Acne.org Products
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
54%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Prescription and over-the-counter adapalene share the same efficacy percentage due to non-specific research, but prescription strength likely performs better.
Topical Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
This topical retinoid medication provides partial relief at higher prescription dosages, but don’t look for complete clearing, especially at over-the-counter strength. Relatively affordable and comes with less side effects than tretinoin, the other affordable topical retinoid. As a bonus, it improves the look of skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles a bit too.
Topical Retinoid
How to Get It
This is an over-the-counter treatment. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Adapalene (Non-prescription)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 27, 2007
Cons:
The gel dries your face a LOT. Takes about one of two months to start seeing results.
I tried both the gel and the cream and the gel dried out my face a LOT so I use the cream. It works really well, but you have to use it for a while.
November 15, 2007
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
dries skin
I used this product for 6 months, day and night, EVERY day and night, and was very persistant. But it did not help nor hinder my mild acne. All it did was dry up my face VERY much for 6 months. Trust me it is a waste, definately not the acne cure.
November 3, 2007
Pros:
omgg it works so good.
Cons:
u have to use it awhile before it can work
well my face before i used differen was HORRIBLE..i mean i seriously woke up and my face was COVERED everywhere. thats was unuausal bc i never got acne before.. there was hardly like...room in between the zits on my face..but i have this really good makeup i put on my face that covered it up until i told my mom i was tired of having this...so she took me to the derm. and they told me to try differen b/c my dad didnt want to put me on accutane....the first 2 weeks i have duac stuff i put on my face first..then wait 5-10 mins on applying the differen..it was horrible..my face got worse..i seriously cried every night bc of it..but i kept using it..and it's simply a maricle.i dont have a SINGLE zit...and if any of you saw my face before would be like WOW. its a GREAT product.
October 24, 2007
Pros:
Able to gently treat spots; Odourless
Cons:
Takes awhile to see results and loses it's 'magic' after awhile. Can make you face quite sticky hours after application. The first time I applied it, my face started peeling which took about couple weeks til it healed, but the spots were still there.
Have been using it for a bit as a replacement for BP cream (it's difficult to find it here). And so far, my face still has spots here and there - not entirely cleared. There have been times where it seems to show improvements, but new spots emerge days after. If I had BP at hand, I wouldn't think about using this.
October 23, 2007
Pros:
My zits decreased in size( but they did increase in number. I didn't have the initial breakout many people seem to have.
Cons:
It didn't seem to do very much.
This product only works for some people; unfortunately I was not one of them. I suggest giving it a try. It's not harsh on the kin and doesn't make acne worse, but if it doesn't work after three months give up and try something else.
October 8, 2007
Pros:
Works like a charm; gets rid of every last spot.
Cons:
You have to use it moderately at first so that you don't peel.
So so so incredibly worth it. It was the only thing that worked for me AND several friends. Also, one tube lasts FOREVER. I have been using it for a year and haven't even gone through one tube.
September 27, 2007
Pros:
Easily applied, no side effects
Cons:
Minimal if any clearing of the skin, doesn't feel or seem like its working
I have very oily skin and mild acne. This product hasn't done too much for me at all. I recently went to the dermatologist and am going on Accutane within the month, apparently since the Differin didn't work. It affects everyone differnently but my results weren't anywhere near my expectations. If you do decide to take this, use minimal gel. Good Luck!
September 9, 2007
Pros:
eventually gentle for sensitive skin, zaps whiteheads quickly, gives skin a wonderful glow once it starts working
Cons:
The IB is very unpleasant. I used the cream in Aus/Canada ran out In Korea and was off it for 4 weeks. Only gel is available in Korea and it burned like hell for the first three months of nightly application. Got a long IB again too!
It can take a long time to work and the initial breakout if you have one can be miserable. But better out than in your skin, right?
August 13, 2007
Pros:
Skin texture seems smoother, speeds up cycle of pimple (comes to a head faster)
Cons:
Acne gets MUCH worse in first few weeks, does not seem to be affecting cystic pimples, some drying/irritation (not as severe as Retin-A)
I was advised by my doctor that it would take about 6 weeks before I started to notice a difference - I am now 7 weeks in and my skin has just started to go back to what it was like before Differin. The first 4-6 weeks were horrible, with more frequent and more severe acne than I have had in the past 10 years that I've suffered with it. The only thing getting me through it was the hope that it would run it's course and eventually get better. Now it does not seem to be markedly improved, although the texture of my skin does seems to be smoother. I would recommend this for mild acne, where the main problem is small bumps and blackheads. Not for more moderate pimples. I am now left with a lot of scarring from the first few weeks.
August 12, 2007
Pros:
smooth skin
Cons:
loads of pimples and whiteheads especially on my forehead in the first 2 weeks
ive been on this for 2 weeks now and it still hasnt cleared my skin, i was on duac for 6 months so my derm told me to try this, i have to day duac worked much better but am prepared to use this a few weeks more....
Pros:
Acne zone became smaller, acne got better.