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 14, 2008
Cons:
works only for light.. my skill still the same after use.. but it will work if its light pimples..
use only over night
August 21, 2008
Pros:
clears skin eventually, makes it smooth & soft, and removes all big zits
Cons:
it takes time to really work (about 3 months)
This treatment is very expensive without insurance so I recommend insurance...but it really works in the end. I've tried tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide...and so many acne treatments and nothing worked. I started using differin and was very dissapointed but after the first month i started noticing a difference and eventually my skin cleared up alot...now i just have small pimples that barely show and I'm sure it'll clear up soon
February 14, 2008
Pros:
Acne All gone!!
Cons:
None
Used it for four months and all my pimples gone!!
Works great.Double thumbs up.
December 21, 2007
Pros:
Clears skin, diminishes scars, and prevents pimples from ever coming back
Cons:
very drying & takes a while to work & it also gets worse before it gets better
this stuff is amazingg, although you really have to be patient with it, it won't cure you in a week. it takes it's time. but the wait is worth it, because after all, ultimatelly you will acheive beautiful, clear skin. i used to get gross whiteheads and big black heads all over my cheeks and now they're all gone, and not only are they all gone, the scars are gone too! this stuff=miracleee!
July 11, 2007
Pros:
Has worked a little, still waiting for more results. Smoothens the skin.
Cons:
Drys your skin.
I've been using it for a couple weeks and it has worked a little and still waiting for more results.
July 3, 2017
Works well
Nice product,, very effective in fading any PIH leftover from acne
May 22, 2017
Maybe not for sensitive skin
It cleared my skin entirely with maybe one new pimple in just a few days. I was very impressed. Then my skin was fire engine red, and peeling like crazy. (Yes, I am aware of retinization, but this was extreme.) My face was hot and IT BURNED!!! I was horribly embarassed to show my face in school, because no matter what I put on it it looked awful. I stopped it because I had an event coming up I didn't want to look bad for. Probably won't be trying again.
July 20, 2017
did you use a pea sized amount? i was recommended by a dermatologist and this product works great for me. i use every other day at night time after i've applied a moisturizer (cerave) all over my face. a pea sized amount gets distributed all over my face. it's quite easy to over-do it with retinA. be careful!
January 16, 2017
good product!
My skin is sensitive and combination/oily. I have never had horrible or cystic acne, just a few pimples on my forehead all the time. About a month ago, the acne spread to all over my forehead. I knew the problem wasn't my diet or a product because i tried eliminating these things. My dermatologist prescribed me .1% differin gel a few weeks ago. There was no difference the first two days but on the third day, I had no new pimples and it's been that way since! I did experience slightly drier skin than usual, but no redness or flaking. I believe the key is to use as little product as possible and moisturize as soon as the product sinks into the skin. Also, it's important to exfoliate daily to help the product remove waste from your face. One thing i did notice though was that i have a couple clogged pores still on my forehead. Do i wait them out? Will they turn into pimples?
March 22, 2017
I have the same skin combination but after using differin, my skin becomes irritable , dry and has constant tingling feeling. I had my skin peeling off and I wonder how do I exfoliate these dead skin without worsening my skin ?
March 22, 2017
I have the same skin combination but after using differin, my skin becomes irritable , dry and has constant tingling feeling. I had my skin peeling off and I wonder how do I exfoliate these dead skin without worsening my skin ?
June 12, 2016
Recommend it!
Been struggling with acne for a long time, and this stuff has been one of the few things that have worked. Highly recommend.
January 19, 2016
Hopeful
Before using Differin, I broke out mostly on my cheeks and all along my hair line with huge zits. After a week or two of using it, it was pushing the gross stuff out of my pores easier. Like, a lot easier. Now, it's been a month or so since I started using it and my skin has been purging a lot. I no longer break out along my hairline like I did. Though there are tons and tons of acne scars, my breakouts are smaller and go away faster. The thing that I hate though are whiteheads! I guess they're my skin purging? I have never really had them before. So potentially be prepared. My dermatologist told me to apply it every single night and if it isn't working so much in March, to call her and she would give me a higher dosage, which I am guessing is Differin (0.3%). I know it takes retinoids a while to work, but I don't think anyone is super patient when it comes to having bad skin.
Pros:
no smell