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 20, 2013
Best product ever
Hands down best thing ever invented!! Yes it might dry out your skin a lil bit but it's nothing compared to other acne medications where you get super flaky dry skin we red spots all over your face!I've been using it for literally 5 days and im seeing a huge improvement and it also reduces blackheads!
January 19, 2013
Pros:
-Works if you put in the effort to do it everyday
Cons:
-Works slowly
-Can make face dry/ peel
I've been using differin for 3 weeks. First 2 weeks, every other day, and now it's an everyday use. So far, so good. I personally love it. My acne was moderate and it's slowly clearing up my acne. Can't wait for the results in the next few months.
July 15, 2012
Pros:
Dries out spots.
Clears overnight after the initial breakout.
Works well alongside tablets.
Cons:
Flaky skin 4 months in.
Initial breakout was awful.
Still get the odd pimple.
I was prescribed this with lymecycline and they've actually worked quite well. I've been on them for 4 months now and I'm actually really happy with the result. I still get horrendous pimples around my mouth, but they clear up with duac almost overnight (so ask for that). My forehead is clear for the first time since I was 11. I'm 18 now and its so nice that my cheeks are clear. I still have a lot of spots on my neck which really hurt, but overall, the product works really well if you just bare with it. I've been told that 6 months is around the time when I'll get perfect angelic skin, so fingers crossed.
February 29, 2012
Pros:
Skin is clearing up
Skin feels softer
Cons:
Nothing so far
26, female, oily skin, cystic acne on my chin and under my eyes, blackheads pretty bad on nose and chin, whiteheads on nose and sometimes cheeks, acne for almost 2 years I was skeptical after reading the reivews for this product. However, it seems to be workimg for me. Just remember every person is different. The same acne regimen is not going to work for every single person. That is why there are so many different acne medications. With this product, I am also taking doxycyline. I feel like the antibiotic is helping a lot. I use a facial soap bar that contains benezel peroxide to clean my face. I use the Olay cleansing brush because I feel like regular cleansing leaves A LOT of dirt and oil on my face. If I use a toner after normal cleaning, I can actually see the dirt left behind on the cotton ball. To me, proper cleaning is so important when you are prone to getting breakouts. I paid $30 for the cleansing brush, and it is worth every penny of it. Hopefully the differin, antibiotic, and deep cleansing will clear my face completely and for good. I will definitely be back to update everyone.
January 26, 2012
Pros:
cleared up most of my acne
Cons:
none
has worked great for me, no side effects, fabulous results.
November 12, 2011
Pros:
Clears skins
only one or two small pimples surface at a time which goes after 2 days or so
Cons:
horrible initial breakout
drying
hyper pigmentation seems to be taking a while to disappear
OK here goes!!!!!!!....I've had acne for as long as i knew myself...growing up i was always self conscious about my face and not wanting people to watch me. it seemed at the time that i was the only one i had seen in my area with such skin conditions especially among my friends. this was quite embarrasing because i would be approached everyday by people wanting to recommend out of the world things to me. I could see the pain their eyes when they look at me and my heart would just sink...even on the days when i thought it wasnt that bad and i had a little bit of confidence...someone would comment on how bad my skin is( sometimes not in a subtle way) and my whole day would be ruined...buttt enough of my sob story sigh.. As i got older i began using proactiv..it worked off and on and eventually i had to upgrade to the extra strenght verson which was very drying but it worked..in may I went home to the caribbean on vacation (WORST SUMMER OR MY LIFE) before i left the states from university i had already began to have a severe breakout out of no where!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was mortified...a week after i got home it got 100 times worse!!!...i literally stayed home every single day for 3 months that i went home because i did not want anyone to see me like this...i literally only left to go see my doctor and the dermatologists and to the pharmacy... the few times that i went out my skin indeed was the subject sigh...my GP recommended that i use diferin...at first i was skeptical because i already gave up....after the condition began to get worse i was worried and went to a dermatoligist to told me that i should continue using the product as well as clindoxyl and doxycycline....
3 months later and the results were amazing...seeing my face now and how it was in the summer i cant even imagine how i could have gotten to this point when i dont cry when i look in the mPLEASE GIVE IT TIME PEOPLE...HOPEFULLY IT WILL WORK...USE A CLEANSER LIKE CETAPHIL! AND WEAR SUNSCREEN!
G
September 20, 2011
Pros:
Seems to work a little bit, but not very effective.
Easy to apply, doesn't hurt or burn
comes in enormous bottle that'll last you AGES
Cons:
Didn't help my acne
I started using this stuff 4 1/2 months ago. The initial breakout (IB) came a week after using it, which was pretty bad.
I have light to moderate acne. I waited this long because the review said it would likely take at least 3 months to work. I patiently waited but ultimately it didn't work for me. There have been occasional patches of clearness recently but I always end up breaking out again. Try Dan's regimen first, or find something more reliable/ that takes less time before it works.
March 29, 2011
Pros:
Renew your skins gradually
Clear most of my whiteheads and blackheads
Fade away dark spots
Cons:
Skin gets really dry (you need plenty of moisturizing for your face, including masks and cream)
It gets really worse before it gets better. You have to be very patient. You need a gentle cleanser for your skin when you use that medicine.
Occasionally you do experience breakouts. Try to avoid picking them. (but obviously i cant which made some small wounds on my face)
I am on the third week of this treatment. I guess I still need to wait for a further few weeks before the actual result can be seen. Hopefully this is a final treatment for me as I have tried numerous treatments from AHA/BHA and Duac to isotretinoin and antibiotics. I didn't ask for a taller nose or bigger eyes. I just want a clear face!
August 9, 2010
Pros:
hopefulness
Cons:
dry eyelids, though never put near my eyes, dry skin and aggravated my acne
used it for 6 weeks with no results whatsoever! it actually made my acne worse!
March 15, 2010
Pros:
- Cleared up most of my acne
- Makes you sesitive to sun making it easier to get a tan
Cons:
- I had to use moisturizer to keep my skin from peeling
- Very sensitive to sun
I found that this product worked better in the summer when the sun was on my face. I got burned easily so you have to be carful. I would recomend this product. Also didnt take very long to see results, about a week.
Pros:
Cleared skin
Got rid of acne
Gentle on face