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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5
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4
31.4%
3
23%
2
16.4%
1
11.3%

Used Adapalene (Non-prescription)? Rate It:

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January 4, 2013

Pros:

Easy to apply
Works great as a spot treatment for my cousin
Easy to use bottle

Cons:

Drying
Peeling
Didn't work for me

Works for people with an occasional pimple not for people with full on acne.
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December 21, 2012

Pros:

Clears pustules
Fades acne scars

Cons:

Initial breakout for first 2-3 weeks
Can irritate sensitive skin
Takes about 8-11 weeks to see significant results

I began using Differin about three months ago after my relatively mild acne grew severe. At first, I experienced a horrible burning sensation on my face, as well as severe drying and redness. Later I began using a Cetaphil moisturizer, which helped to soothe the dryness. The skin irritations ceased over time, and now my skin is much less sensitive to Differin. I see huge improvement, especially with fading of my acne scars. Overall, it is a highly effective product if you give it time to work.
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December 17, 2012

Pros:

Finally cleared my acne
Stops breakouts
Cheap w/ insurance
Improve texture of the skin

Cons:

Takes forever to work
Does not work on acne marks
Makes your face itchy
Must use it forever

To all the acne sufferers , please stick with it for at least 6 months.It takes forever to work and it will break you out crazy during the process but 100% worth it. WEEK 1-4:Little whiteheads keep showing on my face WEEK 5-6:Worst break-outs of my life! WEEK 7:Feel clear for the first time on this thing! WEEK 8-10:Break-outs again WEEK 11:Face is clear WEEK 12-14:First cysts of my life WEEK 15:Cysts are healing WEEK 16-.....:Clear and happy
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December 12, 2012

Pros:

--Clears Skin
--Reduces Redness
--Works Quickly
--Fades PIH

Cons:

--0.1% does nothing
--Takes some time

I took accutane before this. Before accutane, I had severe acne; after accutane, I had marks. Unfortunately, my skin hasn't ever been "perfectly" clear -- I've always had marks and a few pimples. I asked my doctor for some Differin. He gave me 0.1%, and it didn't do too much for my skin. In fact, it seemed like my skin was in a constant purging phase which wasn't cool. 0.3% is much better in the fact that your skin isn't stuck in the "purging phase," your PIH fades faster and it is more effective all around. Please request the 0.3% :)
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December 12, 2012

Pros:

Clears moderate to severe acne
Prevents future acne
Promotes collagen
Fills in shallow scars/wrinkles (Long period of time before noticable results)
Improves Hyper Pigmentation over time

Cons:

Initial breakout is horrifying. Worst acne nightmares come true. (If you have severe acne)
Skin sensitivity
May cause mild peeling during the first several weeks.

PATIENCE is key with this product. The initial break out doesn't just come and go. It is a continuous process of clearing out all the impurites from under your skin. The prescription states it may take from 8-12 weeks. If you have moderately severe acne, I recommend using Differin with an oral antibotic such as Solodyn. May help clear up the initial breakout a bit quicker, and may help lessen the severity of the breakout. It's been about a year for me using this product, and it's been a LONG ride. But, I am glad to say that the Differin Gel has greatly helped clear up the acne I had. (Cystic, Vulgaris, Postules) I rarely use the antibotic, but continue to use Differin nightly. My face has cleared up dramatically, other than the scars left behind. =(
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December 10, 2012

Pros:

Clears skin for a while

Cons:

Dries and reddens skin
Makes skin sensitive to sunlight
Stops working after awhile

Worked great at first. Had clear skin for about a year then had to switch to stronger tazorac, as my cysts came right back regardless of having upped my dosage of this.
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December 3, 2012

Pros:

Easy to use
Clears acne

Cons:

Very drying
Skin can be sensitive after treatment

This works well for me in combination with the rest of my routine. It can be drying, so I suggest using some kind of moisturizer. It also makes your skin sensitive to temperature extremes. Price reflects monthly cost (Different lasts me anywhere from 3 - 5 months) and when insurance is applied but I know it can be as high as $200 without insurance. The product works, but only when I started using my moisturizer with it did it keep acne away consistently Routine (night only) 1) Wash face with Dermae Glycolic Acid Cleanser 2) Pat dry 3) Apply Differen over entire face 4) Apply Duac over entire face 5) Wait till absorbed (about 5 minutes) 6) Apply Philosophy take a deep breath moisturizer to incredibly dry areas only
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November 22, 2012

Pros:

reduces redness
improves skin texture
reduces pores
clears skin
works best when paired with an antibiotic topical

Cons:

extremely itchy - the second week i stayed up for several nights scratching my jawline!
lots of purging
high sensitivity to sunlight
expensive (will be cheaper after my deductible is reached)

it's truly a miracle drug! ive tried nearly every otc product, proactiv, natural remedies, lush products (which worked for a few weeks) and finally decided to see a derm. she prescribed differin for exfoliation and clindamycin as an antibiotic. when i went, i was having a pretty bad breakout - lots of whiteheads and small bumps. makeup couldn't save me and it was unbearable to go to work! my morning routine: cetaphil face wash (two pumps, get it foamy!) pat dry rose water or tea tree water from lush wait to dry clindamycin (a pea size on visible acne) wait to dry cetaphil moisturizer with spf 15 cover fx primer cover fx powder foundation my night routine: cetaphil face wash (sometimes with the clarisonic mia brush - my derm told me to be very gentle with mia and to just let the brush barely touch your face!) pat dry differin .1 gel(a pea size on visible acne) wait to dry (about 15 minutes) clindamycin cosmetic lad moisturizer from lush within the first 2 days, i noticed redness going away.. but the dryness came on strong. my skin cells were shedding like crazy but at least i wasn't bright red from breakout. it also stung like hell to put any products on but i did it anyways. then after week 2, it was a purge fest! there were bumps in places that were generally clear before the meds (on my nose, near my hairline and all across my jawline!) but i persisted in hopes it was doing what it needed to do.one day my face was so raw, falky, itchy and irritated from the sunlight, i considered taking time off work to let it do its job. but miraculously, after the very worst day, i woke up the next day...and i had normal-ish skin! it was so drastic i wouldn't even call it a gradual shift. its day 22 now and i cant stop looking at my face. its still a little flakey here and there but nothing my moisturizer can't fix. also a few bumps here and there but the texture of my skin has improved dramatically.
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October 23, 2012

Pros:

-Helps reduce pimples
-Overall appearance of skin
-Reduces severity of acne
-Helps with both whiteheads and blackheads
-IMMEDIATE results
-Not really irritating like Retin-A

Cons:

-Don't know yet if it helps with discoloration and acne scars
-Can be pretty drying at first
-First couple outbreaks can be bad, but my skin was so bad before that the initial breakout was nothing

I really like this product so far! I have been using it for a month and it has helped my skin so much! First off, I previously used Retin-A about a year ago, and it irritated my face so much that I had dry patches all over my face and constant redness. Someone actually ask me if I was wearing makeup (im a guy) because the redness was so apparent :/ Though now I use differin along with clindamycin phosphate gel, and it has helped reduce my acne greatly. I consider my skin to be moderately severe, though now it is getting closer to moderate. The thing is, I have ALOT more discoloration than any acne, so hopefully this helps it. Overall, it is a great product IF YOU STICK WITH IT. I tried it about a year ago, and i quit after a couple weeks because it did nothing. Please people, just stick with it, you won't regret it.
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October 18, 2012

Pros:

works!
light weight
lotion 1% does not dry skin

Cons:

available on by prescription- not sold over the counter.

I started using this product last month and I really love the results so far. My skin did not have an initial breakout and my pimples started to clear up from the very first day that I started. I use the Differin Lotion 1% and it has helped my skin from drying out. While adapalene is known for being very abrasive on the skin, the lotion is the way to go. It also has not stained my clothes or pillow cases when I go to sleep. i will continue to use this product and update you on my acne journey.
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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