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
October 19, 2007
Cons:
None so far! No redness, and a only a VERY small amount of peeling. I use Neutrogena Sensitive Skin lotion, which works wonders (as per the derm.)
I've used Differin as a teenager and an adult. As a teen, I loved it, it kept my face clear in conjunction w/ Duac Topical Gel, and I never had problems at all. After having my first child (I'm now 26), I had what the doctor called "hormonally induced acne". It has lasted the entire time I breastfed my baby, and I recently had to stop so we could try to treat the acne aggressively. (NOTHING was working.) I have been on Differin and Doxycycline for 1 week, and I am already seeing an improvement in the smoothness of my skin! I had 3 whiteheads yesterday, and they are already almost totally unnoticeable today. However, I do my best to leave the lesions alone until they are "ready" to get rid of, and at that point I use a steralized needle to prick them, and then I lightly squeeze the stuff out of them w/ a tissue on my fingernails. Be careful, or you'll end up with scaring. I am happy with the improvement I am seeing, and I am excited to see what else can happen with this product!
October 9, 2007
Pros:
Eventually gets rid of facial acne if used properly.
Cons:
Takes a long time to work. The first few weeks of using this product, it seemed like it caused me to breakout more. In time the breakouts stopped, but I still get one or two every now and then.
I had moderate facial acne. Initially dried the heck out of my skin and took forever to work. I am currently taking Doxycylin twice a day so I am not sure which treatment is more effective. Been on this for about 2 1/2 months now. I think I may want to switch to a stronger dose of this gel.
October 7, 2007
Pros:
none
Cons:
made things much much worse.
I'm 8 weeks into using differin/benzamycin and my mild/moderate acne has turned into a bunch of nasty cystic acne getting worse every day. Supposedly it gets better if you use it for even longer but serisouly, 6 months for results on some people? thats just ridiculous. I would only recommend trying this if you really have tried almost everythning else. You're almost guaranteed a horrible experience for a few weeks (EVERY week since using it for me), with a slight chance of hope at the end (if you're lucky).... not a good call in my book
September 26, 2007
Pros:
really clears up skin well
Cons:
dont go in the sun a lot
I started to use differin twice daily after washing, and it really cleared my face up in under a week. the only side effect was the horrible burn i received. every day im normally out in the sun for about 10 hours and with only spf 15 on i got burned real bad (the differin increases your skins susceptibility to the sun). now im real red, but im pretty clear.
September 10, 2007
Pros:
Clears up some of the small pimples.
Cons:
Burns when gets close to nose, expensive, yet to see it clear up the stubborn little bumps I went on this for.
Not satisfied yet.
September 4, 2007
Pros:
smooth, helps with the little whiteheads, has really helped clear my nose of all the annoying little whiteheads and slowly starting to work on the whiteheads and pimples around my mouth and chin area - but I wish it would hurry up and start to work!
Cons:
stings like mad, has made near my nostrils a bit crusty have to use moisturiser well on this area. leaves the skin feeling sensitive - the feeling of sunburn! Left it red in places and when I catch slight of the red looking pimples its not very nice!
this prouct is great from the annoying little whiteheads but anything bigger it will just irritate them and makes them flare up and red. Be very careful when applying this and any stubborn sensitive ones i dont think you should be applying this as it would just burn ans itch. I use the gel which is fab on the little ones - i also dab on a little differin which helps and use dianette and take vitamins and drink plenty of water to keep my whole face in check.
I find drinking water and vitamins have helped hugely as it has given my skin a healthy glow as well as keeping the depression at bay. Dianette is great at keeping the big ulgy ones at bay although it still lets though the pimples and they can itch and annoy most of the time. I try look after my skin as much as possible and drinking water and not much make up and letting the fresh air to my face helps it to glow and be healthy.
August 24, 2007
Pros:
Worked very effectivly. Evened out my skin tone, and got rid of pimples fast without scars. IT GIVES MY FACE A HEALTHY GLOW!
Cons:
You have to wait for it to work the first few times
ITS WORTH IT! It will make your skin look healthy, clean, pimple free and VIBRANT
July 27, 2007
Pros:
Stops break outs
Cons:
flaky and irritating
I noticed that I started breaking out more after school ended in May and thought my mild acne could go away with the usal Clearisil treatment..I was wrong. I tried using other products that only seemed to make my acne worse so I went to my dermatologist. He told me about Differin, how I should apply a small amount before bed time and perscribed some Clindamycin Phosphate lotion to use in the morning. After about a week of using the product the skin along the bottom rims of my nose and in between my eyebrows started ta flake and peel and little bumps started to appear...even the skin itself felt different like as if it was tighted. I tried switching it to once every other day but still same result. With summer coming to an end and school starting back up I feel clear skin is impossible
July 25, 2007
Pros:
the best
Cons:
takes a long time to work, but it works it!!!
Ok, the derma told me that i have to use this prodcut for 6 months to see results, i was like, ok, because before i have tried everything even things that you can't imagine.
I had acne for 12 years it really gets down your selfsteem, you don't know why that is happening to you.
So, I sataring to use differin and benzac 5% since december and from a month ago my skin is totally clear, more clean and whiter, i'm really happy with this i never thought it'd work i have lost faith, I recommend 100% this 2 products and have patience, roma wasn't built in a day :)
July 22, 2007
Pros:
none
Cons:
although differin is supposed to bring your 'underskin' breakouts up to the surface, this was not the case for me. i had huge red bumps sitting below the surface of my skin. plus, on the surface, my skin was horrible. differin doesnt work!!!!!!!!!!!!
drying, doesnt clear up pimplea, wrikles you, emerges large pores, doesnt work, IS A SCAM!
Pros:
Works nearly immediately on whiteheads (if you don't try to 'pop' them before they are ready)
Feels great on skin!
Makeup can be applied over this product fairly easily.