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. 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
Adapalene is available in strengths up to 0.3% by prescription. Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one. Adapalene is also available over-the-counter in 0.1% strength. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Adapalene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 26, 2009
Cons:
DRIED SKIN SEVERELY
I first tried this 2 weeks ago. I used it nightly for 5 days. The 5th day I was crying trying to put it on!! I was only using it for scarring on my forehead. The first day after I used it I woke up and my skin was really dry. I put on a lot of moisturisor and it was really stingy! This got gradually worse over the next few days. I would put it on at night, wake up to dry and peeling skin which burned to touch. I stopped using it because I could see it was just eating away at my skin and I didn't feel comfortable with it. This was over a week ago now since I last used it and there has been no improvement with the dryness. It doesn't burn now but even with using a moisturisor for extremely dry skin it continues to flake off!! I think this gel might be good for severe acne (mine is moderate) if you do not have sensitive skin at all. I have never had sensitive skin before but I am very fair...Just be careful because the drying effects are severe and difficult to clear
April 6, 2009
Pros:
I don't remember any.
Cons:
scarring!!!!
I hate this product and would never recommend it. I used this for occasional forehead breakouts. It cleared up my forehead, but made my cheeks (which rarely broke out before) look horrid. It left scars. I stopped using it, but the scars are still there, red and new-looking even years later. I don't get any breakouts anymore, but I still have people telling me to try this or that product, because my face looks like it is in a constant state of being broken out. It is scarred!! Red, ugly scars. And it never happened before I used Differin. Only the breakouts from during the time that I used Differin scarred my face. An occasional pimple that I get now will come up, fade away on its own, and not leave a scar. What does this product do to your face???? I would recommend letting your acne run its course; when you're in your late 20s, you will wonder why you worked so hard to get rid of something that wasn't so bad... But if you use this and scar your face, it will las
March 17, 2009
Pros:
Easy to put on, one tube lasts a while.
Cons:
Doesn't work.
Due to unchangeable circumstances, I had to go one night without using the product and it took nearly a month for my skin to go back how it had been the night before.
I've used this product (almost) every night for over a year and I still get very bad random breakouts. My acne is worse than it was when I was first prescribed Differin. I spent the first few months just washing my face twice a day and putting it on at night. When it didn't work, I started putting it on twice a day still nothing. Started using it in conjunction with acne fighting soap, and that helped a little (until that night). From there I switched to deep-cleaning soap and now I use that twice a day, and Differin once a day. I still have acne, after all that, and my skin is very red and sensitive. Don't get it if you want to have clear skin. I now classify my acne as "moderately severe", when before it was light to moderate.
March 10, 2009
Pros:
The tube lasts long.
Cons:
The outbreaks are not cool.
Takes too long for a visible difference
I think my acne is worse with differin than without. But I am willing to stick it out for a number of months since it gets worse before it gets better. I certainly hope it gets better, coz I look like something our of a skin horror movie.
January 23, 2009
Pros:
Nothing.
Cons:
Causes red, dry skin initially. Skin becomes extremely oily after the dryness has begun to cease.
I found that this product had a great effect on my acne, but not in a good way. I had light acne before treatment but during treatment I developed terrible breakouts that didn't stop until I refrained from using Differin. So, after using Differin for about 2 months and seeing no results, I stopped using it. I was extremely disappointed with what Differin had done to my skin because it caused me to have more acne than I ever had and it left some scarring. I am currently using Benzoyl Peroxide and an antibacterial wash to help clean up my face.So far this is working way better than any prescription I have ever had. I would never recommend Differin to anyone for use.
January 21, 2009
Pros:
NONE YET
Cons:
MY FACE IS A WRECK AND I AM A MODEL!
I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M ON MINOCYCLINE EVERYDAY TOO! I CANT FIGURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS I JUST LOST ALLOT OF WEIGHT AND NOW THIS! HELP! I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO RECOMMENDED IT YET OR NOT BUT MY FACE IS LIKE A SHOT GUN BLAST!
January 7, 2009
Pros:
clear areas on my face were softer.
Cons:
I've used this for about 2 months and what was a less severe case of acne turned into horrible breakouts on my chin area. A few days after I stopped use of this product without consulting my dermotoligist I noticed slight improvements.
I'm not sure if I just didn't give this product a long enough chance or what, but I was shocked at how my skinned looked after just a few weeks of use. I was using the product to improve my skin and instead I broke out the worst that I've ever broken out. Everyone is different, my dermotologist was sure I would love the product, but I was not only unsatisfied, but shocked at my results using it.
January 5, 2009
Pros:
I am 27 years old, and I never had break outs in my teens. But after having two children I started to have problems with my skin. I use 0.1% Differin and Duac combo. It helped at first, but not for long. I have used the combo for 1 year.
Cons:
My skin has became EXTREMELY sensitive. I can't go on a 4-wheeler ride without my face peeling for 2 weeks after!! My skin is always dry, red, oily, peeling, and it HURTS! It has helped to apply Differin after shower, when skin is moist.
I keep waiting for Differin to work for me, as it did at first. But I give up. Why trade a few break outs for dry, red, burning, oily, peeling skin. I never had a problem with oily or sensitive skin before treatment, but now I can't even play outside in the snow with my kids, without fear of dealing with dry painful skin for the next two weeks. And I don't know if treatment has anything to do with it, but even my eyelids have gotten dry and peely and irritated after use of differin. I don't put it near my eyes, but maybe it has changed the balance of all my facial skin. I hope my skin will go back to normal after I quit treatment. I fear that if my skin looks this bad with treatment, what will it look like if I quit? But after reading of all the other users that have quit differin right after the the first few weeks, I realize I need to trash it too! Not worth all the money that I forked out for the crap!
December 30, 2008
Pros:
None
Cons:
I've been using Differin for about 4 full months now and it has made my acne worse. Even though I expected it to make it worse for a little while, it shows no signs of improvement.
Not worth the time.
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.
Pros:
Seemed to clear scars, but I only used it for a few days