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
November 6, 2007
Cons:
Gets a little worse before it gets better, but that's understandable and worth it.
Everyone on here is complaining so much about the dryness caused from using Differin. If you are like me and have always had such oily skin, the drying out is a good thing.
November 6, 2007
Pros:
Very gentle, no peeling or flaking or irritation.
Cons:
expensive, took a long time to work, didnt clear my skin 100%
basically, its a very gentle retinoid. others like retin A or tazorac can cause lots of irritation or flaking or peeling. but differin didnt cause any of that for me, I used the 0.1% gel. I did have a breakout after using it for a week, but it went away quickly. After that, it took about 2-3 months to see the full effect. It didnt clear up my skin completely but it did make a huge positive difference! And it didnt dry out or irritate my skin, which is saying something, since most OTC acne medications dry you out, and other Rx ones irritate. Definitely worth a try.
July 5, 2007
Pros:
+none
Cons:
+makes skin worse which is expected,but dosent "balance out"..a.k.a clear up
I hate using this. I even crying as im applying it because I know it's just gonna make more pimples pop up the next day.
My derm. wants me on it because I'm so young (14 years),but i seriously hate Differin
February 28, 2007
Pros:
clears face
Cons:
1.) breakout a lot in the beginning of usage
2.)cost was too much
----->If proactiv irritated your skin; if other products did not work;if you have oily skin; AND if you want to have BEAUTIFUL skin.....TRY DIFFERIN!!!!! IT works..=D
November 3, 2006
My doctor prescribed Differin along with 5% benziq acid for my acne. Unfortunately, my insurance will not cover this until the beginning of next year...but I'm planning on getting it anyway because I need to control my acne. How long does a 50 gm tube of differin generally last?
October 20, 2006
ive been using differin along with clindamycin gel and doryx tablets for 2 months now. i was really discouraged for about the first 6-7 weeks because it didnt seem like my face was getting better, and i didnt believe that it ever would. but everybody was right...you just need to be patient and give it some time because it is definitely well worth the wait! of course, im sure it doesnt work on absolutely everybody, but youll never know if you dont try. my face is now 99% clear, and im expecting perfection in the very near future!!
October 10, 2006
I have moderate acne on chin and cheeks. I used Proactiv and for a month it seemed to get better then acne started to come back with full force. I had some diferin samples I had gotten from my mermy and wasn't sure how to put it on so I JUST PUT TINY DABS JUST ON THE PIMPLES and not the whole face or surrounding areas. It worked wonderfully without any side effects. Of course since I just put it on the pimples (mostly cysts) it doesn't help prevent new ones but it sure works on the ones that are already there. It does not dry up my face since I don't put it all over. I think Proactive was too strong for me. My face was all scaly and noticed I had more cysts beneath my skin then ever before. However overall texture did get smoother so I think I will still use Proactive perhaps once or twice a week along with diferin.
December 15, 2017
Works - but give it time
I'm writing this as a parent of two teens who had moderate acne. Their journeys have been slightly different in terms of products tried along the way but they both eventually arrived at using Differin (available only on prescription in the UK) alongside the oral antibiotic Erythryomicin. You have to be patient with this product and introduce very gradually and over the course of a month build it up to nightly use. Your skin with be dry and peel and the breakouts will still happen. But in our experience it takes at least 3 months before you can see a consistent improvement. The skin very gradually will improve in texture and the breakouts will lessen. When spots occur they tend to be smaller and clear quicker and the post acne red marks will gradually fade. My daughter in particular had very bad red marks from an awful prolonged breakout but 3 months have passed since she started Differin and the red marks are gradually fading, so much so she feels she doesn't have to wear make up every day. I would say that this product will not make you 100% clear so have realistic expectations. My son has been using this for 4 years now and still gets the odd spot or two, but to him that is a small price to pay and it doesn't bother him at all. For those of you who may have tried another Retinoid. My daughter used Isotrex initially (used for 3months) but found that really really harsh by comparison to Differin. She took a break for two weeks and then very gradually introduced Differin and that has suited her skin much better.
March 12, 2018
October 5, 2017
Amazing Addition - Be Patient!!
Only putting 4 stars since I use this in addition to an oral medication (spironolactone) and unsure of the results when used alone. This stuff is great as it is a vitamin A derivative. Think Accutane but topical! It basically renews your skin cells at an accelerated rate. I use this once a day at night after I wash my face and apply lotion ( I have try skin and Eczema but it can be applied before your lotion). This, in combination with Spironolactone, led me to be 100% clear of acne in 8 months with 70% improvement in 5 month. It works well but your skins needs time to adjust, sometimes I would apply it every other day if my skin was too dry.
September 15, 2017
Unexpected Benefit
I bought this OTC for my chin acne. I'm 46 and can't get this stuff under control. Random jaw line acne too but chin acne is a daily battle. Never had it before when I was younger. Doc says it's my hormones. Well, I'm sick of it! So, bought some Differin. I'm in my second week. 1) no more chin acne!
2) some redness but nothing major
3) no peeling
4) small break out on left temple (nothing major, already going away)
And .....
5) my small keloid on my right jaw has flattened out!!! This keloid has been an issue for me. I'm probably more self conscious about it than I should be. It's not even the size of a dime but when I run my finger over it....that feeling. I hate it! But now, when I rub my finger over it.... smoothed out. In just 2 weeks! For that, this item is worth every penny! How I use it:
1) no acne medication but differin which I apply at night
2) wash up with dial moisturizing soap
3) have never worn makeup and even with redness, no makeup
4) loads of spf (loreal revitalift brand I use) face shines up but know it's protected
5) avoid sun from 10-3.... no exceptions! That's pretty much it. Hoping my skin texture benefits from differin overall. I'm really happy that my keloid is receding.
Pros:
"Purges" your skin of the little bumps all over