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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May 30, 2007

Pros:

Evens out your skin tone.
Makes your skin very smooth.

Cons:

Still having breakouts, only not as bad.
Does not help with scarring or pigmentation.
Kind of expensive.

I am 22 years old and have never really had bad skin my whole life until this year. In the past year, I have had a breakout that I would call moderate acne, it's not severe, but to me it's awful considering I've never really had bad skin. Well, I decided to go to the doctor about it and he prescribed me to doxycycline and benzamycin gel. It helped some but the benzamycin gel dried my face so bad I had to stop using it. My doctor then put me on Differin cream. I have been using it for about two months now. My friends and family say that it is alot better than it was, but I'm not one hundred percent satisfied yet. I think I just want it to be like it was two years ago. I still have some hope it might get better. I recommend this to someone with mild acne but like everyone has said, the results will not be quick. It takes a while to notice any changes. Good luck!
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May 26, 2007

Pros:

clears skin up really well after first week

Cons:

dries skin up, peeling,flaking,redness, burning. lots of discomfort for the 1st week

i have mild pimples and blackheads. ive just started using this product and for the 1 st week my skin was really dry and uncomfortable. i put tons of cetaphil moisturizer on but it was still really dry and peeling was really abvious espicially around the mouth. but after a week i feel that my skin has definately improved. im also taking oral antiobiotics which DONT work. i would say just keep at it and everything will eventually go away
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May 25, 2007

Pros:

Will clear your face in the long run

Cons:

Takes a while before it actually starts working. You might get discloration of the skin. Can't get without a prescription.

Differin takes a while to work, stuff will get worse for a while, it makes the pimples a little bigger and it makes them come out faster and cnstantly, but that's the way it works. Not gonna lie, they get big and they hurt. It took about two or three months for me before I started seeing a difference. The thing is not to stop using it, even once your face clears up, let your dermatologist decide when to stop using it.
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May 20, 2007

Pros:

Cheap

Cons:

May have reduced breakouts, but I always seemed to have one or two blemishes. I was never completely clear. Skin was red and irritated if you were not extremely careful.

Pretty much worthless. Use benzoyl peroxide as outlined by Dan Kern. This kept my mild to moderate acne totally clear with no end in sight. Accutane also worked wonders with minimal side effects for me (bloody noses). It eliminated my cystic acne completely, but smaller blemished would inevitably return 12 to 18 months after treatment.
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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.
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May 5, 2007

Pros:

It has not dried up my skin.

Cons:

I have broken out more somewhat, especially along my face-- along my jawline, its painful. And my face is somewhat more red than usual.

I have used this product for 2 weeks, after having cleared my acne for about 3 years, I had begun to breakout immensely and suddenly on my cheeks, jawline, and chin a lot more -- I went to a well known dermatologist who prescribed me an antibiotic to internally fight my acne and also DIFFERIN. I haven't seen any results really yet, and I'm curious to know if I will see clear skin ever. I am 22 years old-- so suffering with this kind of acne is a bit tough -- so any help would be great. Thanks!
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April 20, 2007

Pros:

to prep skin for accutane and as a youth cream post accutane

Cons:

if your acne doesnt clear significantly after 3 months, stop using it and get on accutane

I used it for 4 months, helped slightly, but I think it is a perfect way to prep your skin for accutane. Once starting accutane, my skin adjusted nicely without any of the horrible redness or breakouts that some people have reported. Now I just have dry skin, but *clear* skin, not perfect yet because of the scars, but they are fading too. Once you complete your roaccutane, restart the diferin, just small amt at night, it does wonders to maintain a clear complexion, plus it works just like all those expensive retinol creams.....it keeps your skin young!
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April 2, 2007

Pros:

makes pimples smaller and eventually clears you up

Cons:

dryness,skin looks greasy, takes 2 months to see decent results

it is pretty good but i had a pretty bad break out in the first 3 or 4 weeks which scared the sh*t out of me and it took a little while to heal up..things are going pretty well now and i have been on for about 9 weeks
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March 29, 2007
I have used this cream every day for 15 weeks, and will now discontinue It has not helped my moderate acne in any way. For the first four weeks it made it considerably worse, and after that it was still worse than it used to be before I was on it. It irritated my skin for about two weeks (dry, red etc) but after that it stopped, and was comfortable to use. Living in England, I payed the standard unifrom perscription charge for this product ( £6.50).
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March 24, 2007

Pros:

It looks like it is working after two months of using Adapalene.

Cons:

Red, dry, flaky skin the first month of using it and actually worsens your acne the first few weeks

Try Adapalene it is afforable and many guarantee it works after using it for three months.
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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