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I've been using Differin almost every night now for about 2,5 weeks. It is working. It got worse after three days, but after a week the break-out had mostly cleared. Now I have a few closed comedones only on my forehead. So tonight I'm going to start using it on my chin as well.
I started out testing only one area since I figured I couldn't cope with breaking out in several places at the same time. It obviously takes a little longer to clear up the face that way I felt a little "safer".
My acne was not so bad however. So maybe that's why it'll only take about a month for my face to clear up.
Hi Everyone! I just started Differin 1% a week and a half ago due to acne from my IUD (mirena), i'm using it every 3rd day for now to try to minimize irritation. Do you think that doing that will prolong my IB? I am using BP 5% on any active pimples and they seem to be going away really fast right now, but I know the IB can come later. Thanks for any advice!
I'm not sure if there are still any long term users on here...but I've just recently read through this diary and I really want to encourage those of you in the early weeks to stick with it!
I have been on differin o.1 for about 17 weeks now, I have only 2-3 pimples at the moment on my right cheek (haven't broken out anywhere else in the last couple weeks).
PLEASE don't stop after 8-12 weeks! I had ANOTHER 'IB' around weeks 12-13 SO BAD - cysts everywhere...but now I have been steadily becoming more and more clear! 
I have a LOT of red marks still but in the last 2 weeks they have begun to fade much quicker.
Differin can take a LONG time to kick in for some people, I have read many other reviews, journals with differin and a lot of people recommend a whole 6 months before deciding whether to continue with it!
Hi all, I am still using Differin 0.1% for 17 weeks. I had days with no pimples on my face. But now I am having 2 small pimples on my forehead (and one which is bigger) and one on my left cheeck. I hadn't broken a pimple for 4 weeks which is a record for me. Unfortunately I have to broke 2 pimples tomorrow. I have weeks when my face look great and weeks when my face look bad like week 16-17. 3 weeks ago I reduced the amount of my pills. I hope not to have any new pimples just because I reduced my amount of the pills.
I hope it will be better and better
I have a question: What is 'IB' ?
Is anybody still currently on Differin and actually reading this, lol? I was prescribed Differin cream 0.1% in April of 2012 and was too scared to try it when I read about the initial breakout. I just sat here and read this thread for a good two hours. I have an appointment with my dermatologist tomorrow and see how that plays out. Hopefully I can get another prescription (because old one expired) and I can give it an actual shot. My acne is mainly those stubborn closed comedones that are around my mouth/up my cheeks/on my chin and the occasional papules on a bad week.
I am on differin and also just finished reading this thread!!! Lol. I am just starting my fourth week and I am DEFINITELY in the IB stage, my skin looks awful. Chin/jawline exploding with ridiculous amounts of pustules, pimples, the works. I am hoping that what people say is true and that its all worth it in the end! Kj91224 I wish you luck! I have been struggling with severe acne-depression and considered Accutane but will most likely stick with differin since those that stick with it seem to have results and I am terrified by the joint pain side effect since I am training for a half-marathon. Hoping everything works out for the both of us!
I've personally been on Differin and tetralysal for approximately a month. It has helped clear away most of the spots but I'm also still frequently breaking out along the jawline. I promised to give it 3 months before I make a decision to change treatments though. Let's just stick with it!
Hey guys!!
I'm a 32 year old female and I too have just started differin 0.1%. Only been using it for 10 days.
I'd say at times my acne is moderate, but does seem very hormonal, and is so much worse when I get my period. Other times it is mild.
Been using erythromycin and zinc solution for over a year now and this had done an excellent job of making the acne bareable.....initially before that I had awful big painful spots on my cheeks, which never came to a head. I'd get frustrated and squeeze them, sometimes big hard white plugs would come out, other times id just make a horrible mess. fortunately, this has cleared up now.
I went on differin due to the erythromycin and zinc becoming less effective in other areas, my chin and forehead kept getting really big hard painful lumps. My forehead is covered in tiny blackheads, which im sure only I can see, but they still bother me.
So, differin. Using the 0.1% once daily in the evening. The initial 4 - 5 days developed more of the really large hard cyst type bumps, really painful. Mainly on my chin, but on my forehead too, and a few smaller ones on my cheeks which had been clear. At this stage some of my face started to get dry and flakey, but not too bad. Over all there is definitely a big improvement already. The large bumps go much quicker then before the differin, and im getting fewer bumps and spots, only had 3 or 4 new ones in the last week, which is a miracle (although im at the best stage of my cycle hormonally too). And my skin is the clearest its been in ages. The dryness is lessening, and over all it is looking a lot better, but this is only day 10 !!!!
Still using the erythromycin / zinc solution in the morning, but not all over as this is quite drying too, and differin at night. I had tried BP, which did work, but I'm really allergic to it having really really dry red sore skin and I get really swollen puffy sore red eyelids....looked like a freak!!!
Love to keep hearing how you all get on!!!
Heyy guys,
I am also experiencing the similar stage where mornings are "less bumpy" overall. I swear, 2 weeks ago, I woke up one morning completely clear. And then, those stupid bumps came back again. Do they eventually just purge out or disappear?
This is my life at the moment, I swear. I read somewhere that's it's due to reduced blood flow to your face whilst sleeping? And I think the majority will purge out, at least that's what happening for me at the moment
Is anybody still currently on Differin and actually reading this, lol? I was prescribed Differin cream 0.1% in April of 2012 and was too scared to try it when I read about the initial breakout. I just sat here and read this thread for a good two hours. I have an appointment with my dermatologist tomorrow and see how that plays out. Hopefully I can get another prescription (because old one expired) and I can give it an actual shot. My acne is mainly those stubborn closed comedones that are around my mouth/up my cheeks/on my chin and the occasional papules on a bad week.
Same here, I actually started my own log mainly for motivation haha.
My doctor/dermatologist also prescribed me Differin 0.1% and I'm currently on day 13 at the moment, so long way to go, and I'm in the initial breakout period, although I've not been getting massive cysts and lumps like some other people have had. I think it's because my acne is the closed comedones/under-the-skin bumps type and it wasn't very severe at all. Touch wood, though. I wouldn't worry too much, because it if works for you then you won't have to deal with the bumps any longer; I'd rather get everything out of my face and have nice clean skin by the end of the year than to wait it out for god knows how many more years. IB is a small price to pay if you think about it
me too, tiny bumps under the skin, skin colourered and more visible in some lights. im SURE it is only cos I scrutinise my facve so much in the mirrow
day 14 for me, so we're at a similar point, hang in there!!!!
How's your face at the moment? Mine's actually alright, you know
On 1/29/2014 at 5:49 AM, Sboo said:its certainly been a lot worse in the past
I can kind of cope with the smaller bumps, ive got no huge hard lumps at the moment, which are the things I really cant stand
glad your feeling ok about it [Edited image out]
Yeah, I'm all good at the moment, like you - no huge hard lumps, they're all just really small and easily coverable. I hope the rest of the journey is going to be this... easy? touch wood
they seem to clear up quicker too?? they certainly don't hurt as much, although had a bit of a bad day with a few more on my forehead than ive had, and more blackheads there too. But not even 3 weeks yet, so need to be patient!!
yep, I find that too with my spots And yeah, same, had a mare on my left cheek today but all is good because I was able to still cover them
i'm on erythromycin and zinc solution topically in the morning, and differin at night. although im not sure that the alcohol in the erythromycin / zinc solution isnt beginning to irritate my skin, so im onl really using i on my cheeks as else where it kind of itches and stings (and this was before i began using the differin)
to begin with , maybe the first 5 days, differin cAUSED MY A BUT OF REDNESS, NO STINGING, AND FLAKEY TYPE PEELING in places. This has since stopped (now done 3 weeks). My skin is only greasy when i have the differin on. During the day it seems ok with just simple oil free moisturiser over the erythromycin / zinc, and mabylene bb cream over that.
(sorry about the shouting outburt......my fingers are feeling fat tonight and caught the capslock, lol!!)
How are you getting on SlinkyVintage?? Im on week 4 tomorrow, and combined with my "time of the month" , i think this may be my IB 
Everything seemed to be going so well, a little too well!!! A couple of days ago i started getting loads of those small skin colored bumps, even on my left cheek whcih has been just about clear for years. theyre way more visable in some lights too. Up until yest / today only had a few active spots, and now....loads still no major large really hard painful ones, but just lots and lots of smaller ones, some skin coloured, some red, some larger and containing hard pustules. i've had a really rubbish day, work, car and other things, and am feeling so fed up with it all right now
Anyway, be good to hear how youre doing
Heya Sboo, I keep my very own log here, feel free to join 
I'm the opposite, just finishing off week 4 now and my skin has never looked/felt better
I had my IB pretty much when I first started using it and only now has it actually been properly improving - my acne is closed comedones and I've been seeing a vast reduction in them this past week or so. I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough few days - just remember it doesn't last forever Maybe all of the stuff that you're seeing has been lurking under your skin for ages and the adapelene is just making it so the spots and bumps have less to hide underneath.
I still get spots at the moment but I know that the Differin will help it heal so much faster, so much so that they will be gone by the next morning hang in there: you're doing great!
So I just put the stuff on the shelf and my acne got a little worse and worse so I looked up a few things on differin and apparently it can work wonders. But how bad was the ib for you guys? I barely wanna leave the house now with moderate acne if it gets really bad that wouldn't be good haha
Thought I'd post my contributions after searching this forum inside out over the years
Had acne at age of 13, let it build up for 3 years then finally went to local GP. Prescribed me retin-a micro and doxy, which cleared up my moderate-severe acne in around 6 months. Unfortunately retin a became discontinued so I cut off all medication completely, and a year and a half later my acne has returned to id say mild-moderate level (was progressively getting worse).
Went to GP and got prescribed differin 2 weeks ago. Currently on day 13 of my differin journey, and I am fully aware of what to expect from this treatment.
Day 1-5 - Well I initially thought I had an alergic reaction, because it seemed way too early for an IB. I had 3 LARGE inflamed pastules appear on my face pretty much overnight.
Day 5-11 - Luckily not too much happened (apart from a large amount of peeling and dryness of the face), and these new pastules slowly healed up. Had a breakout on my lip which sort of annoyed me (because I dont even apply differin there, and lip spots are so hard to treat!)
Day 11-now - The original pastules are now pretty much healed up (apart from PIH), but had an outbreak on one cheek of many many small bumps. Some became inflamed, and some are just skin coloured. Sort of worried because since im not even 2 weeks in I doubt this is even the IB, and im horrified to what could happen in the next few weeks.... if i remember correctly, my retin-a IB happpened on week 3 and by week 6 my face was about the same as what it was before i started taking the medication, so I can only hope I guess....
On a side note, I can feel a horrid under skin bump which hasn't come to surface. I havent suffered from cystic acne since I was on retin - a, so this is really worrying me too. I Just hope it doesnt surface into a monster....