Adapalene (Non-prescription)
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Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in...

Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Non-prescription adapalene is available only in 0.1% strength.

Adapalene is topically applied usually once a day before going to bed to all acne-affected areas of the skin, and not just on individual pimples themselves.

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August 21, 2010

Pros:

* Erases dark pigmentation scarring by 80% (even old scarring I've had for years! [noticed this after 2-4 weeks!])
* Assists the redness and puffiness of pimple
* Simple to apply and to sleep with it on
* it will WORK over a period of CONSISTENT use!!
*Texture is smooth and doesn't smell foul

Cons:

* Dry eyelids!! (I don't seem to understand this "side effect" since it's not applied anywhere near my eyes..) -- this bothered me drastically since when I put moisturizer on it burned!
* Sometimes will be itchy if too much is applied... face will go RED as a tomato!
* Putting more than the required dosage will result in flaky skin!
* Takes a while to notice results, since it MAY make acne worse before seeing improvement

Give it a chance! After using it for a while (2-3) months you should have improved skin. I had plenty of whiteheads on my chin and scars from popping them. After 2 weeks use (mind you I overdosed), I noticed they were all GONE! Though dreadful scars included! It seems to work best on problem areas such as the chin, nose (clearing blackheads) and the forehead. Maybe it was just me,. but I felt that my screen had also "tightened" up and felt smoother. My cheeks are not fully cleared but there IS an improvement since not being on the cream before. I would apply it on at bedtime since it seems to work best when your body is rejuvenating itself. Sometimes I would apply it on SLIGHTLY in the morning if I noticed anything big or if bothered me. For me, I noticed results first on my chest then on my face. Keep in mind this cream will be expensive if you don't have coverage for it, but I think it will be well worth the money if you stick it out and not give up because you don't see something DRASTIC! Creams are not taking internally, and because of that, will take a longer time to do its job. I was also taking Minocycline (50-100mg) while on this which seemed to control and keep the acne at bay. You WILL need a tetracycline to assist Differin if your case is severe.
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August 17, 2010

Pros:

~does clear your skin
~easy to use
~doesn't sting or burn
~lasts you a long time

Cons:

~initial breakout was BAD
~takes a while to work!
~very dry skin & dry eyelids..which is weird.

it works! I've been using this for 2 months and my skin is finally almost clear. originally, my acne was moderate. now, I'd say it's "very light" or even less than that. I did have an initial breakout like other reviews stated. my acne was worse than it was to begin with. it lasted a couple days, and I didn't want to leave the house. it was awful. but, my skin is finally clear, and it was worth it. don't give up! it takes a while to work! awesome product!
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August 13, 2010

Pros:

-reduces appearance of pimples
-reduces time pimples take to go away
-relatively long lasting for one tube

Cons:

-initially makes skin very dry
-can take a long time to start working
-some initial purging

Many people tend to give up too soon on this product. Personally, it took me just over 4 weeks to notice alight differences and more than a month to get a more substantial change. there were occasional breakouts, but this can't be entirely attributed to differin. a daily regime needs to be followed for successful results, and it can take a few weeks to get a good regime working in the first place; 2 weeks for me. When you do get pimples whilst using differin, i found that they were smaller and went away in about 2-3 days. However i found differin was not as good in preventing cystic acne, but size and time were still reduced. an important notion to consider is that differin is not a miracle cream/gel, like i said before you need to get a good regime going that doesn't just include topical treatments. However, sunscreen is important in preventing hyperpigmentation. when starting your treatment, your skin will most likely become very dry. it is a good idea to use a night moisturiser (lotion or cream) maybe 20-30 minutes after differin application for atleast the first 2 weeks. doing a bit of research before hand is great, which is probably why you are reading this. i personally recommend differin, as long as you use it persistently. i wish you all the best :)
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July 29, 2010

Pros:

Pimples are visibly smaller and are smoothing out.

Cons:

Burning and redness at first
Breakouts
Takes a long time to work
Skin looks worse at first

I am using Epiduo gel which has 1% Adapalene. At first, some pimples emerged from under the skin and they just all came up. I noticed that when i cleansed before using the product, it burned and caused redness severely, but by the morning my face was clearer and clearer every day. Since i used Epiduo, it only cost me $35.00 with insurance, which is not bad since the tube can probably last a few months.
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July 13, 2010

Pros:

More powerful than over-the-counter medications.

Cons:

Initial Breakout, Cost

I've been taking Differin for around 2 1/2 months and my skin is almost completely clear. I highly recommend Differin, but be aware that before it makes your skin better, it makes it worse. Differin brought many hidden pimples to the surface, causing a breakout the first time I used it. It went away a week after using it. I'm fortunate I did not break out as bad as some other Differin users here. Perhaps mine had less severity because I only used a small amount in problem areas. My doctor told me not to apply it to my whole face. After the initial break out, I settled into a routine of using a pea sized amount of Differin every night on my problem areas. I notice it makes your skin feel very tight right after using it. Ask your doctor what sort of moisturizer to use. Once, when I used more Differin than usual, my skin burned a little, and it made me itch the rest of the day. My insurance covered part of the cost, but I still paid 80 dollars to get Differin. It's not as expensive as it sounds - that bought me a whole tube of the stuff. Might even last me a year. Anyhow, after a few months, I'm almost completely clear. I'm glad I went to my dermatologist. This has made a difference in my life. My advice for anyone going on it: Don't use too much. Moisturize. Wear sun screen. Don't pick anything. Have patience. It might take a whole month to work.
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July 7, 2010

Pros:

Works wonders even on my stubborn bad acne, clearer skin as it also decreased the pigmentation faster than natural process.

Cons:

not 'quick', you'll have to be patient (but it's worth it), dry rough skin.

I used it on and off at first, then i used it continuously for 4 months and i'd had no pimple for 1 whole month!!! unfortunately since it is a harsh medication my dermat decreased the dose and i again started having some pimples. But since my acne is pretty bad i needed more strong medicine in the end. I totally recommend it to anyone with moderate acne. Start with less dose (2-3 hrs at night), increase to overnight if u have stubborn acne. And then decrease to 3 times a week, then 2 times a week, when ur acne is controlled.
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May 26, 2010

Pros:

-clears pimples fast
-makes skin smooth
-easy to apply
-takes redness out of pimples

Cons:

-inital break out that lasts for weeks
-takes time to work
-expensive
-drying in first week or two
-can make skin look greasy and oily at times
-redness

I wouldnt nessarily say i have acne, just constant pimples, about 3 or 4 all the time so i tried Duac, it worked like magic for about a year until it all of a sudden lost its effectivness and i was breaking out in big red spots that would last for days. I went to the doctor and he pescribed Doxycycline 50mg, that didnt really do anything but i stuck it out for a couple of months until i couldnt take it anymore so i went back and he pesrcibed me Differin and Clindamycin 1% and took me of Doxy and Duac. The first couple of weeks, i broke out like hell, i thought about chucking both out but thought i should just be patient. I was getting spots on my forehead that were never there so i decided to put a little bit of Duac back on them since i knew it always worked on my forehead. I decided to bring the Duac back into my routine, just using a little bit in the am and using differin in the pm aswell as Clindamycin. I am now in my 5 week and my face is completely clear. The IB is over and differin is working very nicely,not sure if its due to Duac but my skin hasnt looked this clear in months!!! Definatly just stick it out, BE PATIENT!!!! bottom line, you will have an IB, it will go away and you just have to give it time to see results.! My regimen---17 yr old girl AM -Cetaphil Cleanser -Nivea Toner -Clean and Clear Oil free Moisturizer -Duac -Zinc Supplement PM -Cetaphil Cleanser -Nivea Toner -Clean and Clear Oil free Moisturizer -Differin -Clindamycin
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of ance. Only thing that work for me. I try everything.

Cons:

Does make skin very sensitive. Just get a really good moisturizer,

You just have to give it time. My acne was Wild and Krazy. Know I dont have ance, just a few spots. Now im working on them.
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May 10, 2010

Pros:

Does get rid of acne - prevents the formation of clogged pores (ones that turn into blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules) and under the skin bumps (ones that turn into cysts). Took me only 1-2 months to see good results.

Cons:

Makes skin very sensitive to sun and other irritants, especially if used everyday or with another harsh medication such as benzoyl peroxide. Flaky skin and burning but these subsided within a month or two.

So Differin Gel 0.1% was my life saver for nearly 2 years with regard to acne. The results for me showed up within a month. I decided to stop using it recently since I became prone to sunburn this year. However, a few weeks after stopping, I developed about 5 cysts, as well as several pustules, around my face in places where I noticed some clogged pores. Verdict: I am 95% sure that Differin Gel 0.1% was the reason why I did not have much acne for a while. I had already eliminated stress, harsh chemicals, and poor hygiene from my regimen. I will try this again, but using it every other night, with clindamycin lotion every night. I might exfoliate with jojoba oil as well for the flaky skin. For your reference, I am using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, with Cerave lotion and Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar (in the shower).
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May 4, 2010

Pros:

it's the only thing that's worked for me

Cons:

takes a long time to start working, you have to be patient

I've had mild acne for 3 years, and this is the only thing that's worked for me! I started using it last summer, and it competely cleared my chest in about two weeks, and my face in about 3 months, my back is a lot better but still not completely clear, although i dont know if i was applying it right, the hardest thing for me was finding a regimen that worked with it, right now I use neutrogena deep clean gentle scrub in the morning and moisturizer, and then at night clinique mild facial soap and then differin, and this works the best for me! if i go a few days without the scrub, i notice my skin gets flaky and i break out a with a few tiny zits, but overall this WORKS, it is a great product and i highly recommend it! :)
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website