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
January 7, 2007
Cons:
uhhh
question: does this really help with spot scars? and does it cause them? i noticed when i used this that the old spot scars SORT of faded away, but then after i get new pimples (and they turn into huge whiteheads because of the differin) when they finally heal they just turn into spots...and i do not want any of those...someone please answer
January 5, 2007
Pros:
My skin does seem clearer, though not perfect. After years and years of bad skin, "clearer", for me, means, "better."
Cons:
A little dry and itchy at first, but get a good moisturizer during the day to counteract it.
It's not a miracle medication, but it helps.
November 24, 2006
Pros:
Very good results
Cons:
dry skin, reallly itchy, red spots acne a bit worse horrible for the first week
Take it for more then a week and your will see great results, give it a chance
October 5, 2006
Pros:
HealthNet covers it as a medicine not a cosmetic - otherwise it is $100 a tube or so out here.
Cons:
No measurable improvement after 9 months.
I'm in my 30's, mixed race with olive skin. I don't have "pimple" acne, mostly blackheads, blocked pores, etc. I don't use makeup. After using Differin for several months, I got scaly, red almost painful hive-like lesions on my chin and the skin around my hairline got bumpy and the skin peeled and now I have more scars. In the months prior to this nightmare, my skin was as oily and blotchy as when I started. My skin is so dry now that even with lotion, skin flakes and lifting scabs are visible. My doctors didn't even tell me the "worse before better" line, they just keep telling me to use it. I just got a prescription for topical Clyndomiacin today since I have so many raw patches - I don't scratch, the skin rubs off - and will use that while I look for another dermatologist. It is impossible to think that this is the only and best acne medicine out there.
January 1, 2012
Pros:
None, really
Cons:
Didn't clear up acne
I've been using this for 4.5 months, with no real noticeable results. Unlike many, I didn't really experience a noticeable IB - however it hasn't reallly worked either. I may give it a little more time, but at 5-6 months will be quitting. You get a lot of medicine per tube, though, so I don't view it as being prohibitively expensive. I'm on my first (and only) tube so far.
September 6, 2011
Pros:
Doesn't make your skin worse
Cons:
You have to avoid sunlight
You can only use peasize amounts when putting it on your skin
No change in acne
Didn't work for me. Used it for 6 weeks.
December 10, 2009
Pros:
none
Cons:
I went to the dermatologist for my acne and he gave me a little sample tube of differin 0.3. My skin became dry and peely after a couple of days...
My skin became very very dry and was flaking off. Even made me have big red splotches on my face... used it for about 2 weeks but i couldn't stand it anymore! Went back to the dermatologist and he gave me Retin-A. Been using that for about a week and my skin is much better! :)
October 31, 2009
Pros:
None
Cons:
same sh*t
I'm starting to think that there is no such thing as an acne treatment. I have tried everything and nothing works. Most acne 'Treatments' are commercial shills, thought up by evil f**k bag salesman, that don't have a clue what we're going through. They don't understand how much acne hurts our mental state. They don't care what we feel, they're in it for the money and that's it.
The only thing I recommend is, stop eating sugar and dairy products. That helped me.
October 19, 2009
Pros:
none
Cons:
burning skin, redness, it doesn't work
the worst product I've used, i used this stuff for long time but never worked for me, produce redness and irritation, burns my skin, and never saw good results, this stuff sucks
September 15, 2009
Pros:
Its available nearly all over the world. The price is relatively cheap in
this country. The gel is easy to use.
Cons:
After about 3 days it may peel off. If applied everyday it may peel or acne may flare up.
After 1 year of suffering acne, I was introduced to this infamous dermatologist in my hometown Korea. I received a 1:1 consulting and I asked some questions. After the doctor looked at my skin, she prescribed me Differin.
I applied it for two days straight and my skin started to peel!
I thought I should just use it once per two/three days..
Till now its working out for me but I would recommend this to people
who actually received a prescription from a dermatologist.
Everyone has different skins so nooone can tell you whats good for your skin unless they actually see it and know something about different types of skin and acne. I live in Dubai, UAE
Pros:
uhhh