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
March 20, 2007
Cons:
takes a long time to work, so i stopped using it and now im using acnefree works better the only thing you have to do with acnefree is stick with it keep using it even if your skin clears up thats how people get broke out skin after stopping use.
Differin is a phonie Try ACNEFREE. DIFFERIN IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
March 18, 2007
Pros:
A little goes a long way, product is clear, used at night, can be used with other products at the same time (I was prescribed triaz pads) and is less irritating than some other prescription creams and gels.
Cons:
May be drying at first, leading to redness and peeling within the first few weeks. It's one of those treatments where your acne can get "worse" before it gets "better", definitely requires consistency; so if you can't stick to a routine - forget it
I have moderate acne, rarely anything cystic. I've had it for about 7 years and only have I recently actually started using my prescriptions (differin and triaz pads) like I should be. The nature of the product suggests that yes, for most people, your skin will be irritated at first. I've been using the differin for less than a week now, and haven't experienced a huge amount of irritation. Lucky, I guess. My skin has also (in my opinion) cleared considerably. It is a combination of things, though: I wash my face 2x daily with a cleanser containing glycolic acid for normal skin (md formulations). I exfoliate with md formulations face/body exfoliator, also with glyc. acid. I tone my skin with a calming product by Eminence, an organic spa line, after cleansing. I mask weekly. Most importantly, I moisturize. It's VERY important to moisturize your skin, and don't be cheap about it either. I spend 90 dollars on my Chanel hydro-max stuff. It's excellent and my skin has
March 17, 2007
Pros:
Clears acne up sometimes. When it clears up your face, your face is extremely clear.
Cons:
Inconsistent. One week its clear, the next week theres a big red pimple staring you in the face. Makes your face look greasier than an employee that has been working in Mcdonalds for 8 hours.
If you want a medicine that is inconsistent and makes your face look greasy as hell... use this medicine.
March 11, 2007
Pros:
Very gentle after prolonged use. Clears face well and is invisible very quickly
Cons:
None
I have found it very gentle and fairly effective. Not the cure but definitely a worth while product to supplement a regimen. When used in combination with Benzoyl Peroxide is supposed to be more effective. Note: Not sure on affordability because insurance covered it, but have $40 deductible. Lasts long though and applying excess has no benefits to effectiveness.
March 2, 2007
Pros:
it clears scarring really well
Cons:
it was drying sometimes and it made my skin break out
id used differin for nearly a year, but mostly to clear an acne scar or a dying pimple (i used benzaclin for the real pimples, but i dont recommend it because it is drying and irritating). I thought that it was clearing my skin, because it would clear existing pimples and scars, but i kept getting new pimples. i thought it was just natural because everyone gets pimples as a teen, but i after reading online that differin actually in a sense pulls out the pimples forming under your skin, i realized that the differin might have been contributing to my on going breakouts. However, my sister had somewhat success on differin, but i personally do not recommend it. i do think that it is a good thing to try though, because it does work, but if you try it know that you are risking your skin worsening as a result. you should probably test it out on one little patch of skin to see how you react.
February 21, 2007
Pros:
Gets rid of blackheads, and bumps under the skin.
Cons:
caused slight redness
I find it a great cream, it has gotten rid of blackheads and my skin looks much clearer. It is worth buying.
February 20, 2007
Pros:
Clearer skin
Cons:
Tightness, dyness and itchiness.
Whe i started using this product i used it twice a day. It made my skin relly dry and tight. It made me quite itchy aswell but then i started using it once on a night before bed. I now mix the differin with E45 cream so that it moisturises at the same time. It really works and my skin looks alot more clearer and i will carry on using it. I would definetly advise it to anyone with acne problems.
February 20, 2007
Pros:
It's working, it's pretty cheap. The cream is odorless and doesn't burn putting on.
Cons:
Takes at least a month to notice a difference. Flaky, dry skin around mouth even with moisturizer. Without a doubt gets worse before it gets better.
My derm told me to use mild soap twice a day and Differin at night. The first month was hell, I'm not going to lie. Flaking was bad around my mouth and my acne got worse. I was also on an oral antibiotic (this didn't help). I'm on my 5th full week and now using Cetaphil Daily Cleanser instead of soap. The large lesions on my face are healing and the redness is slowly going away. I'm confident that my face will look much better in a couple of weeks. I stopped the oral meds a few weeks ago and my skin is still improving.
February 13, 2007
Pros:
None
Cons:
Dry's out skin like crazy, even with moisturizer. Didn't really help with the acne, I guess a little but I was too pre-occupied with my dry skin to notice.
It was the second cream I was prescribed so I used it religiously, hoping it would work. Once before bed every night. About a couple weeks after I started using it my skin was really red and irritated. I had patches of skin that were really flaky and even touching my skin hurt. Once I stopped using it it eventually went back to normal but I still have small patches of dry skin from it.
February 12, 2007
Pros:
Works well... much more mild than other retinoids. One tube of medication provides an insanely large number of uses.
Cons:
Causes dryness and initial breakout period was a drag.
I've been undergoing treatment for moderate cystic acne for nearly 20 years. Tried almost every topical and oral medication available (Retin-A, Accutane, Benzamycin, etc...). Most recently was using Erythromycin solution twice a day with 500mg of Duricef antibiotic orally. That worked well until the last year when my cystic acne began to return. My derm switched me to Differin and Minocycline at night, followed by Erythromycin solution in the morning for the last 6 weeks. I had a pretty disappointing initial breakout period during the first three weeks (was about to quit and go back to my derm early), but since then everything's been great. My pores have been reduced and the frequency and intensity of my acne has decreased dramatically. I haven't had any cysts in over three weeks and my skin is now almost completely clear. Very pleased with these results!
Pros:
Makes Pimples Small but TAKESS TO LONG!