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
January 21, 2013
Cons:
- Dryness around areas applied
- Itchy eyes
I have light acne. I have been using this for a couple weeks and I have seen a huge improvement. I hope for it to get better in the next few weeks, too!
April 22, 2012
Pros:
Makes my skin softer
Gives my skin more clarity
So far has gotton rid of 90% of acne
Cons:
Takes time to work & a while to see any results
Initial breakout & more acne
redness
dryness & flakeness
May have to change products in your routine to deal with the redness & dryness etc
This product requires alot of patience
I have had acne since i was 13 and over the years it has gotton better. However at 22 I was getting spots. Ive tried so many product such as clean& clear, Pany Oxyl etc etc and nothings has really worked. I was abit resistant to try differin due to the bad reviews. But then i thought what do I have to lose. In the first 3 weeks my skin got so bad & I had 6 huge spots which is not normal for me and alot of red/flakeness. It was hard to leave the house in the morning. But i wanted to give this product at least 3 months to work, as from the reviews it seems if differin works it really works. I'm not at week 4 and my skin has improved so much. Ive not had any big spots and theres just few small ones left over from the inital breakout which are healing. One negative is that on my skin differin doesnt seem to work as well on small spots that never form a white head. Although
for me differin has been worth it and I hope my skin continues to improve. This product does require patience & it is not a miracle worker overnight. Be prepared for your skin to get worse before it gets better. In the UK the price is okay for this product and because you only need a pea size amount each time it will last a while.
Its also important to let your skin adjust to the differin so the first few weeks your skin will be irritable. But the redness will disappear and so will be flaking. But that adjustment requires time too.Only use a pea size amount as with this product more is less and using more wont make it work any faster.
February 23, 2012
Pros:
Smooths out skin
Either clears or prevents (not sure which) spots
Gives you a sort of "glow"
Not as harsh as some prescription topicals
Cons:
Drying and peeling of skin
Red face
I have been prescribed this by my derm as a last resort before going on to Roaccutane. I have been using this as well as taking anti-biotics (although I don't think they have helped any as my back is still moderately pimpled) for 3-4 weeks, 3 or 4 nights a week. Works for me, but dries out my already sensitive skin. I am going to keep using it though as I can deal with the dryness and after all I am getting it for free and it is helping to smooth out my face.
August 12, 2011
Pros:
none
Cons:
it may seem like its working but it actually caused more scarring and ive never had that before. It just makes my buttons scab up, they heal n the button is still there under the skin and forms again. this stuff stucks. ive tried it for 5 months to no avail and ended up with way more acne than i ever had. all i wanted was to get rid of a few blackheads, n now im pock marked like never before
beware. if it seems to not work after 4 weeks, please do not persist, your skin isn' puging, it's just being irritated. for those that it worked for, congrats...but seriously, dont lie to yourself n try to get through the "initial breakout". An initial breakout doesn't last 5 months... just sayin'. Plus this crap cost alot of money...and my insurance does not cover. vunda-ba
February 27, 2011
Pros:
Nice consistency?
Get it for free
Cons:
My IB basically never stopped
I've ALWAYS never liked Differin.
I first used it back in 2007 when my acne flared up after going through a stressful year in university.
Back then, I was completely clueless of retinoids or any other prescription medication.
I used it for a month and a half and I must be a freak of nature because it made my combination (normal/oily) skin into an OIL SLICK. It clogged my pores like crazy and made my scars look like melasma. I eventually stopped using it and stuck with good ol' BP and SA. I had beautiful clear skin for the next 2.5 years.
Then another stressful year in school hit. I went straight to the docs and got prescribed this sh*t again! I figured to give it a try... maybe this time it'll help. JESUS CHRIST! It was the worst decision EVER!!!!!! I broke out HORRIBLY on my oily areas (tzone) and it clogged my pores WAYYYY worse than before. My skin was at its all time oilist!!! My jawlines started sporting cystic acne and uggghhh, it was just awful-- just in time for the holidays too!!! NEVER AGAIN! I don't know why I keep trying with retinoids. They never agree with me! At least I got this for free.
January 10, 2011
Pros:
Wasn't on it long enough to see
Cons:
Takes AGES to work
The WORST initial break-out I have ever seen - my acne turned from moderate to severely severe over night!
I stopped using Differin after 2 months so I didn't really see results. I went back to my doctor for the 4th time that year and got Duac (The most freaking amazing stuff EVER!) - try it :)
December 8, 2010
Pros:
cleared acne
faded scars
Cons:
it gets worse before it gets better
I love it!!!! give it 2 weeks you will have amazing skin!!!!
November 25, 2010
Pros:
- it works
- cheap (bought from neighboring Malaysia from Pharmacy)
- one tube 30g can last forever, I think I can use until it expires.
Cons:
- drying
- initial breakout
- needs prescription in Singapore
- needs patience (takes months to see results)
- scarring/marks (not sure if it's 'cause of my skin natural inclination or due to initial breakout
- applying more than recommended dosage may worsen acne
Age 22, Asian, fair. Normal-dry skin with only 2-3 zits near menstrual period since teenage. Sudden adult acne from Feb 2010. (Stress + wrong use of products)
Started differin gel from May 2010.
Serious breakout from June-July 2010.
Changed to differin cream in July.
Forehead cleared since Aug 2010.
Face still have persistent 5-8zits.
Significant improvement now (November 2010) - face *almost* clear. Obvious acne marks still present though :( My face is still not totally clear but I have faith in this product as I do not use any other acne medicine (no other cream/oral med, wash is not acne specific). *please request for cream if possible
*use AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE for best effect. i.e.apply a very thin layer as if it's smeared accidentally. It works better than the recommended 'pea-sized' dosage.
July 29, 2010
Pros:
Pimples are visibly smaller and are smoothing out.
Cons:
Burning and redness at first
Breakouts
Takes a long time to work
Skin looks worse at first
I am using Epiduo gel which has 1% Adapalene. At first, some pimples emerged from under the skin and they just all came up. I noticed that when i cleansed before using the product, it burned and caused redness severely, but by the morning my face was clearer and clearer every day. Since i used Epiduo, it only cost me $35.00 with insurance, which is not bad since the tube can probably last a few months.
April 1, 2010
Pros:
Easy to apply
Small tubes goes a long way (3.5 months and i have more than half a tube left)
Smoother Skin (in areas you are not breaking out)
Cons:
Every few weeks sudden outbreaks of: itchiness, burning, redness, irritation, scaling, peeling, like a deep sunburn, then breakouts.
Severe cystic acne
Not reliable
Several outbreaks over 3.5 months of use
I used Differin with BP 4% wash for 100 days (little over 3 months). I stuck to it exactly as prescribed to me. I experienced severe initial flare ups of crusty red horrible skin followed by deep cysts and breakouts. Most of my acne is on my chin. I used Differin all over but didnt ever breakout on my forhead, upper cheeks or nose. Every few weeks I would develop severe cysts and pustules on my chin that would take 1-1.5 weeks to resolve. There were periods over the course of 3.5 months that my skin looked BETTER and had no active acne, though still had congestion that looked like there were acne underneath growing. However, without fail, my skin would go from looking healthier and better to total breakout. On the 100th day anniversary I saw a new dermatologist and stopped differin. I really wanted this to work. My acne on my chin is cystic and I think Differin is not a good choice for me as my acne is more stubborn, severe and hormonal. Made my skin so sensitive so when i used the BP wash skin was just peeling off and my face was ALWAYS bright red and burning after using a cleanser in the morning. I even switched for a time to a mild cleanser without results.
Pros:
- Less redness
- Easy application
- Works fast