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. 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
Adapalene is available in strengths up to 0.3% by prescription. Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one. Adapalene is also available over-the-counter in 0.1% strength. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Adapalene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
March 30, 2012
Cons:
Skin seems oily
Expensive
Initial breakout was terrible
I've been using Differin for 6 months now and I hardly see an improvement. The initial breakout was horrible. My forehead had a ton of little bumps, which I had never had before and now my forehead has a darker pigmentation. It is also really expensive since my insurance doesn't cover it.
March 23, 2012
Pros:
Clears Skin!
Cons:
Drying
Clears Most Acne in 3 Months Of Use! You need to stick with it ti'l the end! It's worth it!
March 14, 2012
Cons:
flushing and redness on face, made facial skin very "hot" and "sweaty". Could not tolerated for more than a week. Told to immediately discontinue this by the dermatologist due to my skin's reaction.
First of all this medication is meant for a certain age group of people who have acne issues. Why I was prescribed this in my mid thirties is beyond any common sense by my old Dermatologist.
March 13, 2012
Cons:
Skin Burned
Broke out badly
Peeled
Skin became red [sunburnt look]
.Dried out my skin a lot
I was given instructions to use Differin twice a day, once at night and once in the morning.
I'm taking antibiotics alongside this treament.
The only thing this product has done for me is make me MORE insecure about my skin.
I don't know about you, but the worst thing about having acne for me is to be constantly reminded that I have it. Thanks to Differin, this is what happened.
The dry, sunburnt, skin-tight feeling on my face was a constant reminder to of my condition and it has really made me uneasy.
I would definitely not use this product, as of today i've stopped using it and will be looking into alternative treatments.
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
March 7, 2012
Pros:
Cleared up acne after a month and a half.
Cons:
I'm giving it time, but my acne scars still show. Bad breakout when I started.
I started using Differin at the end of last December because my dermatologist recommended it and I was sick and tired of having moderately severe breakouts. When I first started, I had bad breakouts for about the first three to four weeks. It also created a stinging feeling on my skin when I washed my face. However, those are only temporary side effects and they eventually die down. The most important thing about this product is DON'T GIVE UP and BE PATIENT. It takes around two months before any real results start showing, so just give it time. If by three months there is no improvement, then you could inquire about it. For me, luckily, my acne has made such a drastic clearing that I only get a few new pimples every week (compared to when I used to get a few breakouts everyday). The only thing I'm still waiting for is for the Differin to fade my acne scars, because they still show on my face. Nonetheless, I have faith that it will do the job eventually.
March 4, 2012
Pros:
Cleared up my moderate acne completely
Faded acne scars
Cons:
I had a really bad side effects in the first week. I had dry patches that turned into open wounds. I actually recently couldn't get to the doctors to get a prescription and stopped using Differin for 3 weeks. My acne came back and when I finally got time to get to the doctors and got Differin again I had the same bad side effects.
I love the product it is the only thing that managed to clearly stubborn acne. I have had clear skin for a year now and have finally got my life back, I can walk out the door without any makeup on and feel confident. For me that is the best feeling, I just don't have to worry about acne any more!!! I am so glad I sticked with it when I got the really bad side effects.
March 1, 2012
Pros:
Good at stopping breakouts
Cons:
I think my face is a little redder that usual
I use this cream after accutane and its good at controling break outs. I.e. I started to get a small patch of pimples inbetween my eyebrows, after about 1 week of cleaning my faces and differin in this area it was clear.
February 29, 2012
Pros:
Skin is clearing up
Skin feels softer
Cons:
Nothing so far
26, female, oily skin, cystic acne on my chin and under my eyes, blackheads pretty bad on nose and chin, whiteheads on nose and sometimes cheeks, acne for almost 2 years I was skeptical after reading the reivews for this product. However, it seems to be workimg for me. Just remember every person is different. The same acne regimen is not going to work for every single person. That is why there are so many different acne medications. With this product, I am also taking doxycyline. I feel like the antibiotic is helping a lot. I use a facial soap bar that contains benezel peroxide to clean my face. I use the Olay cleansing brush because I feel like regular cleansing leaves A LOT of dirt and oil on my face. If I use a toner after normal cleaning, I can actually see the dirt left behind on the cotton ball. To me, proper cleaning is so important when you are prone to getting breakouts. I paid $30 for the cleansing brush, and it is worth every penny of it. Hopefully the differin, antibiotic, and deep cleansing will clear my face completely and for good. I will definitely be back to update everyone.
February 28, 2012
Pros:
-Prevents Acne
-Like Retina-A, slowly fades light acne scars and wrinkles.
-Can be used in Conjunction with Aczone, BP or Climydycin(sp?)
-Absolutely works
-15 dollars with insurance
-Skin adjusts to the Differin within a week
Cons:
If I wanted to nitpick...
-Makes sun sensitive to sunlight
-Initial Breakout
-takes 3 to 5 months to take full effect according to my Doctor.
Dare I say the majority of the people who reviewed how terrible this product is, did NOT give it at least 3 to 5 months. Yes, it has been widely stated that it takes 3 months to take effect but my Derm (who is ranked on a list of America's top-docs) mentioned that it can actually take closer to 5 months to take full effect. I definitely had an initial BP but it was not THAT bad. I broke out for about 1 week, but really, just 3-4 days of bad cystic acne. It is worth it in the long run. The 1st week or 2 my face was rather red and did peel. It would be wise to avoid the sensitive skin directly around your eyes, the cracks on the sides of your nose as your skin will really peel there. However, by the 2nd week my sensitive skin has adapted quite well. My mild to moderate acne has gone from bad to very good over the period of a year, I did see results within 2-3 weeks. But it just continued to get better... with some breakouts here and there but by week 12 my skin was looking a 100 times better. As an ex smoker it even diminished any very light wrinkles. Great stuff.. and cheap... just be sure to STICK WITH IT. Fighting Acne is about patience. You can't try almost any prescription acne drug without giving it 3 months. For differin, give it 6! Good luck!
Pros:
Somewhat clearer skin