% cream to me, as well as doxycycline (antibiotic) about 2 or more months ago. I have been using all the products religiously each day since, plus washing my face with cetaphil daily facial cleanser for normal to oily skin. In all truth, I haven't seen a great skin improvement. My mild/moderate acne is pretty much the same. Yet, I have experienced no side effects and no drying whatsoever. This might be a good choice for mild acne with dry skin, because it isn't too powerful and doesn't overdry. Recently, thinking I needed something stronger, I started using a 2% salicylic acid cleanser instead of my usual cetaphil. Since then, I have noticed a small improvement in my acne (although I do have some very minor dry patches). So I have concluded my acne needs something stronger (I have another derm appt. in a month so maybe I'll ask for something stronger then). If you have the option, benzoyl peroxide IS your best bet. And remember, NEVER PICK YOUR FACE! (This is the best acne tip you will ever receive)

I had a few problems with differin at first.It broke my skin out real bad, but after a few weeks it make the pimples that did pop up smaller, now my face breaks out only on occasion, but im young so its understandable. I like it well enough to reccommend it, you can only get it by perscription. but it is very expensive, even with insurance it will run you about 25.00 on average.

Differin works wonders....if you use it twice a day! & in conjunction with a benzoyl peroxide cleanser(Proactiv). I tried differin at first just as my derm prescribed, the good ol once a day and using only cetaphil or pupose cleansers. My face still looked awful. I went to using it twice a day just for a test run and i immediately saw results. Your acne will worsen like its supposed to, but all ingood time you'll have great skin. GIve it a full 8-12 weeks and don't pick the bumps that come up, though it is so tempting. Try sleeping with a sulfur mask on your red bumps (Proactiv works well)to keep down inflammation. Beware of area around mouth. This area is prone to dryness. Also, sweating causes complications with differin. I have found that using Purpose moisturizer keeps this in check. So, go ahead and try it. and let me know if my success was just a fluke.

I have been on Differin for about six weeks now. My skin was not that bad at all to begin with...I just have one of those jobs were I'm always on camera or in pictures. I thought with my minor case of having a pimple here or there, this product would be wounderfull. Well, around weeks 3-5, my face was red, broke-out everywhere, dry and painfull. Now at six weeks, I still have some redness and dryness, but the pimples are almost gone. My face feels smooth and is looking better everyday. I do have some spots from the major break-out this product caused in the beginning, but I do hope that it goes away in time. I guess for now all I can say is, thank God for make-up. I'm still giving this product much more time to really have an opinion.

I have mild acne, mainly blackheads and some whiteheads, however Im 30 and been battling this for the last 16 years. Some years are good, others are bad...

I tried differin for 6 weeks and it made my skin sore and did not reduce the acne, infact I got the biggest blackheads I've ever had. It did make my skin smooth though, even though it was sore. Went onto Zineryt and my spots started clearing overnight. 1 week later and they are mainly gone. Will use Zineryt at night to keep the bacteria at bay, and then Differin during the day for skin improvement / smoothing / anti wrinkle cream!

I first had acne on my forehead when i was about 14. I then started to take better care of my skin, used differin at night and benzoyl peroxide during the day, to stop my forehad getting so oily. I noticed that they seemed less "angry". I was clear!. Then about a year later, (im now 16), it was back with a vengence, this time on my forehead and chin. Id never had acne on my chin before. I tried minomycin tablets, but they never worked. AFter about 5 months on that, I went back to my doctor demanding Differin. He gave it to me about 2 months ago. I have been using it every night with benzoyl peroxide. It is now working, after a huuuge breakout on my forehead huge cysts the lot but now the head is looking pretty clear and my chin is fading very well to. I am taking Zinc supplements but I don't believe they are doing much, I just take them for general skin use. Differin is a good product, and unlike Minomycin I haven't grown immune to it, and hope i never do because aslong as i'm growing up and hormonal, I will probably use differin to keep my acne under control :)

i have to write a paper on acne for school, about 4 things that help acne, this is one of them, and i can't seem to find out the price. im so sorry for all of you that have acne, and i will be praying for you.