Adapalene (Non-prescription)
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Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in...

Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Non-prescription adapalene is available only in 0.1% strength.

Adapalene is topically applied usually once a day before going to bed to all acne-affected areas of the skin, and not just on individual pimples themselves.

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June 7, 2010

Pros:

Clears acne
Reduces scars

I had acne that seemed to be getting worse with all the different treatments and at home remedies I would try. My boyfriend got Differin prescribed to him and his skin is flawless so he let me borrow his. After using a week it seemed to get worse but I kept up with using it every night. Its been 2 months using and I havent had a serious breakout for over a month! I had horrible scarring on my chin and had to wear a lot of makeup but my scarring cleared by 90%. I occasionally get small whiteheads that clear up in a day. I heard some people have a bad reaction to it but I haven't, everyones skin is different. If you have a prescription you can find it cheap online.
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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.
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June 1, 2010

Pros:

Decreases the pimples that occur in about 1-2 weeks. I mainly use it as a spot treatment when a pimple pops up. I use the 0.1% version, and it isn't harsh on my skin at all, even when I first used it. It actually is like a lotion for me.

Cons:

For me it didn't totally prevent new pimples from forming, I had to use it in combination with antibiotics (monocycline).

With me, personally, it works best in combination with another form of treatment, like an antibiotic. It also helps decrease pimples that pop up, so that scars won't form later. It was the most helpful in treating pimples that popped up.
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May 31, 2010

Pros:

Did clear up an existing acne breakout very fast. No chemical smell or sticky/oily residue.

Cons:

Extreamly drying. It's caused redness, peeling and minor swelling and moderate pain on my face. Don't use if your planning to attend any event where photos will be taken as for the first few weeks you skin may look way worse than previously.

After trying many pharmacy, department store and other prescription brand drugs for my acne my doctor gave me Differin. I've only been using it one week but so far it's been a nightmare. My face looks terrible and feels just as bad. I'm going to switch from daily use to every second day on doctors advice. I plan to persist with this drug though as i've read it takes time to work and the results are worth the discomfort in the end.
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May 30, 2010

Pros:

- Quite gentle on my skin which can be quite sensitive.
- Cleared up some red marks faster than usual
- Smoother skin

Cons:

- Inital breakout was pretty bad
- Didn't control my hormonal acne within 3 months of constant use
- Didn't do anything for blackheads
- My skin seemed to get super oily

I used a pea-sized amount every night for 3 months. It was gentle and I experienced very little dryness or irritation. I had periodic breakouts throughout using this which is probably because I have hormonal acne - mostly on neck and jawline, but during the times when it was clear my skin looked much better than usual! Red marks were reduced quickly and breakouts cleared up faster than usual but at the end of the day I wasn't clear and it just wasn't strong enough for my persistent acne so my derm advised me to try something else. I also experienced really oily skin which after a week of being off this medication seems to have reduced dramatically already. My blackheads did not clear up on my cheeks either. I think some types of acne could really benefit from this product, so i'd recommend people to give it a go for a good 3 months...I'm just sorry it didn't work for my kind of acne.
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May 29, 2010

Pros:

- cleared pimples on my chin the fastest
- made skin soft on cheeks and areas without pimples
- turns pimples into light scabs after a while which you can just peel off and the pimples are gone
- didn't really create any new pimples, just brought all the pus out of my existing pimples and brought hidden pimples to the surface
- enouraged fast exfoliation of the skin, especially on my chin at first, i could peel off small patches of skin to reveal new skin underneath

Cons:

- made all pimples dark red
- encourged pus in pimples to come to the surface
- made pimples worse in first few weeks
- price
- takes a while to work
- did get dry skin especially around the chin area in the first few weeks, but used a 'non comegenic' moisturiser, i either put heaps of moisturiser and mineral foundation or go without
i go without makeup just moisturiser because u just have to deal with it

I have only been on Differin for 5 weeks now. The package says to be patient and expect to notice improvement in 4 to 8 weeks. I'd say this is definately true, I didn't have any existing pimples disappear for good until about the 5th week. I read all the reviews and am encouraged to be patient and stick it out. I am 26 years old with my first bout of acne, pustular acne and Differin was described by my doctor along with Diane (contraceptive pill) which is meant to regulate hormone issues in women, and antibiotics to kill bacteria. My sensitive skin didn't respond well to Proactiv, made it excessively dry. And i spent lots of money on Dermalogica but that did nothing to prevent a massive new batch of pimples from starting. I will give another review when it has been longer in use.
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May 26, 2010

Pros:

-clears pimples fast
-makes skin smooth
-easy to apply
-takes redness out of pimples

Cons:

-inital break out that lasts for weeks
-takes time to work
-expensive
-drying in first week or two
-can make skin look greasy and oily at times
-redness

I wouldnt nessarily say i have acne, just constant pimples, about 3 or 4 all the time so i tried Duac, it worked like magic for about a year until it all of a sudden lost its effectivness and i was breaking out in big red spots that would last for days. I went to the doctor and he pescribed Doxycycline 50mg, that didnt really do anything but i stuck it out for a couple of months until i couldnt take it anymore so i went back and he pesrcibed me Differin and Clindamycin 1% and took me of Doxy and Duac. The first couple of weeks, i broke out like hell, i thought about chucking both out but thought i should just be patient. I was getting spots on my forehead that were never there so i decided to put a little bit of Duac back on them since i knew it always worked on my forehead. I decided to bring the Duac back into my routine, just using a little bit in the am and using differin in the pm aswell as Clindamycin. I am now in my 5 week and my face is completely clear. The IB is over and differin is working very nicely,not sure if its due to Duac but my skin hasnt looked this clear in months!!! Definatly just stick it out, BE PATIENT!!!! bottom line, you will have an IB, it will go away and you just have to give it time to see results.! My regimen---17 yr old girl AM -Cetaphil Cleanser -Nivea Toner -Clean and Clear Oil free Moisturizer -Duac -Zinc Supplement PM -Cetaphil Cleanser -Nivea Toner -Clean and Clear Oil free Moisturizer -Differin -Clindamycin
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of ance. Only thing that work for me. I try everything.

Cons:

Does make skin very sensitive. Just get a really good moisturizer,

You just have to give it time. My acne was Wild and Krazy. Know I dont have ance, just a few spots. Now im working on them.
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May 13, 2010

Pros:

-easy to use / uncomplicated
-Completely cleared my acne (blackheads, whiteheads, pustules) in 2.5 wks
-no residue
-works well with moisturizers

Cons:

-Dries out the mouth and chin area for a
few days but not a big deal considering the benefits.
-Too expensive
-concerns about long term effect on skin since it dries it out so much.

Best acne medication ever. Got prescription last year from Dr but didn't getit because it was too expensive. A new doctor prescribed ot last month and now I regret not doing it earlier because it is AMAZING! I was worried at first because I didn't notice much of an improvement but thanks to other reviewers, I decided to stick it out and be patient at least for 5-8 weeks, because apparently that's how long it should take to work. I am now in the middle of week 3 and I woke up today with beautiful clear skin. It worked like magic and even my flakes are gone. Even my acne scars on my cheeks are disappearing. I have some bombs on my forhead but now I am confident these will disappear! As everyone who's suffered from acne knows, it's an amazing feeling to recognise your own skin and know it looks beautiul again! Here's my doctor's advice - might work for you: - first she approves my use of Boscia clear complexion cleanser and Korres White tea cleanser. Both are as natural as could be and work perfectly. -next, she told me to use Differin at night (small amount around area. I use it on all my trouble areas: cheeks, forhead and chin) - moisturizers: my doctor recommended SkinMedica Ultra Sheer mositurizer (one she uses herself) and for daytime she recommended Aveeno positively radiant with SPF30. both hve worked perfectly. I used to be very sensitive to all low- and high-end moisturizers and especially those with SPF but Aveeno works well and so far there is no trouble. This system worked for me. Everyone is different but I hope this will work for at least one more person. Good luck!
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May 10, 2010

Pros:

Does get rid of acne - prevents the formation of clogged pores (ones that turn into blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules) and under the skin bumps (ones that turn into cysts). Took me only 1-2 months to see good results.

Cons:

Makes skin very sensitive to sun and other irritants, especially if used everyday or with another harsh medication such as benzoyl peroxide. Flaky skin and burning but these subsided within a month or two.

So Differin Gel 0.1% was my life saver for nearly 2 years with regard to acne. The results for me showed up within a month. I decided to stop using it recently since I became prone to sunburn this year. However, a few weeks after stopping, I developed about 5 cysts, as well as several pustules, around my face in places where I noticed some clogged pores. Verdict: I am 95% sure that Differin Gel 0.1% was the reason why I did not have much acne for a while. I had already eliminated stress, harsh chemicals, and poor hygiene from my regimen. I will try this again, but using it every other night, with clindamycin lotion every night. I might exfoliate with jojoba oil as well for the flaky skin. For your reference, I am using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, with Cerave lotion and Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar (in the shower).
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website