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
February 16, 2008
Cons:
It does take about a month- a month and a half to see some improvement. It also is slightly drying but not bad. As long as you use a moisturizer you'll be fine.
I like it. It clears your skin up and doesn't severely dry it out. With our insurance it only costs about $15 a tube and the tubes last me about a month. But if you have really dry skin, you might want to try the 0.1 differin cream instead of the 0.1 gel. Make sure you stick with it though because if you use it inconsistently, it won't help you. If you have dry skin start out using it every other night and then gradually start using it everyday. If you miss a night here or there it's not a problem but if you only use it every other week it's not going to help you. Overall, I definitely would recommend this product.
January 10, 2008
Pros:
None
Cons:
It made my acne SO MUCH WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS PRODUCT SUCKS!!!!!!!!When i started using Differin i had mild to moderate acne after i used it i broke out with servere cystic acne. i quit using it then i went to the dermatologist and used solydon and ziana instead. whatever u do dont use differin!!
January 10, 2008
Pros:
I've used it with Benzamycin gel and it worked amazing until the benzamycin gel became less effective. Currently on minocycline and differin. I find that differin works really well as an anti-inflammatory.
Cons:
Dry skin, but can be prevented easily through moisturizing. More prone to sun damage. Unaware if it treats or causes more scars because I do have some acne, but most darker spots are because of acne in the past.
Differin works well if combined with another product such as benzamycin or any sort of tetracycline oral medication.
January 10, 2008
Pros:
is clearing it up! NO irritation or drying AT ALL. nice, smooth, clear consistency. helps with red marks. tube lasts a very long time.
Cons:
takes time. feels tight on skin for about 30 minutes after application.
I've been using Differin for about a month. At first my skin appeared to be clearing up, but then all hell broke lose. Thankfully this cleared up mostly in the first 2 weeks, but my skin was still a little worse than when I started.
At the begining of the 4th week, i got bunches of clogged pore "bumps" on my forehead. But it's only the middle of week 4 and they are already clearing up leaving very smooth, nice, LESS OILY skin. My chin is still how it normally is, but it is less oily and appears to be clearing up. I think I'll give this another month and hopefully I will continue to improve!! I started off using it just twice a week, but I've bumped my usage up to once a day (at night) and I've had NO drying or irritation at all. And my skin IS sensitive. =D
December 20, 2007
Pros:
Very bad
Cons:
Skin became worse. I had acne, but when i started to apply Differing my skin became terrible: scarfs, red spots all around my face now. And make- up doesnt hide it now. Im so depressed.
Do not use this product! It will make your acne even worse. After 5 weeks of using Differin, i cant look at the mirror now. Totally terrible.
November 11, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up my black heads
Cons:
Didn't clear up my acne, dry face
My doctor perscribed me Differin to clear up the many black heads on my cheeks, nose, and chin. My cheeks were especially job. After using Differin my cheeks were completely black head free, even after I've stopped using it for a month. Bottom Line is there's no 100% acne-be-gone formula, Differein did its job in clearing up all the black heads on my cheeks and reducing my visible poors. It reduced the black heads on my nose and chin some, but no medicine will rid that completely. Right now I use off-brand Proactive found at Wal Mart and it works great.
September 17, 2007
Pros:
clears up acne if you stay on it for 3 months
Cons:
it comes right back!
at first when i started using it i thought it was crap i got more acne, but after using it every single night for 3 months my acne was COMPLETELY gone, but came back 2 or 3 months later worse then ever. Not worth it, try something else
September 14, 2007
Pros:
Helps to keep new acne from forming, dries out excessive oil, easy to apply.
Cons:
Peeling, redness.
Although it does help to clear up your face, it still makes it a bit red after continual usage. I used to be on Tazorac, and Tazorac did a much better job of clearing my face up; however, Tazorac also made my face red as a tomato. So that's why I switched to Differin; it had been fine for quite a while, but now, after my 3rd month's usage, my skin's getting red again--especially when I laugh, my face turns so red. I've even been asked if I had been drinking because my face was so red. I think that it's just better to either go with Tazorac and get a red face anyways (and have much clearer skin than Differin can hope to give) or just got with the more gentle Retin-A.
May 19, 2007
Pros:
decreases some little bumpie ppimples.
Cons:
peeling, dryness, makeup looks gross with peels.
IT CAN REALLY HELP IF YOU STAY ON IT FOR OVER 6 MONTHS, IT WILL CLEAR LITTLE BUMPY PIMPLES AND REDUCE PORE SIZE, DOESNT CLEAR SKIN ALL THE WAY THOUGH.
May 13, 2007
Pros:
I got it in France so it was very cheap. Dries quickly, doesn't need a lot.
Cons:
First week I didnt have any breakouts and all of a sudden the 2nd and 3rd week i broke out with some nasty cystic zits and also have TONS of new little blackhead type bumps on my cheek that I never had before.
I'm hoping to god that everyone is right by saying that it ges worse before it gets better, so we shall see... i'm on my 3rd week or so, i dont know what to think yet, but i'm in my 20's and this is the first time in my whole life that ive had acne this bad.... arghhhh definitely helps to say that it will go away and to pray! positive outlook is so important even if its so embarassing!!!!
Pros:
It takes about a month to see some improvement, but it really started clearing my skin up. My skin breaks out less often and much less severely.