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
July 8, 2009
Cons:
i started to break out and get red spots on my face were the acne used to be......
well the bottom line is that its sucks and im never gonna go to a derm a again....... pronexin is really good just bought it last week an it works wonders..... i recomenned you guys to buy pronexin.......
June 19, 2009
Pros:
It cleared my acne up at first well.
Cons:
I do have less acne on my face but I still get a lot of breakouts. It didnt work as well as I thought it would. It also makes your skin super dry and red.
It reduced about half of my acne.
June 2, 2009
Pros:
clearing up my skin, more even
Cons:
Burns,
I have stress acne. My skin has become horrible due to pharmacy school. Red, broken out! I have very sensitive, dry skin. I started using it two weeks ago and my skin is more even. I do have some new break outs, redness, peeling but it is normal. It will go away with time. This product takes a long time to work but is worth it in the end. As a pharmacist I stand by this product. For people with moderate or worse acne you need to give it a long time (up to six months) and it will get worse before it gets better. I think this product works well when used properly and reading some of these reviews many are not using it correct hence the lack of results...
April 15, 2009
Pros:
Skin is more clear, much more consistant skin tone.
Cons:
The medication did not work as fast as I would have liked... I was a little discouraged at first but after the sensitivity and dryness it reveals great skin
With consistant use of this product it will have great results.
April 14, 2009
Pros:
dont know
Cons:
doesnt work
try atralin works unbelievably fast
March 27, 2009
Pros:
it really cleared up my moderate to severe acne considerably and maintained effectiveness
Cons:
it made my face extremely red, dry and flakey. I have very sensitive skin so.... I also hated applying it every night (you have to do it meticulously - carefully spread it over all problem areas)
try it; it does help. I prefer taking Bactrim DS twice daily (oral antibiotic) it's easier and more effective, plus I have had no side effects from it - except maybe a loss of appetite and weight loss. which is a good thing :) good luck. acne is tough stuff...
March 6, 2009
Pros:
(Using the 0.1% formula) Cleared up breakouts, evened out skin tone, made face softer!
Cons:
Experience peeling and slight irritation from nightly use. Have started using moisturizer with it, which helps. Also, it takes a few weeks to really start seeing results.
I have been using this every night for about 3 weeks now. My husband has told me that my face looks clearer and even my dark marks from cystic, hormonal acne are starting to fade. The small hard bumps are still there, but fewer in number, and starting to go down. I have gotten a few new pimples, but they literally fade overnight. Differin made my skin quite dry and flaky...I use Cerave lotion (about 30 min-1hour after applying Differin at night) as recommended by my derm, which greatly helps. I also use a gentle scrub once a week to get rid of the dry skin. You MUST be patient with this, as I am just now seeing results and it's been 3 weeks. I will continue to use this forever!
February 2, 2009
Pros:
Worked very well. Less pimples, less redness and less black heads. Also helped a lot with bothered skin.
Cons:
Made my skin shiny, not oily, just shiney, and it's expensive
I've been using differin on and off for about a year now, I use it if my acne starts to come back. My pores look smaller, and my army of black heads are gone, along with the annoying white heads. My pimples only come during my once a months, and my skin feels very light and smooth.
December 27, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
i got this to see if it would help keep acne away. i didnt have any before i got it and after 2 weeks of using it, it broke me out so bad and my skin was really dry and red. it does make your skin soft for the first week or so.
DONT USE. IT DOES NOT WORK. 4 OF MY FRIENDS HAVE TRIED IT ALSO AND IT DIDNT WORK ON THEM EITHER.
December 3, 2008
Pros:
Prevent acnes forming, reduce inflmation, smooth out skin texture, so gentle which does not irritate the most delicated area
Cons:
Tend to lose its efficiency in preventing and fighting acnes after 18 to 24 months of continuous use.
If your goal is (like mine) to prevent acnes from forming, you should give this great product a try. This is my most favorite acne topical medication because I have had 99.99% complete clear skin after 10 days of using it. One of the reason I can keep using it is because it does not dry my skin in any measurement. (BTW, I am 39 and I will not trade acnes with wrinkles.)
I use Ziana everyday before I go to sleep. My skin care routines are:
1. Remove make up with FANCL or DHC cleansing oil
2. Wash with foaming cleanser
3. Apply pea size of Ziana gel all over the entire face and neck line, except eye area and lips
4. Apply moisturizer after the gel is completely absorbed, if needed.
After almost two years of using Ziana, I started to develop drug resistance for Clindamycin. I now use 15 to 20 minutes of blue light before I apply Ziana gel. It has improved to a satisfying level.
Pros:
it was working the first week....