16 replies to this topic

[Mans]

I finally gave in and i'm serious about giving differin a shot!


Background :

I have tons of comedonal acne (flesh colored bumps), whiteheads or whatever you call it and i was prescribed differin by my dermatologist who i truly trust. So, that's it. I do not have pustules and cystic acne anymore but i have tons of these stubborn flesh bumps that are just annoying and unsightly specially under certain lights.

I started treatment 23rd of December and I'm applying it for a week now and im just doing this log to report about my weekly progress! Hopefully this log / experience of mine would help other people out there who are venturing into retinoids.

So.

Week 1 :

It's been good. Not much of a difference. I do feel differin working because my skin feels a lot different. It itches a bit and I feel like my skin is thinning out. I'm peeling a bit too and some of the comedones are just dislodging themselves - Great!

I like differin tho - it's easy to apply, doesnt smell, and doesnt feel like anything.

I do hope (And I PRAY) that im one of the lucky ones who don't get an IB (or at least don't get a horrid one) and differin would just be magic for my skin. I remain hopeful.

I use a pea size amount on my finger, dot it on my face and then spread it as evenly as i can.

I'm excited and hopeful to see good results in a month. and i could definitely do this regimen because it's so simple.

So far so good!

[Mans]

Just noticed my skin has these patches that have this sheen to them. I think these parts are where my skin has been peeling / getting thinner. But so far so good, i even feel like my skin is improving. It's not as rough as before when i wash my face!

[Mans]

Week 2 update!

First week was awesome. I thought my skin was improving so much!
So week 2 tonight officially, and i think my skin looks horrid! I'm starting to feel these deep spots under the skin and i am quite sure that they are going to be inflamed and bad. hmmm

This might be the start of my breakout! So I'll see. Keep you guys posted.

[Mans]

Still doing okay, my skin looks really glossy tho, very shiny even if its not really so oily.

But my mum did notice that my skin was improving, my cheeks have improved a lot, but my forehead and temples are breaking out now.

I'm going to see my derm in 2 days for a routine check / follow-up!

So I think differin is doing me well, looking forward to the future! hope differin does what it's supposed to

[candystriper]

I use this with Dual+Cs, another topical treatment. I prefer using this right before I go to sleep since I cannot seem to move my face it tightens my skin so. It seems to be working since it slowly shrinks the pimples I had the night before.

[frustratedgirl]

Mans... Did you take before pictures? I am thinking of giving differin a try again.

[Mans]

My skin must be real tough because i don't feel anything putting differin on. like it doesn't feel like it's even there. no tightening or anything.

Anyway, i cant believe it's been 3 weeks! so it's time for an update.

Well, my skin is definitely showing some imrpovements. It feels so smooth. But i still do have some annoying bumps specially on my forehead. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks it clears up. I'm really feeling positive about this differin thing. I think it's working.

So far there's no scary IB happening to me. Just the same old same old stuff happening with a bit of clearing.

Looking forward to week 8!

[Mans]

Almost 1 month.

My face has been peeling a bit as expected. Still no signs of an intense initial breakout. But I've been breaking out like i normally do, even less and smaller pimples than normal. Problem area now is my forehead and temples.

My forehead is actually clearing up a bit now... Skin is overall smoother than when i started. So that's really cool!

Anyway, how long will the true effects of differin be noticeable. Like does it take at least 2 months to take full effect? This goes to everyone who has had an experience with differin before

Thanks guys! Wish you all the best

[ace guy]

It is usually around 3 months for the effects to be noticed, I can back that up.
I am on week 13 as of today, unfortunately I've just had a breakout but I was clear for pretty much all of week 12, which is the longest I've been clear in months.

[Mans]

OFficially the month update.

Definitely an improvement! But i still got em annoying bumps but not as much as before.
I think month 2 would be amazing. I'm so excited!

[JT]

Just wondering mans, has your skin ever been irritated by other creams or gels (like BP)? I'm considering Differin too if there isn't too much irritation.

[eddy_if]

Iam now using adapalene 0.1% every other day. The day that Iam not using adapalene, I use tretinoin 0.01%+ Hidroquinon.
I found adapalene 0.1 it's less irritating than tretinoin 0.01%. It's so soft for me....

[ace guy]

I don't find differin to be harsh, whereas with BP, I did.

[fml425]

I used differen 4 a year and it really did help my cystic acne to go down but my dermatolgist told me it was irrating my skin cuz it wood leave scars behind after i used the differen which isnt supposed to happen so he switched me 2 Atralin. its supposed 2 b the same thing but less irritable. anyone take it b4?

[Mans]

Okay today is officially Week 8. Can't believe it's been 2 months already!

I am not judging now, im giving it another 4 weeks. But i definitely have some improvement. I dont have big pustules now, just those annoying tiny bumps and tiny tiny whiteheads that are shallow. they pop up once ina while. The amount of these bumps have reduced a lot, but i still have quite a number.

My skin is nowhere looking anywhere great, well, its not looking how i want it to be. hopefully in the next week or 4 weeks, my skin improves drastically as i have read on other differin blogs. I am being hopeful that there are still some more positive things differin will bring me, and i hope i just wake up one morning surprised. I'm seriously having a good feeling bout this. skin been responding quite well.

It's not really irritating. I actually like differin. It doesnt feel like anything aside from its a bit greasy and it'll make your face feel horrid when you put it at night. aside from that, no discomfort, no visible irritation, no odor, and apparently, no incredible IB. thank goodness.

anyway, I'll report whatever happens these next few weeks. I'll keep you guys posted.

For now, i wish all of oyu the best, and hope that everything goes well with you guys.
Cheers

[iVaN102]

Do you apply it once a day before bed? I've done it for about a month. I've been also using BP twice daily (wake up and before bed) for many months.

A few days ago I stopped applying any BP and these few days I have to say my skin look way better. Maybe it's the differin working and also my stopping the BP? idk. I just hope Differin is gonna work even better w/ time.

Do you use gel or cream? I don't know what preparation I am having. I used to have a gel like Differin over the counter. But it was real bad, made my skin very itchy. And now Im using a 'cream?' from a derm i find it a lot more tolerable.

[Mans]

Its been a long time since my last update. So its been 3 months since i started. Results ? Definitely. Though im not completely clear yet, as i still have these little bumps that dont really bother me that much. I rarely have huge painful ones now. I am guilty of popping whiteheads though and i should quit doing so because i always end up making it look worse.

My skin feels soft and definitely a lot smoother than when i started! And the marks are fading as well. I'm quite pleased. Anyway, I am going to continue using differin, my skin's still improving i think and the full results of clarity would probably come in at a later time. I shall see and report.

I did go exercise again yesterday after doing an experiment of stopping heavy sweating for a few weeks ( i run a lot ), and to my surprise, i do think sweating exacerbates acne. I got a mini breakout today. So that's that.

Anyway, I shall report in a few weeks. Hopefully it would be a lot better

All the best to you guys
Me