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By direction of my derm, I apply a pea sized dab of Aczone in the AM and pea sized dab of Adapalene 0.1% at night.

I experienced some pretty wretched flare ups when I began Adapalene, but I did read that minimizing the amount you apply may reduce/prevent irritation and flare ups. I now use a very conservative amount and have seen a dramatic difference. However, I cannot attest to whether this is from reducing the amount or having already reached week 10 of consistent application.

I will say though that I feel the topical is much more effective when applied in a very thin layer that can dry and absorb quickly, as opposed to being gobbed on. I also read that waiting 20 minutes after washing your face before you apply helps as well.

I think you should just follow the regimen your derm prescribed. Adapalene works slowly under the skin, so applying in the PM and opposed to AM shouldn't really impact whether or not it will make you break out.

I won't tell you that riding out the 10 weeks so far has been easy. Week 8 in particular was very difficult for me and I felt hopeless and defeated. I was tempted to stop but reading some of the comments on here made me realize I have nothing to lose. At this point (I'm about at week 10.5), I have to say that I have had a substantial amount of DEEP crap come out of my pores and my skin continues to clear up.

My only advice is that less is more with this stuff. I hope you have similar results.

Based on my own experience, I feel more comfortable to use the adapalene cream during the night time. I apply it after washing my face and before I go to sleep. Because it tends to get itchy and stingy because it peels your skin thus lightening the acne marks/scars etc... So I always apply in on the night time and as soon as I wake up I notice my skin is dry and it starts to peel. But dont pick off the dead skin, let it peel first because it might cause another scarring. I use ice to calm my skin and to refresh it during the day time. Because of the adapalene cream I've applied during the night time. And as the days go by, I really saw significant results. I use adapalene cream for 3 days straight on my whole face, and on the fourth to the seventh day I just apply it on the affected parts and after a week of applying it I just stop and let it peel. After the peeling, If my complexion isn't clear yet I still use my adapalene cream because it dries out my pimples fast and after trying so many creams and regimens, the adapalene cream and tea tree soap was the best products that I have used at this point of time.

I hope this was kind of helpful for you!

Take care!

I am currently using the best combination of medication I've ever had. I wash my face with the Regimen wash, let my face dry completely, mix a pea sized drop of Epiduo (.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide) with about twice as much of the Regimen benzoyl peroxide and put that everywhere on my face but but my lips and around my eyes. Then I finish the Regimen with the moisturizer once the harsh stuff dries. In the morning, ifmy skin is irritated, I just moisturize with CeraVe. If it isn't, I do the same thing as at night but I moisturize with CeraVe since it evens out more quickly that the yellow Regimen moisturizer. Occasionally I will add in clindamicin between washing and benzoyl/adapalene at night. Especially do this only at night if you get the kind with isopropyl alcohol. I actually recommend this kind even though it burns and irritates somewhat because alcohol kills bacteria and evaporates quickly.

Seriously, this works!