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 5, 2008
Cons:
It is pretty drying, but no where near anything like benzoyel(sp?) peroxide. yuck. But other than that, i'm happy so far!
If you're like me and tried alot of things, just about everything- try this. The funny thing is, when i was in the eighth grade i tried this. But, i'm being more patient and it's going to pay off i think. keeping my fingers crossed! Good luck to you all as well! :)
February 19, 2008
Pros:
my skin has a more glow-like appearance. it heals pimples with the quickness. fades scarring.
Cons:
even though it heals pimples quickly, for me, as fast as the pimples were going away, more of them were coming up. my face got WAY worse before it started working. takes FOREVERRrr
i'm in my 9th week using differin and I am FINALLLY starting to see results! i've had acne since i was 13. I'm 21 now. i get the kind that are red, hard and sometimes painful on my forehead and looots of white heads that turn into big, red inflamed zits around my chin area. So many have finally dissapeared! It also might be helping that i started using clindamycin phosphate cream a couple weeks ago. i can't believe its workinggg!! i hope to be completely clear in another month :]
February 5, 2008
Pros:
CLEARED UP MY ACNE!!!
Cons:
NONE!
This is the only thing that has cleared up my acne! I have tried many products, Proactiv, Clean and Clear, natural therapy, herbal pills, and nothing worked. Differin cleared up my acne w/o causing additional breakout and it doesn't irritate my very sensitive skin. I love this prodcut--it has given me clear skin and more confidence!!!
February 5, 2008
Pros:
Stops most pimples from occuring..gives a nice even skin tone and does not overdry my skin. It's my favorite spot treatment! Seriously, try differin as a spot treatment. I used to get white pus filled pimples..and now i don't get any.
Cons:
Expensive
Differin worked amazing for me, but I have mild acne. It probably wouldnt be that effective on severe cystic ance.
February 4, 2008
Pros:
didnt dry out my skin, made my acne smaller
Cons:
didnt work, made little pimples but alot of them and made my face red
dont waste your time on it, ive tried it for around 3months and it just gives me tons of little pimples and so annoying and such a waste of time, dont use it unless its your last choice!
January 21, 2008
Pros:
Has somewhat cleared up my skin so far and controlled breakouts.
Cons:
itchy skin. Dry/flakey skin. very expensive!
I've been on Differin 3% for the past 2 weeks now and found that it has given me good results. I haven't been breaking out as much as I usually do. 1st week though, I got 3 zits that showed up but don't know if they were a result of Differin or were already presently growing under my skin before going on Differin. Anyhow, they are gone and so far I haven't gotten any major out breaks while on Differin 3%. Could be temporary of course with my luck but I'll keep it going since I believe it is working for me so far. Differin 3% is very expensive $150+!! I've considered going on Differin 1% as this cost considerably less but I'm torn with the good results I've gotten so far with the 3%. I guess it comes down what really matters most. Having clear skin...priceless??
December 25, 2007
Pros:
It has cleared all the bumps on my jawline and forehead.
Cons:
It gets my very dry but it's nothing compare to the dryness I used to get when I was on Retina-A.
I've been using adapalene for the 17 days now. My skin is much clearer and luckily I did not get the initial breakout. My skin got very dried though and it is peeling, for that I am using Ionax scrub and all the dead skin goes away (it does wonders). I'm also taking tetracycline 300 mg daily.
December 22, 2007
Pros:
Clears skin, does it's job!
Cons:
A little bit of redness, and initial breakout, but it starts clearing up after that.
I've been using this product for 20 days, and I already see big improvements! I broke out almost everywhere on my face, and then I got the initial breakout, which everyone gets, but it only lasted a few days. Then I saw improvements fast. I see less pimples, and my skin is softer. I'll keep using it longer to see if it gets completely clear (I hope!) =]
December 10, 2007
Pros:
Hmm...none that I know of
Cons:
made my acne worse and and incurable.
I had a minor case of ance and was prescribed this along with an antibiotic and it made my ance about 5 conditions worse. I have had the same acne for 5 weeks. they do not clear up at all and the differin has dried out my face completely and left me scarred physically and emotionally.
December 1, 2007
Pros:
it had a pleasant smell but that was the only pro I could find
Cons:
After using it for 2 or 3 days my skin became inflammed and after 5 or 6 days my skin dried out all over my face, even though I was only applying the gel to my chin, and then started to flake off like I had terrible dandruff but from my face.
I may have had a bad reaction to this product but I would definately not recommend this to anybody with sensitive skin as even though I had not suffered with sensitive skin before using the differin gel I now find my skin is much more sensitive to products.
Pros:
Has helped a lot so far. Been on it for only four days, ee! So, I hope it'll do the job! I, like so many other people, have tried just about everything. I have FIVE face washes alone in my shower! I'm always desperate for something that'll work!