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
December 12, 2009
Cons:
no big difference if it is not used on a regular basis
Eat food that doesn't aggrivate your skin. wheat (grains in general), dairy, sugar, soy, corn. I promise if you do a diet and eliminate theses foods.....then gradually add them back in you will find out that you have food sensitivities or yeast that show up all over your face. I have been told this for years by my mom - who I thought was a health nut. It is hard to do and takes a real commitment but well worth it after 25 years of adult acne! Add the doctors will tell you that foods don't matter.....test my theory.
December 6, 2009
Pros:
Slowly and gradually clears acne
Cons:
Drys the skin and does not clear big spots
Keep at it, it will eventually clear it up, but it will dry the skin out. After it has soaked in, moisturise with a oil free moisturiser.
October 5, 2009
Pros:
I've noticed a difference just within the first two weeks
Cons:
I did have an initial breakout when I started using it, but it didn't last long.
As far as I can tell, this stuff really does work. I'm using it in combination with Clidemyacin pads and I'm really liking it. I apply the medication from one pad in the morning afte rwashing my face with a gentle face soap and then wash my face again in the evening, use one more pad and then put a pea-sized amount of Differin on the areas I break out. MY skin hasn't gotten dry yet and I can already notice a difference in my complexion. I do have moderate acne, so I'm not sure how well it would work for severe acne. I would definitely recommend trying it out though.
September 14, 2009
Pros:
It makes skin soft, is minimizing black heads, is starting to clear up pimples, helps heal and minimize scaring, dries out moderately dry skin.
Cons:
It is taking FOR-EV-ER for this stuff to work... But I was told it takes a month to ACTUALLY work. I read on here that a lot of people were told to use it as a spot? I use it all over.. So I don't know is that makes a different.
If you have the patients to wake for the effects, be prepared for a month until you see clear skin... I am still waiting but I can see it already helping in a lot of places.
September 10, 2009
Pros:
My skin didn't peel off as horribly as with some other topicals.
Cons:
It did nothing for my acne, dried my skin out somewhat, and was expensive for some reason even though I have good insurance.
This treatment was worthless for me.
June 10, 2009
Pros:
I can't believe it but my skin is clear, my scaring (red marks/purple) are gone! No more cysts or whiteheads!!
Cons:
It does take 3 months for it to work..please use this!!!!!! Still get some blackheads...
I have had moderate acne with periods of severe breaksouts. My acne consisted of cysts, whiteheads, blackheads. After a period of 6 months when 3 or more cysts were on my face a week, my derm signed me up for accutane. To maintain my skin before accutane the derm put me on clindamycin phosphate in the morning w/ BP 5% wash, at night differin .3 with DDF BP scrub. All my acne magically cleared got better in 3-4 weeks. Please try this before starting accutane, with the BP stuff too!!!!!
June 7, 2009
I used Differin Gel as prescribed by our Doctor for my multiple small pimples on my forehead and some on my cheeks. I applied even less than a week, my pimples have dried up and gone. Since then I always recommemded it to my friends and it really works.
May 10, 2009
Pros:
... None
Cons:
Made my acne worse than ever before...
I have been using this product for over 6 months now... The first month my acne got alot worse which was expected... then after the first month my acne decreased slightly until after about month five when I started getting acne like never before... it seems the longer I use it the worse the acne gets...!!!
April 22, 2009
Pros:
Made my skin better than it had been, but did not completely clear things up. Also, my insurance covers a good deal of the cost and with the 3-refill rebate I pay almost nothing for it.
Cons:
My skin got worse before it got better. It also got very dry esp. when used with an alcohol solution. Some moisturizers that should have been fine stung and my face peeled a bit. I also still break out on chin/jaw and have persistent spots elsewhere.
I would recommend this for less severe acne (light/very light). Like I said, a good deal of my acne cleared up in the couple of months I've been using it and I don't have little white bumps all over my forehead anymore. That was a big deal for me, because nothing I did could cover it up. However, I seemed to hit a leveling off point with Differin (which I use in combination with an alcohol solution and twice-daily doxycycline antibiotic) and my skin is not still improving. I haven't noticed any permanent side-effects, or ones that could not be dealt with somehow, but this product did not work to the point where I would consider my skin as being "good."
April 6, 2009
Pros:
I have just started using the product, about 5 days to be exact,and I am quite pleased with how my skin looks. I really dont have acne, I have dark spots on my forehead
Cons:
No adverse reactions as yet (hopefully none)
It is very expensive this side of the World, but I think its well worth ithe cost. I paid $6,075.00 (Jamaican Dollars) equavelent to approx. US$80.
Pros:
I think it works well if it is used consistently.