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 9, 2011
Cons:
- dry skin; some peeling
- a little bit of irritation near eyes; irritating to wear contacts
BEFORE i started using Differin 0.3% i had moderate acne and complete low self-esteem! hated going out, even to school!
Once i STARTED using this treatment, the first two months without a doubt were the worst!! my skin was never as bad as it was during these months! In fact, i encountered people, including my boyfriend tell me how worse my skin got.
One major element that i noticed was that most of my whiteheads grew out and that's what made it worse!!
however, once i entered the 3rd and 4th month, my skin started to look SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER! and my self- esteem started to booost! i just felt MUCH better than i did when i first started.
It has now been 6 months since i've been on Differin, and it is a miracle worker, HONESTLY! you must give it a try esp. if you have moderate acne. THIS REALLY WORKS!!
my skin hasn't looked THIS CLEAN ever!!!!
i completely recomend itt.
One thing though, it will only work this well if you use it every night and when you first go on it, do not be scared to see yr skin looking worse because that is just the first step in the healing process! also, it does take some time so be patient but it is REALLY REALLY WORTH ITT!
i wanted to share my experience with you, b/c i was scared as well before i started, but it is really worth the fear! DO TRY IT! =D
March 9, 2011
Pros:
made skin less oily
Cons:
broke my skin out like CRAZY
Used this along with 50 mg of doxy for my very light, comedonal acne and I deeply regret it. I heard the IB was bad, but I had none stop painful acne on my cheeks for 2 months when never in my life had I experienced such acne. I had to stop using it because I couldn't leave my house without makeup to cover the mess. The dark spots/scarring left behind are horrible too.
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.
February 21, 2011
Pros:
Clears my skin up and keeps it clear, gives skin a nice texture, nothing else works as well for me, my copay is very low
Cons:
You have to be careful about the amount you use because it can burn you, can take a week or so to work
This is a great product that has softened and cleared up my skin. It prevents new breakouts and clears up existing pimples pretty quickly.
February 9, 2011
Pros:
Works a bit after a few months
Little to no irritation
Cons:
Does very little by itself - still required a physical exfoliant
Relatively long IB (~2 months)
Flaky skin in the morning
Frankly, I doubt if Differin (both 0.1% cream and gel) actually did much for my skin. The past two years when I had clear skin I used a facial scrub as my only acne treatment. However, when I switched that out for Differin, my acne came back. I had originally used this for occasional clogged pores. In the end not only created more clogged pores but as turned my them into under the skin papules and sometimes cysts/nodules. Before these blackheads and whiteheads would resolve themselves after exfoliation. Likewise, I began to get acne in places which I have never had it before, such as next to my mouth and upper cheeks. As the resulting hyperpigmentation will last longer than the acne itself, it's simply not worth it for me.
January 30, 2011
Pros:
Clears skin
Softens skin
Works quickly
Cons:
Drys skin out
Can be painful
Skin become sensitive
I've been using differin for three weeks now and the difference it has made to my skin is remarkable. Im 19 and have never had severe "traditonal" acne, but I do get little cysts all over my forehead and jaw. I also have alot of blackheads across my nose and cheeks, within two weeks I could see my skin smoothing out and my dark spots and scars lightening. Initially, the cream was painful to apply but it only burnt for a few minutes then it went away. My skin was very sensitive and sore for the first week or so. My eyelids and earlobes flaked skin something crazy. Even though I didnt apply the cream there!? Get a good oil free moisteriser to use in the morning and throughout the day. I work in a busy office so I found it a must to apply moisteriser every few hours to keep my flaking skin at bay. It also helped sooth the irritated skin. DON'T WEAR MAKE UP!!! its far too painful to remove. While it can be painful for the first two weeks and your skin goes abit crazy the results are totally worth it.
January 25, 2011
Pros:
Strips down old skin, reveals new skin
You only need a small bit for application
Removes acne for the long term
Cons:
Quite harsh on skin
Requires consistency
Quite expensive
I've been on Differin for about 2 months now and I have certainly noticed a change. My Differin journey has been a real rollercoaster. Some mornings I would wake up with clearer, renewed skin, while on others I would wake up with my face raw and bleeding. For the first month I was terrified of leaving my house, of coming in contact with the sun. But coming close to the end of my second month I do see a change, for the better. Pimples (whiteheads) are still popping up every day or two, but they are smaller now, and are gone just as quickly as they appear. Differin does work for acne, but I do caution anyone who is considering going on this to factor in the implications and side effects. You should probably re-think if you need to be constantly around people all the time and have little time alone for yourself. My advice would be to do it during the winter holiday period (as I am going through this during the summer period and let me tell you, it's really annoying!) and be prepared to be horrified at your appearance. Also, many reviews do not mention using any moisturiser with their Differin, but I assure you you will *need* to apply some moisturiser with your Differin at night, even if it's a light one. It is really strong on your skin and even oily skin types will not go wrong applying moisturiser before or after (I haven't noticed a real difference) their Differin at night.
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)
January 23, 2011
Pros:
clearer skin
reduces blackheads
Cons:
abit of dryness
this gel is amazing even i burn the midnight oil always.. but it's kinda dry.. my advice i get from my dermatologist is that after cleansing ur face at night, apply enough moisturiser then with a pea size of differin gel, it works well!!
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!
Pros:
- CLEARS SKIN EXECPTIONALLY; EXCELLENT RESULTS!!!
- gets 2 times worse before it gets better BUT ITS ALL WORTH ITT!!
- DEFINTELY FADES SCARS
- you will recieve soo many compliments about your skin onces it really starts healing
- heals pimples FAST