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
October 15, 2012
Cons:
Takes time to work
Can cause peeling initially
Can only be used at night
May be expensive (varies from country to country)
Differin has been a savior for my skin! I went to the dermatologist with really inflamed and angry acne and he prescribed this along with a course of doxycycline which I have since stopped using. There was an initial breakout at around week 2 but it was nothing major and cleared up pretty quick :) I began to notice clearer and less angry looking skin about 1.5 months in. After 3 months, my skin cleared up :) Since stopping the doxycycline, I have been using Differin to maintain my skin and no major breakouts just a few teeny weeny pimples here and there :) Differin also faded my PIH amazingly well and after about 6 months of usage my skin was a uniform colour FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I know Differin is insanely expensive in the US so I would recommend you obtain generic adapalene if you can to save some moolah :)
April 30, 2012
Pros:
Clears up acne like no other
Cons:
May dry skin
It works! I am African American so my acne scars were really dark and nothing worked, not proactive, clean & clear, soaps etc. I was really wasting money until i brought this, my entire face was covered in acne now you can barely notice any acne on my face and i've used it for less than a month.
March 8, 2012
Pros:
-Reduced acne by at least 70%
-Less breakouts
-Has generally cleared and clarified my skin
Cons:
-Experienced some mild burning at first
- Caused my face to become red and inflamed for the first 10 days of use
-My skin was more sensitive to sunlight
-Skin has become more sensitive
I was skeptical of using this product, as i had tried Benzoyl peroxide, which really damaged my skin. I used the Differin gel, not the cream as i have oily skin I also got prescribed with 1000mg of Oxytetracycline as well. I used it after cleansing my face morning and evening. Moisturizing afterwards will help keep the area from drying out. At first the gel made my face sting and burn, after 3 or 4 days my face looked very red, i also had dry flaky skin. Also i noticed this was made worse by the sunlight. So i would advise an SPF. After 10 days my skin calmed down and sticking to the routine started to work, my acne has really cleared up and so has the redness that came with it. I would advise gentle exfoliation to remove any dry skin. i'm glad i decided to stick out this medication and continue to use it, although the majority of my acne, but it has increased the sensitivity of my skin, so i am constantly wearing an SPF. overall really happy to have gotten rid of most of my acne and redness. Be careful not to get any of the differin cream/gel near the eye area because it seriously burns, oops :/ 4/5
December 15, 2011
Pros:
Easy to apply
Significantly reduces inflammatory acne and blackheads
Convenient application - once a day at night
Cons:
Drying - just need to use a good moisturizer, and it isn't much of a problem. Did make my lips dry, so I needed to use lip balm.
Itchiness - decreased with continued use
Small rash-like bumps
Slight Redness
I've suffered from acne for years and years, with my breakouts being less severe as I got older (currently 21), and now only got around to going to a dermatologist to fix it. Throughout the years, I have tried a number of over the counter products that either used benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that never seemed to do much for my breakouts, and only irritated my very sensitive skin. I also tried monthly peels, IPL treatment and facials with the same results. I was on minocycline for about one and half months before starting on Differin, and continued with mino for another month. Currently I'm starting on Bactrim in conjunction with my Differin treatment. The initial breakout wasn't as bad as I imagined, with most of it being concentrated around my chin and cheek area and lasted for a little over a week. While I haven't had any big, red, pus-filled pimples, I do have a lot of small red bumps that never come to a head and just linger, so it still looks like I have a big breakout. I'm not sure if that is part of the initial breakout since I'm still relatively early in the treatment or just because of irritation. Most of the bumps are concentrated on my forehead and temples, so I am going to reduce use in those areas to see if they clear up. Although I haven't been completely cleared, it has given me the best results of any treatment thus far. I did read in the information that came with the box and it did say that the side effects (dryness, redness, breakouts etc) do decrease over time. My suggest when using Differin is to start with a very gentle cleanser and moisturizer to keep irritation to a minimum, and slowly add any medicated parts to your regimen ONLY if need be. Remember to wear a SPF moisturizer during the day.
September 26, 2011
Pros:
- Clears up acne quickly, even cystic acne.
- Prevents new acne.
- Seems to make pores smaller.
Cons:
- Causes facial redness.
I came off antibiotics a while ago, and my acne started to come back almost straight away. I had tried other retinoid gels before but they were far too harsh and made my hair fall out (it's true! see other reviews on here). This is much milder because it's cream and only 1%, and I only use it once a day at night. So far it has cleared up all my acne and I haven't had a new spot for weeks. Sometimes I get the beginnings of a spot, but this stops it in its tracks. I got rid of a cystic spot in only a few days, and there is almost no scar. The only con is that it makes your skin look quite flushed, but that is a small price to pay for clear skin. Love it, love it, and only £8.00 for a big tube on the NHS. Two points I should mention - my acne had been controlled first by the antibiotics, so it was only mild when I started the cream. Also, go carefully with any retinoid as hair loss is a danger that isn't mentioned in the leaflets.
August 16, 2011
Pros:
Less acne, clearer, fresher, healthier looking skin
Cons:
a little sensitvity and flaking on the acne itself
So here is my experience. I have been on it for 3 months today. It took exactly 8 weeks to see a difference in the acne. but for 4 weeks now my skin looks and feels so good. I did have a small breakout(which was much less than before and healed much faster) and what my dermatologist said it sounded like hormonal caused. So she prescribed me Spiro. I know that there may be some side effects but I will do anything to keep from getting a breakout again. I can handle a zit now and again but hope it doesn't happen.
March 9, 2011
Pros:
made skin less oily
Cons:
broke my skin out like CRAZY
Used this along with 50 mg of doxy for my very light, comedonal acne and I deeply regret it. I heard the IB was bad, but I had none stop painful acne on my cheeks for 2 months when never in my life had I experienced such acne. I had to stop using it because I couldn't leave my house without makeup to cover the mess. The dark spots/scarring left behind are horrible too.
October 14, 2010
Pros:
Cleared my skin after just 3 months after 2 and a half years of suffering with acne.
Cons:
Dry skin.
I've suffered with acne for 2 and a half years and it's been hell. I was prescribed this 3 months ago, along with Tetraysal tablets and a Panoxyl face wash. I'm 100% clear now and thanks to this. It does dry out your face at first so use a moisturiser. I used Nivea sensitive moisturiser which took out the redness and I could walk around without a bright red face. Amazing product, not many people have faith in it but read my lof if you want it in depth. [link edited out]
October 1, 2010
Pros:
-Lightens scars caused by hyperpigmentation
-Clears up acne
-Less break out
-only put on at night
Cons:
-Kind of Dries out skin
-Expensive with out perscription, or maybe even with it
I have been using this product for exactly two weeks now and I am empressed. I was perscribed this with Doxycycline, which is an anti-biotic. These two togheter have been working togheter clearing up my skin better than its even been like before. In two weeks I go back to the dermotologist, in which they will slowly take me off of the anti-biotic. Hopefully Differin will be enough to help my skin a lot. Since I am half black I have hyperpigmentation which leaves really dark scars on my face. Right now it seems as if this product is clearing it up. People whine about the "Flacking" but if you put lotion on it, its fine. Also I use St.Ives face wash, which helps get the dead skin cells off leaving less flaking. I havent filled my perscription yet because it was $65, but the test tubes the doctor gave me have worked so far. I will see how my face looks in two weeks at my next appointment, and hopefully will post before and after pictures soon. My Acne is not clear yet, but this prduct has worked better then over the counter products i have tried, I suggest for anyone who has moderate acne to see a dermotologist
January 19, 2010
Pros:
seriously...none...probably didn't use it long enough... but I had my reasons.
Cons:
My reasons were that it caused ALL my acne that weren't visible to all appear at the same time. Like i put it on my body too like neck chested areas...never do... caused so much scarring and it started turning brownish shade it was so gross i was so ashamed of myself.. to a point where even Sheercover convinced me to buy it to cover up the scars. Also, it was so dry and tight on my face causing it to feel like its being burned.. especially when I touched my face. I couldn't handle it..
Do not use it... it may work for some people but not me... I couldn't handle the affects... my acne's were pretty mild I just wanted to get rid of some acne that's all... and I got this... horrible. It took months and months of healing from the scars and the break outs...
Pros:
Clears acne
Prevents future acne
Clears PIH