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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1
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June 29, 2008

Pros:

my face cleared up a lot.
my skin looked better and better each day.

Cons:

too pricey, made my face peel, flake and burn. I had to stop using it because of that. I havent used it since, but i wish i could.
my acne cleared up, but my face stung and was covered in disgusting flaky bits of skin.

really good if you dont have sensitive skin. if you do have sensitive skin like me, be prepared to buy a face exfoliator, a really good moisturizer, moisturizing soap, and ice.
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June 24, 2008

Pros:

It says it worls on the box and I believe it. Only been using it for a few days now, though.

Cons:

Acne gets worse before it gets better. This is because it makse all of the "down deep" acne come to the surface and then it gets rid of it.
Also, VERY EXPENSIVE!!! I have no perscription insurance and this freaking suff cost $150.00!!!

So far, my acne has gotten worse, so the box was right as far as I've gone so far. It says to wait 3-4 weeks before results will show so we'll see. Way too expensive, so it better work. I'm using it on my face and shoulders, so the tube is getting empty faster than it should. I'm not buying more if I don't see results first, though.
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June 10, 2008

Pros:

Very inexpensive with insurance

Cons:

Very ineffective

I was impressed with how mild Differin was, it did not irritate my sensitive skin at all. In fact, it did nothing for my skin. I might as well have been smearing water on my face. After 2 weeks I noticed NO improvements whatsoever. I expected more, other treatments have worked significantly better.
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June 9, 2008

Pros:

Suffered no side effects and acne is losing the war

Cons:

None

The product is fine, but make sure you use it precisely. Differin has a website. Acne will get worse b4 it gets better. Its the nature of the product so stick with it. Give it a minimum of 16 weeks to see improvement
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May 31, 2008

Pros:

It took some of my more inflammatory acne away

Cons:

Did not see any great results even after continually staying on it for over 2 months.

My first dermatologist prescribed this for me after I had tried countless OTC medications. At first, it cleared up some of my really bad acne but after almost two months it completely stopped working for me. The thing is, if I go a few days without applying any to my face, I get really horrible breakouts. It might work for you but I could never see any great results. Stupid acne! haha
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

It does what it promises

Cons:

takes a long time to kick in

remember to check the other product you put on your face, when using differin there are a few things that you should be avoiding. # Differin ® should not be used along with other anti-acne products containing Retinoid, retinoic acid, trinitoin or Vitamin A such as Retin-A, Retinol, Renova. # Differin ® should not be used with any skin products containing sulfur, resorcinol or salicylic acid. # Differin ® should not be used with any abrasive or medicated soaps, astringents, alcohol, lime, or witch-hazel products, or any products than can be drying or irritating to the skin. # Differin ® should not be used with products containing alpha hydroxy, hydroxy or glycolic acid containing products. # Differin ® can not be used with any peeling agents, glycolic peels, chemical peels or laser peels. # Differin ® should not be used with benzoyl peroxide, Skinoren or Azelex as they may be drying or irritating.
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May 21, 2008

Pros:

It purged the acne that was deep within the skin and once that was over, my face cleared up considerably. (in conjunction with climdamycin)

Cons:

The first week my skin was super dry, flaky, and no matter how much lotion i put on my face it wouldn't go away! My lips were dry too!

The first week and half it seemed that my skin was getting worse! I started breaking out in places that usually didn't! But after that the little bumps on my skin started going away, the flakiness went away, and my skin was smoother. [ i have mild acne btw] The first time I tried Diffin (couple of years ago with the .01 dosage) it did not work for me, because I had very bad acne. This time around because of the milder state it seemed to work. I would not recommend this to someone with aggressive acne.
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May 19, 2008

Pros:

purged a lot of my acne pre-accutane

Cons:

MAJOR SCARRING, face bled at night.

My derm put me on a .3 solution of Differin for a month and a half while I was waiting to get on accutane. I had a HUGE initial breakout that lasted for over 3 weeks, and a lot of scarring from that. My IB brought a lot of acne to the surface, the lesions would be filled with blood and (sorry to be graphic) sometimes would pop when I slept at night. Ew. I even decreased my dosage to once every other day, but that didn't help much. While the medication did purge a lot of acne from under the surface of my skin, I have incredible scars now that are very red & I have to cover them up with makeup every day. I do not think I will use this again just because of the scarring.
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May 14, 2008

Pros:

- It helped my acnee for a few years
- You can wear makeup over it

Cons:

- It stopped working after a few years...
- expensive if you dont have insurance

My dermatologist prescribed this to me a few years ago, first in combination with Ducray Keracnyl cream, then 3 years later in combination with Clyndoxyl gel. My acnee was somewhat controlled while I was using it (especially after using it with Clyndoxyl) but it never completely cleared up my acnee. I still had black heads on my nose and new breakouts everyweek. Still had red marks. But with a bit of makeup my skin looked nice.
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May 5, 2008

Pros:

it doesnt burn or sting, pretty gentle

Cons:

did not make any difference or clear up acne

I've been using this medicine for nine months now and at first it did a little bit but now I'm really starting to think that it does absolutely nothing.
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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