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
May 29, 2012
Cons:
* Caused extremely dry skin, my neck and earlobes are a total mess, and I didn't even apply it there!
* Made acne much, much worse.
I had such high hopes, but 7 weeks on my skin is worse than before I started. I am going to stop using it and see if there is an improvement. I regret using this cream as my face really is a mess now.
January 25, 2010
Pros:
Does clear up acne, is easy to use and acne doesn't really come back after you stop using it.
Cons:
Takes a while (about two months) to work, you have to be patient!
My doctor prescribed this to me after I had suffered from moderate acne for about 2 years. He told me to only use it every second night for the first 2 weeks because otherwise it can cause redness and peeling. I strongly suggest you do this too, because I can see how it may cause these side effects. Also, just be patient because (for me at least) Differen really helped clear up my acne! I still get the odd pimple, but nothing like I used to have and I haven't used Differen for about a year.
June 10, 2011
Pros:
*Can eventually make your skin look amazing.
*Can eventually lessen the severity of your acne.
*The Answer for those of us that have sensitive skin but need acne topicals that work.
Cons:
*Can cause awful IB, so initially worsens your condition-and this worsening can continue if used inconsistently.
*Can take up to 3 months to work.
*Works better if you use it right (and using it right is real inconvenient).
I've consistently used the .1 differin gel for about 5 years with varying results. Right now I am getting the BEST results I've ever had with it because I'm no longer moisturizing before I apply it (see routine below).
Here's what I've learned:
It doesn't matter what kind of acne you have (hormonal or otherwise) this stuff WILL eventually help to improve the situation (it will lessen the severity of anyone's breakouts and help to improve overall skin texture). Follow these steps for best results: 1. Wash your face. 2. Apply a topical disinfectant/toner (you can even use a homemade 5% tea tree oil solution or BHA). Whatever you do, DO NOT MOISTURIZE yet! 3. WAIT 30 minutes before applying your Differin. 4. Apply the differin, and please, this will work so much better and faster for you if you apply the differin to your NAKED SKIN and wait another 30-45 minutes to apply your moisturizer. 5. Wait 30-45 minutes then apply moisturizer or anything else you want.
This is a pain in the ass, I know, but doing this routine consistently has made a HUGE difference in my results (and my results weren't so bad the "wrong" way).
And remember: You have to keep putting it on the same areas of your face every night---even after these areas become acne-free! I can't stress this enough. Failure to do so will just result in more IBs, and you don't wanna go throught that, right?
So do NOT use this as a spot treatment. Apply it ALL OVER any areas where you think you could get acne. And for god's sake, continue to apply it to the same areas even after they appear acne free.
June 1, 2010
Pros:
Brings all impurities out
Made scars lighten quicker
Cons:
Made skin oily
Made skin dry
Made my acne go from light, to moderate, then severe.
I used differin for 5 weeks.. I know a lot of you are thinking, "well that's not long enough to see results". Well it was the worst five weeks of my life. I was depressed everyday. My boyfriend commented on how bad my skin is and he would never say anything unless he had too. Before using this, I had about two pimples on each cheek and a lot of closed comedones. I prescribed doryx and differin.
First week: REDNESS!!!
Second week: Redness, a break out on my forehead(never get pimples on my forehead).
Third week: oily(my skin looked like a oil well), redness. A few new pimples.
Fourth week: Dryness on my chin, around my eyes, and upper lip, oily on my nose and cheeks. Crazy cyst pimples all over my chin and cheeks. I couldn't even lay my head on the pillow, my face hurt so much.
Fifth week: Pimples I had was causing indented scars. So i decided to stop using all this chemical crap on my skin.. it's been three day's since i last used differin and my skin is healing. I'm not saying don't use this but just be prepared for the worst few months of your life. I'm just not prepared to be confined to my house for that time.
December 17, 2009
Pros:
works to clear up blemishes with in a few days
Cons:
can be pricey if you don't have prescription coverage
I have been using differein .1% for about 5 years and for me it works great. I quit using it for a few months and my skin flared up, as soon as I started using differin again, my skin cleared up within a week. Overall, I love it. I have oily skin so it doesn't dry my skin out too much. I have used both the cream and the gel formulas, I prefer the gel.
July 13, 2010
Pros:
More powerful than over-the-counter medications.
Cons:
Initial Breakout, Cost
I've been taking Differin for around 2 1/2 months and my skin is almost completely clear. I highly recommend Differin, but be aware that before it makes your skin better, it makes it worse. Differin brought many hidden pimples to the surface, causing a breakout the first time I used it. It went away a week after using it. I'm fortunate I did not break out as bad as some other Differin users here. Perhaps mine had less severity because I only used a small amount in problem areas. My doctor told me not to apply it to my whole face. After the initial break out, I settled into a routine of using a pea sized amount of Differin every night on my problem areas. I notice it makes your skin feel very tight right after using it. Ask your doctor what sort of moisturizer to use. Once, when I used more Differin than usual, my skin burned a little, and it made me itch the rest of the day. My insurance covered part of the cost, but I still paid 80 dollars to get Differin. It's not as expensive as it sounds - that bought me a whole tube of the stuff. Might even last me a year. Anyhow, after a few months, I'm almost completely clear. I'm glad I went to my dermatologist. This has made a difference in my life. My advice for anyone going on it: Don't use too much.
Moisturize.
Wear sun screen.
Don't pick anything.
Have patience. It might take a whole month to work.
January 24, 2011
Pros:
Easy to use
Not too expensive with insurance
Cysts clear up much quicker than usual
Cons:
Some drying
Mild initial break out
I have been using this product for about two weeks now. I was hesitant at first after reading so many reviews about peoples acne ending up so much worse before getting any better. Thankfully, my reaction has been small and I can already tell that this product is working. A little back story: I am 23 and have used more acne products than I could count on my fingers and toes. I am using this product along with Doxicycline (100mg 2x a day) and have also recently started taking Yasmin to try to even out my hormonal acne. I have a feeling that my initial breakout was mild with Differin because I have already been using the antibiotic for a few months, so my underlying acne wasn't as heavy as it could've been. I'm looking forward to seeing how this product helps my face down the road. I have already noticed that it gets ride of my deep cystic break outs MUCH faster than any other product I have ever used, so that in itself is a good sign. I would tell anyone to at least give this a try--but just like so many other acne treatments, make sure you have the right products to use along WITH this treatment..think good, oil free moisturizer and a little bit of patience (so hard, I know)
June 29, 2010
Pros:
-clears acne well
-prevents future breakouts/stops small ones overnight
-fades scars
-does not dry skin
Cons:
-takes a couple weeks to start working
-skin looks worse in the first few weeks because it is bringing up the impurities in your skin
I used this once when I was in high school on my acne, and it cleared it up thoroughly and as long as I kept using it, my skin stayed clear. As my skin became clear, I needed less product, and breakouts become very rare, so I eventually stopped using it and had clear skin for 2 years. My acne came back after that period of time, probably because of stress, and Differin worked once again, when other less expensive kits and topical medications, even natural treatments (baking soda, drinking only water...) did not work. Differin does make your skin look worse in the first few weeks, but now it has only been two months, and my face is almost clear and smooth again.
January 22, 2011
Pros:
Clears Skin! It Works!
Gel is easy to apply and isn't oily
Cons:
Expect an Initial Breakout!
Some Flaking/Dry Skin
About 4 months ago I started using tretinoin. I stuck with it for about 8 weeks, had a horrible initial breakout, and experienced little success. I went back to the dermatologist and switched to Differin. Today, I've been using it for 6 weeks and I've seen great results for the past 2 weeks. My skin is clearer with occasional whiteheads that fade quickly. The only thing preventing my skin from being nearly perfect are the red marks from past acne that are always stubborn. Here's my advice if you plan to use Differin (or any other retinoid for that matter): 1) Strongly urge (or demand) your doctor to also put you on an antibiotic when starting a retinoid. This will help with the initial breakout, which can be HORRIBLE! 2) Really really don't pick at any skin. You're skin will be thinner and more prone to scarring. This is another good reason to try and get antibiotics before starting. 3) Develop a routine and stick with it! Wash your face, apply a small amount, and use moisturizer. Even with moisturizer you will still probably experience dry, flaking skin, but hang in there! It will get better. 4) Don't expect immediate results. Avoid getting discouraged in the first month of use. Just smile and be confident! I've been taking Doxycycline and Zinc since I started Differin, and I believe that these are also both worth researching!
January 25, 2010
Pros:
Makes the skin dry, so there's no shiny nose/cheeks/forehead during the day.
Cons:
Skin started peeling off and became very red after the second day of using. My face hurt and I felt very uncomfortable.
The worst part for me was the redness and peeling. I have oily, sensitive skin and started using Differin for curing (as my doctor calls it) acne vulgaris. I am currently using it and have thoughts of dumping the course. I can't stand feeling ugly and uncomfortable during school, walking through the day with a red, itchy, peeling face only to get home sooner.
Pros:
Easy to remember to apply once a night.