I'm on week 17 and I was just wondering whether it's normal for my skin type to stay the same? I have never had problems in terms of dryness and my skin have always stayed oily (ever since acne has become part of my life).

So after years of dealing with acne I finally joined this site yay! I just finished Week 12 of differin (I'm also on Aczone 2x a day.)

Before I started on it my skin was very very congested, with tons of whiteheads and blackheads, mild surface acne. After a couple weeks on differin I started getting acne like I had never had before...under the skin, cystic, inflamed all across my cheeks. Weeks 4-8 was a really terrible time for me...you know when you're literally scared to look in a mirror or have your picture taken? That was me every day. Now after week 12, I've noticed improvement especially on my right cheek in terms of the number of big under the skin pimples, but I've noticed new ones forming on my left side (though that might be because I switched my night moisturizer from the one I was using from Juice Beauty which I love.)

If anyone has had a similar experience after Week 12 of Differin please please help!! I was getting hopeful that my skin was finally out of the purging phase, but now I'm not sure

On week 15 now on Differin (0.3% adapalene). Previously on Tactuo (0.1% adapalene, 2.5% BP) for over a year. The last month has been complete hell. Current break out is the worst its ever been.

Could this be a final purge? I'm losing hope ...

Hi all,

I am a mild acne sufferer and now using differin again after trying it when I was 16, and it being successful, but I'm now back to how my skin was at first. So far, I am really suffering with dry skin and flakiness. I don't have any products for cleansing or moisturising and just feel lost with what to do! I'm 19 next week and still suffer from mild acne! It really sucks. If anyone has any product recommendations or any advice it would be highly appreciated.

Dry skin can led to more breakouts, my personal experience.

Try a light moisturizer ? I go good with those serum liquid kind.

So after years of dealing with acne I finally joined this site yay! I just finished Week 12 of differin (I'm also on Aczone 2x a day.)

Before I started on it my skin was very very congested, with tons of whiteheads and blackheads, mild surface acne. After a couple weeks on differin I started getting acne like I had never had before...under the skin, cystic, inflamed all across my cheeks. Weeks 4-8 was a really terrible time for me...you know when you're literally scared to look in a mirror or have your picture taken? That was me every day. Now after week 12, I've noticed improvement especially on my right cheek in terms of the number of big under the skin pimples, but I've noticed new ones forming on my left side (though that might be because I switched my night moisturizer from the one I was using from Juice Beauty which I love.)

If anyone has had a similar experience after Week 12 of Differin please please help!! I was getting hopeful that my skin was finally out of the purging phase, but now I'm not sure

I'm on the exact same regimen though my derm is going to replace differin with a retinoid if i can tolerate it, in a few months. In my experiences with retinoids, if you're not seeing some consistent improvement by week 12-16, it may be time to switch things up. Atralin (retinoids .05%) was very gentle on my skin so you may want to give it a try. FYI, in my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, topicals never cleared my acne 100%

Approaching week 16 on Differin 0.3%.

The week before was truly awful. Worst by skin has ever been. But I've been healing really fast and I think that it was my 'final purge' and things are doing very well now. Problems are mostly PIH now with a couple of cystic bumps left. Hoping next week I'll be bump-free!

It's officially been 16 weeks now on Differin 0.3%. I thought things were clearing up but I just got another set of whiteheads. I'm so frustrated. I have a family vacation coming up in a few days and I think I'm going to have to cancel ...

I can't remember the last week of my life where I did not get any acne .... losing hope.

Keep on keeping on. Retinoids are a bitch to deal with. If by week 18 you are not seeing consistent clearing then maybe switch to a retinoid.

leelowe1: thanks for the words of encouragement. Unfortunately I don't think there will be a week 18. I have an appointment with my derm in 2 days and I'm going to ask for accutane

Okay guys, I've been on differin adapalene for about 4 and a half months now, and I'm pretty much at the end of my rope. My acne is worse than it ever has been right now, differin literally hasn't given me a break in the last four months with constant breakouts of red spots that leave behind persistent red marks. I've had 8 new spots in the last 3 days...

Should I call it quits? I only switched to this stuff cos' my usual cream (duac) wasn't available for a little while where I live, I'm thinking of just going back to it. I was willing to stick this stuff out for 3 or 4 months, but the breakouts are literally still just getting worse; differin is making me look 14 again (I'm 22 - today, actually. Happy birthday me, here's another half-dozen pimples...)

What do you guys think? Keep pushing or try something else?

CrossCowboy: Im in the exact same position, about to hit 4 months and my skins never been worse ... I'm visiting my derm tomorrow to try to get accutane.

@ kingleonidas - I'm sorry that all the time seem wasted. If you've exhausted all your options, then by all means give accutane a shot. I've gone backwards so I've done accutane 4 times and now trying the retinoid road.....again. I have only used differin 6 times (as I have eczema and trying not to flare it) and already I am purging like you would not believe....I feel so disgusting. If my eczema doesn't flare up, then at the beginning of February my derm will switch me retin a.

Interesting thing about differin though, my derm said in her experience, it works best on asian and caucasian skin and less so on african american and spanish skin (I am african american).

That was discouraging to hear right off the bat too.

Hoping you find some relief with accutane

@leelowe1 Just came back from my derm. it doesnt look like accutane will be available for me in the immediate future. my derm said he would consider accutane and scheduled me for blood tests but i will soon be moving to the US (From Canada) temporarily for a few months so I wont be able to get on accutane until I move back since i would need to do regular checkups.

My derm just prescribed me clindoxyl and minocycline (i was also previously on doxycycline).

I was previously using tactuo (also known as epiduo) which has 0.1% adapalene (and 2.5% BP) for over a year. Since my differin is just just 0.3% adapalene, I don't see any point in continuing.

Sorry to hear about your situation. I'm asian but it looks like differin is not working for me. I wish you the best of luck. I will continue posting in this forum with my progress. Let's stay strong together!

Edit: After reading some other people's post. it looks like differin + clindoxyn is a common combo. not sure if i should give up differin altogether or try to use them in conjuction.

I'm into week 2 of using differin consistently every night and not surprisingly, i'm purging nasty bumps all over my nose (very unusual for me), around my mouth (not too bad ATM) and the left side of my hairline/cheeks. A lot of these are blind pimples that are inflamed and take forever to grow, open and drain, leaving hyperpigmentation which takes weeks/months to diminish. The pimples on my nose i can deal with as my glasses covers them (i alcohol wipe my glasses daily) but the cheek/hairline acne sucks. I hate those under the skin lumps - so painful and yucky. I see my derm in 28 days (less than a month) to see if i should move up to a stronger retinoid (retin a perhaps?) By the time I see her, i will have been on differin consistently for 6 weeks.

I'm at the end of week 9 and I'm still getting some red spots. Differin has helped to make the cheeks smoother but my chin acne is still very severe!

I feel that differin has made my acne worse and I'm scared at week 12 nothing will have changed but make it worse! Help! I don't know what I'm doing wrong I wash my face twice a day with tea tree face wash and have non comedogenic moisturiser! I am also on antibiotics. Differin however has helped my cysts in this past week.

I'm at the end of week 9 and I'm still getting some red spots. Differin has helped to make the cheeks smoother but my chin acne is still very severe!

I feel that differin has made my acne worse and I'm scared at week 12 nothing will have changed but make it worse! Help! I don't know what I'm doing wrong I wash my face twice a day with tea tree face wash and have non comedogenic moisturiser! I am also on antibiotics. Differin however has helped my cysts in this past week.

How's your diet and lifestyle? A retinoid by itself has never helped my skin significantly. You my need a multi prong approach. Also, keep in mind that differin is a very mild retinoid so you may need something stronger.

My name is Christine, I'm 27 and have been struggling with severe acne for the past 2-3 years. I've had moderate acne throughout my life but nothing that affected my life hugely. I tried to resolve my severe acne myself, I tried oil cleansing, vegan diet, honey/lemon masks, Paula's Choice acne skincare, etc. I finally got over my nerves and decided to see a dermatologist two months ago, right around late December 2014. It took me 2 years to get up the nerve to go. It was nerve racking to for me to walk into a dermatologist's office (sans makeup) and be examined under fluorescent lights by a doc who I was SURE was going to blame me for my acne. I finally went and the doctor was awesome. He definitely did not blame me, he just said that I needed to get on Differin, oral antibiotics, Benzyl Peroxide, and he wanted me to use Glytone glycolic acid face wash.

I did my research on Differin and was excited to try it. I knew it could take up to 3 months to see serious changes.

Right now I am on Week 7 or Week 8. I am no longer getting huge painful cysts which were quite an issue. I definitely have 3-4 new zits a day but they resolve themselves quickly, like in 1-2 days. I am annoyed because some of them keep happening in the same exact spot, like on my forehead above my left eyebrow and on my cheek near the left corner of my mouth. I have also noticed that my skin is more wrinkly on my cheeks. I never had wrinkles before, I think that they will go away once the acne is gone.

Here's a real quick summary

Day 1-3 Minor Improvement, no side effects yet

Day 3-14 SIDE EFFECTS--omg my face, my face! Dryness to the extreme (I was in 0 degree weather which I think made it worse)

WK 2-4 my skin is worse. Not only do I still have acne but now I have acne and gross face (dry, flakey, painful) but I know I'm in the purging period and I have faith

WK 4 Had a checkup with the dermatologist--he's not impressed. Hopefully my next checkup I can blow him away. He gave me some harder stuff "tazorac" *mod edit - url removed* to put on my problem areas and I was supposed to continue Differin as usual

WK 5-6: OMG the "tazorac" *mod edit - url removed* brought back the terrible side effects x100. I put it on my problem spots/cysts and they made those spots 100x worse. I cant deal with "tazorac" *mod edit - url removed* . I need a break. Back to Differin only.

WK 6-8 Cysts are going away--I only have one small one under my jawline, I'm still getting like 2 new zits a day but they resolve themselves quickly. I'm trying out putting "tazorac" *mod edit - url removed* on my problem areas again but not every night, like once a week and a VERY small dose. I've noticed that I have wrinkly cheeks now, hoping that's temporary.

Anyways, that's where I'm at now. After week 8 things are supposed to be getting a lot better so I'm looking forward to that. I know it would probably be helpful to put up progress photos but I cant deal with it mental health wise...so no pictures.

Hey all!

A little background on my skin I had mild acne mostly on my chin/cheeks none on my forehead. I've suffered from this type of acne since I was 12 and finally talked to my Gp about it at 28 until now I've used makeup to cover up what I could but there's no hiding the texture and bumps. I'm excited to start this regimen despite my first night.... Anyways

I'm just starting on differin and clindoxyl actually day 5 today, and I made the absolute worst mistake of applying them both on the first night lol red, burned,dry, hurting face the next day. Wow it was bad I had to wait 2 days before I put anything, but moisturizing creams on. when I used the differin again it made my face super red again I put aloe Vera gel on after, but it was fine the next morning so I washed with my la Roche-posey effacar cleanser with cool water and put the clindoxyl gel on it didn't make my face as red as the differin and it made my skin nice and tight feeling. after reading this entire thread I feel that I shoud probably use the differin every 3 days since it makes me so red and sore. Anyways I'd love some support from other differin and or both clindoxyl users

 

"I'd love some support from other Differin users [..]

Hi,

I'm not exactly on Differin, I'm on Epiduo. But it does contain Adapalen (and BP), so I can understand you.

Personnally, it has been a week. My skin is dry and red, and it cannot support more than an application every two days, or it's like a huge sunburnt haha.

And you, how are you, guys?

On four months of differin use and skin is all broken out as it was before treatment. My expectations for improvement is zilch. Feeling like crap.

Been on differin 0.1% gel for just one week. Was prescribed it for super oily skin and hyperpigmentation/old red scars from where I used to have acne on my cheeks.

What a fantastic product. Within one week the redness of my scars/hyperpigmentatuon has gone down by about 60%. My skin is no longer oily or greasy. It has dried my skin out significantly - a little bit of discomfort and peeling but nothing unbearable. A couple of times i've taken a night off to let my skin stop peeling. It really does work wonders

Ok, so I don't have full blown acne and can't speak for those who do.... but it really has stopped my skin being so oily. Haven't had a single spot since starting the treatment. I'd say that, personally, the discomfort and dry skin has been well worth it.

hey all

I'm 29 and just started differin 0.3 and minocycline 50mg BID 2 weeks ago. I've been reading this blog recently to hear others experiences. I'm really hoping this is what gets me clear before I go into my 30's!

My background - I've suffered from acne ever since I can remember. As a teen I was put on multiple topical creams, atbs, diuretics, birth control, you name it! I went through two rounds of accutane that cleared most pimples, but left blackheads and bumps under my skin. For the last 3 years I have tried multiple OTC treatments and some helped, but nothing cleared me, including the regimen (BP is too drying for my skin). I decided to try going to have professional extractions at a dermatologist. My esthetician wanted me to see a dermatologist for a perscription and that lead me to what I am doing now.

Reading through all of the previous posts has me hopeful and discouraged at this same time.

I'm definitely going through the IB with so many of the bumps coming to the surface. My blackheads on my nose have decreased in just the 2 weeks of using differin. My forehead and chin look horrific. Especially in certain lighting. You can see hundreds of bumps all over . It's exciting to see them finally surfacing, but it sucks going through it!

I've decided to continue with differin for at the least 6 months before switching to something stronger. I'm hoping to hear more encouraging experiences on this blog because I think we all need it!

Jeez I just read through ALL of this and it's been enlightening!

I am on week 7 of Differin 0.1.

Had just finished my 2nd course of accutane and within 3 months I had 50+ closed comedones spread over my cheeks. My derm gave me Differin and I was skeptical because topicals have never worked for me before. Then I did my research and the skepticalness turned into fear from horror stories of IB's!

Coming up for nearly 2 months of using this I couldn't be happier!

I had no horrifc IB. In fact in hindsight I didn't even realise I was having one because I expected massive cysts and papules. In fact most of the comedones seemed to have melted away and the few that became inflamed didn't even grow much bigger!

Week 5 I was 100% clear but I had a slight breakout on Week 6 but I was literally 2 tiny whiteheads and one moderate sized papule. This has gone and I am clear again (for now )

My skin is smooth and the texture has improved to the best it's been since I was honestly about 11 which was 13 years ago...! I hope things improve further because this is really working for me and maybe some scar reduction would be nice but I'm not gonna get upset if it doesn't fix that!

Just throwing my 2 cents in for anyone who is deliberating over whether to use Differin!

Ah so happy to see people in 2015 commenting..I've just read thru nearly the whole thread. I'm up to week mayb 5 now. Skins cr*p ..no imporvment yet but my doctor said it will take 6months and to expect dryness and redness and once I finished things should get better. So that's the hope! But so far my skins just got lots new inflamed spots which I didn't get before.. Quite annoying but I'm living in hope this is just the famous purging people talk about..

To anyone new posting - should I mayb try contact one of the people from a few years back see what they have to say now?

X