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
October 4, 2007
Cons:
base on other review seem you have use constantly or it will come back..but who cares as long as its working and i can afford it
since everything else irritate my skin so much that i have to discontinue using this is the only product that has not, i will contiune to use it. im happy.
August 9, 2007
Pros:
i can feel and see the difference- not so many pimples and worked great to clear the current ones. have not seen much difference in the blackheads on my nose and chin but will give it more time before i form an opinion about that.
Cons:
my skin feels tight and dry- almost sore.
i think that this is good and i will stick to it. the problem i have with medication is eventually i plateau on clearness... but i never get really clear skin. didnt really make it worse but did make it better.
August 9, 2007
Pros:
great consistency, not oily or residual. very neutral scent, tube lasts forever. got rid of weird non-acne bumps on the backs of my legs. can wear under makeup...really!!
Cons:
didnt work for my facial acne
I've used differin for a long time, and I don't think it ever really worked for me. my derm said it may have been too weak, though I only have mild acne. she switched me to retin-a. i think this product has been surpassed by the newer creams.
July 25, 2007
Pros:
Worked fast on the pimples already present and cleared the ones starting to emerge.
Cons:
I really can't find any other than the fact it's not an over-the-counter med and you need a prescription.
Fantastic on hormonally challenged 40-something skin and trust me, I've tried everything. Doesn't turn me red and peely like Retin-A which is a huge PLUS. I can see good results overnight and used on a continual basis with Cleocin-T (antibiotic topical), I have virtually no break outs whatsoever. Added bonus for older skin is it works on wrinkles, too. LOVE THAT!
May 30, 2007
Pros:
Evens out your skin tone.
Makes your skin very smooth.
Cons:
Still having breakouts, only not as bad.
Does not help with scarring or pigmentation.
Kind of expensive.
I am 22 years old and have never really had bad skin my whole life until this year. In the past year, I have had a breakout that I would call moderate acne, it's not severe, but to me it's awful considering I've never really had bad skin. Well, I decided to go to the doctor about it and he prescribed me to doxycycline and benzamycin gel. It helped some but the benzamycin gel dried my face so bad I had to stop using it. My doctor then put me on Differin cream. I have been using it for about two months now. My friends and family say that it is alot better than it was, but I'm not one hundred percent satisfied yet. I think I just want it to be like it was two years ago. I still have some hope it might get better. I recommend this to someone with mild acne but like everyone has said, the results will not be quick. It takes a while to notice any changes. Good luck!
January 27, 2007
Pros:
none
Cons:
cost
This product was prescribed to me to resolve the problem I had with cronic whiteheads that had become worse. Instead of getting rid of the whiteheads, it made me break out with pimples. Very disappointed.
January 25, 2007
Pros:
nil.
Cons:
differin did absolutely nothing to my sensitive, oily, acne-prone skin and monthly hormonal breakouts.
useless.
December 12, 2006
to anyone who experiences dryness... its called a moisturizer! you might think that it causes breakouts but if u get the right kind, it prevents them. just got differin and hoping to see improvement. wash 2 times a day and if ur skin is dry moisturize it, its that simple
December 8, 2006
Pros:
Clears skin nicely.
Prevents future breakouts.
Non-oily or greasy.
Cons:
Doesn't help blemishes that have already surfaced.
Makes skin flakey, dry, and itchy.
Costly.
This product works moderately well. It definatly helped my skin in the long run, however it's still not perfect. I've been using this along with the antibiotic clindamycin for about 3 months. So far so good. I would recomend this product for any type of acne.
October 2, 2017
Classic acne product that does make a difference
Like most gels and creams that combat acne, this does dry out your skin and can irritate it if it is already sensitive/dry. However, it is worth it considering the fact that it DOES work to reduce the amount of spots and break outs you have.
I would advise using moisturiser a couple of hours after applying this gel so that the gel has time to be absorbed and so your skin is ready to take on another layer of another product on top.
(Personally, while using this, I did not need moisturiser because my skin is naturally incredibly oily) "Adapalene reduces the growth of the keratin surface skin cells that can block pores. This helps to unblock the pores and sebaceous glands (glands which secrete sebum) and as a result the sebum can escape. This reduces the formation of blackheads (comedones) and spots. In addition, adapalene increases the turnover of the skin cells, which aids the natural exfoliation of the outer layers of skin. This also helps to unblock pores and decreases the formation of comedones and spots." This product did work for me and successfully reduced the amount of spots I had however, I used additional products as well. I would reccommend adapalene to be used as a secondary treatment meaning you should have a primary acne treatment in line. Normally doctors will prescribe this with antibiotics as they work well together Overall this is a wonderful gel that does make a noticeable difference however it may not be effective enough to be used on its own (for moderate to severe acne) hence the four stars!
Pros:
it doesnt irritated my skin and dries up oil. i only use it now for less then a week and i can see the difference