Hi! Unlike the majority on this website I am not using Differin for Acne but a skin infection in conjuction with Tetralysal after a short,sharp dose of another antibiotic failed to clear up the problem. I'm not one for bothering my GP usually but after a few months of a stubborn red,raw,bumpy,itchy rash on my face (I suffer hay fever and thought that was the problem but anti-histamine failed to reduce the problem!)I reluctantly visited my GP expecting to be told to reduce my alcohol consumption or similar.
However he informed me it wasn't an allergy but an infection. I've only been using Differin for two weeks but, well I'm very cynical about any medicine (I don't usually take paracetomol or aspirin if suffering a headache because I find the results dubious and believe that time is the healer! And I'm not sure if anti-histamine works but I take it just in case the symptons are even worse!) Anyway I applied my prescription (Differin) and almost immediately I noticed a difference (I'm the cynic here....not you!) The skin is smoother, less raw and painful (especially after shaving). There seems to be a consistency and eveness of colour (UK) and surface texture,there is a definite dryness and slight scaling of the skin but I'm putting this down to my skin finding a balance and it's definately less obvious than the previous problem! I'm feeling more confident and dare I say have a certain admiration for modern pharmaceuticals.....mmmmm That wouldn't have been something I would have said even a month ago!
PS. The bonus, for some readers using this product results in a more youthful appearance!
Cost in the UK is dismissed as we have a National Health Service and pay a fixed fee per item regardless of content....civilised or what?
Contact me at [email address removed]

I have been using Differin cream for about 2 months and am very happy. I have very, very oily skin with blackheads and closed comedomes, but not much typical red acne pimples in the last few years. After starting Differin I did get one deep pimple on my chin, but other than that, no bad effects. It has been slowly eliminating my blackheads and closed comedomes; much cheaper than micro dermabrasion, which was the only thing I could do while pregnant. I even use it right after washing with a drying soap, and apply it along with a alpha-hydroxy cream in the evening. I use Oil of Olay Regenerist in the morning, all of which are said to be irritating but have not been for me. Big thumbs up!

Great for wrinkles, not so great for acne. Initially started with Doryx pills and Differin gel. The combination seemed to work great as my complexion was as clear as it had ever been after only a month.

However, once the pills ran out a month later, my skin began to breakout again but not as bad. I have stuck with the gel as prescribed only because it has given my face smooth, even-toned skin. It has not however entirely stopped the acne. To add, the tubes do last a long time - I am at the end of my second after one year of never missing an application.

Well, this medication didn't work so well for me. I used it for about 6 months, and in the end I was still having some acne. I stopped using it last week, and I've changed to Clindoxyl which seems to be working so far. The trouble I had with Differin, was that about a month ago my face started getting soooo dry. I had to stop using it for a week and then I had really bad break outs. I dont'want a medication that will keep me stuck to it to make it work. I wanna be able to fix my acne problem and not have to use medications, and I don't think Differin works for that. I read someone saying that 'you have to keep using it to make it work', and I don't wanna depend on that to have a nice skin. I want my skin problem to be fixed!

If I could, I'd give Differin a 4/5.
It's funny actually... Differin was given to me in 6th grade (I'm a sophomore in college now) and, since I was so young, I never really applied it ... when it turns out, that after the many years of SO many other medicines after that, it's been the ***ONLY*** medication that has WORKED. Admittantly, I do still have zits ... but they're MUCH smaller and are mainly in the form of blackheads or pop up when I've been wearing makeup too much (which, due to my light scars and still-left-over low self esteem from acne, I still wear).
I used the solution at first, starting back in late May or so before they discontinued it. My skin stayed the same at first ... but then in June at around four weeks of using it to early August, my skin was the worst I have ever seen it. I actually had cysts, which i had NEVER dealt with before. BUT (mainly because I was somewhere over the summer where I didn't feel the need to impress anyone) I never wore makeup and just let the medication due what it was supposed to. The solution dried up my skin, made it itchy, red, and ridden with acne.

But then it started to go away ... so much that my skin was hundreds of times better than at any point in my life before. IT JUST CLEARED UP. I went back to college this year and ALL of my friends noticed how great my skin looked and actually asked what I was doing to make it so much better. Sometimes, now, I feel comfortable enough to walk outside without any trace of makeup on.

The point is, it was well worth the wait, but with this medication *you have to keep using it* if you want results.

(and it's still getting better ... if that's even possible now haha)

I have been using Differin for about 4 or 5 years.
Its a great product, and you can get away using just a little bit everyday. Consistency is key. I actually ran out about 3 weeks ago, and my cystic acne is coming back. Its mild.
I use that and I use to use Neutrogena Acne wash at night and still use Cetaphyl cream(winter) or lotion (summer).
It does take a while for it to start working. But consistency is key. It also helps with wrinkles. Its not great for blackheads, but its good for that deep chin cyst acne that you get. I have tried everything, BC pills, accutane, tetracyclines. This one has been the best. But you got to put it on every night. A little tube lasts a long time.

Good luck and God Bless.

Caution!

Differine works for some people. But it also can damage permanently your skin. I put differine twice a week, for seven weeks, two years ago.

Today, acnea has nearly gone (for other reasons), but my skin still keeps going worse and worse on the places where I put differin. Red, oily, flaky skin, and more and more scars that come out from nowhere, mostly on my forehead.

I got my differin from a friend at school, he said it didnt work for him and i must say it's a nighmare for me. I waited the eight weeks but it just makes my herpies flare up more and it's leaving me really flakey down there. My partner left me too.

I have been using differin for 6 weeks now. To be honest, it took alot of emotional strength to get to this point but now I am over the hump and everyday is getting progressively better. In the beginning, differin will give you cysts even if you never had them before, it will make your skin texture look terrible (like sandpaper) and your face will be red and greasy. It really sucks at first. But then after a few weeks things get soooooo much better and you will strat feeling like it was all worth it.

I personally feel that everyone should use the cream, not the gel. The gel seemed to be nothing but trouble for me, way too harsh. Also, use a mild soap like pure castile soap. And most importantly DO NOT PICK OR SQUEEZE. Even if you could pull that off before, differin does not respond well to that at all.

Hang in there people, it might take longer for some but if you don't add further irritaion than you should definately see results. (never use salicylic acid when using differin)

I used it when I was about 11 or 12, but it only seemed to make my acne turn purple. It wasn't effective. Heck, the Clearasil worked better than it. It just didn't work for me. It worked on my friend though.