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
June 29, 2012
Cons:
Makes face sensitive
Takes a long time to work requires a lot of patience
It works, just give it time...some days you may feel like its not working but it actually is you just can see it YET ...Then one day you'll wake up and VOILA ...the skin is there and anew but that's obviously after weeeks and weeks and weeeks...but you will get the usual 1 or 2 or 4 pimples but it's better than having FULL BLOWN ACNE...
June 29, 2012
Pros:
+ Rids face of acne without leaving scars
+ Keeps oil at bay
+ Depending on what state you live in and your insurance, you can get up to a $200 rebate on this
Cons:
- Very pricey (even with insurance)
- Dries skin out
- Stings a little if you put on too much
It does work if you use it consistently. A big point of this cream is that a little goes a long way, this stuff is no joke! I wash my face with Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, let it completely dry, and put a pea size dollop of the cream on my fingers. I use it on only the areas of my face that need it most. After letting it completely dry, I finish up with Philosophy's Hope w/ SPF 30. This regimen, along with Sprironolacone has greatly helped my skin. I suffered from large and painful cystic acne along and under my jaw which was caused when I stopped taking my Lutera birth control after using it for 4 years. I've been cystic acne free for about 6 months. Couldn't be happier!
May 26, 2012
Pros:
- it helps the painful blind pimples go down a bit.
Cons:
- burning when i wash my face or put water on it. mainly under my eyes.
- dried side of my nose
- initiral break out
I've only been on Differin for 3 weeks now, the first few days were awesome. The first week i used it my skin felt so good. Then i broke out and have not stopped breaking out since. It's like everything just came to the surface. I have read there is an initial break out so id say its from that. i have used it after i wash my face at night/before bed. only use a pea size. but i really shouldnt have got straight into it. I should have only started off slow with it because my skin is going crazy. not sure if this could also be because of hormonal reasons as well. Ill write another review in about a month or two. i am giving differin a chance, so ignore my rating. its too soon to review its effectiveness.
March 30, 2012
Pros:
Somewhat clearer skin
Cons:
Skin seems oily
Expensive
Initial breakout was terrible
I've been using Differin for 6 months now and I hardly see an improvement. The initial breakout was horrible. My forehead had a ton of little bumps, which I had never had before and now my forehead has a darker pigmentation. It is also really expensive since my insurance doesn't cover it.
March 1, 2012
Pros:
Good at stopping breakouts
Cons:
I think my face is a little redder that usual
I use this cream after accutane and its good at controling break outs. I.e. I started to get a small patch of pimples inbetween my eyebrows, after about 1 week of cleaning my faces and differin in this area it was clear.
February 13, 2012
Pros:
None
Cons:
Price
Makes skin dry and red
Severe peeling of skin
Doesn't work
I used Differn for 4 months. It did absolutely nothing to help my acne. In fact, it seemed my breakouts grew worse and more frequent. My skin became dry and red. It made my skin peel terribly. I felt like I had a bad sunburn the whole time. Do not use this product!!! It is over priced and does not work.
February 6, 2012
Pros:
Clears skin!
Helps control breakouts!
Cons:
Can be a bit drying
May make skin a bit red for a few minutes
Expensive without insurance
I've been using this product for a few years now, and I have to say that it's made a HUGE difference! Because it is a little drying, I'd recommend using a moisturizer in combustion with it. I used to have very severe acne, but now Its very light. I'll get a few pimples here and there, but it's nothing compared to what I used to have. I'd definitely recommend trying it. It may not work for everyone, but I know those with acne are willing to try most things at least once.
February 20, 2012
Pros:
works better than anything I have ever used.
Cons:
price!!
I reviewed this after only a week of use. I am now almost a month in. I currently have no acne at all which is unheard of for me. I have been through once menstrual cycle as well and nothing. This does make my face burn some but I don't care as long as I continue to get the results I am getting. Very expensive but worth it to me. No initial break outs with me which was my biggest fear. Very thankful for that.
February 9, 2012
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
worse IB ever
red red red inflamed pimples
red red skin
AHHH. dont ever use differin. i used differin every day for 6.5 weeks and my skin just got wayyyy worse than it ever was, which i know it typical but my face made so much progress over this last year it was such a HUGE step backward. my skin was semi-clear before and i wanted to get rid of pigmentation and ahhh all my acne came back, i cant believe it. the derm said this i typical of differin, wtf would anyone prescribe it. i was using tretinion before and my skin wasn't perfect but it was soo much better i actually miss it. i'm now going to start accutane because of differin, the most annoying thing ever. one acne med making you need accutane. it's unbelievable. please stay far the hell away from differin. i mean i guess it could work for some people but i wouldn't want to find out.
October 18, 2011
Pros:
.makes your skin look red
.could cause initial break outs
.forces you to reduce exposure to sunlight which could be annoying if your forced to ( i usually walk with my hand covering my face and i end up by every one staring at me )
Cons:
.side effects gradually reduce with time
.gel like so its easy to apply
.reduces swelling
ive been using it since 3 weeks until now . parts of my face are cleared up while i broke out in others . but i heard that it needs patience so ill apply it for one more month or so and see the results
Pros:
Decreases the life of the pimple (dries it up)
Fades hyper-pigemntation quickly (4 weeks) after 12 weeks
Makes skin glow
Makes skin baby soft smooth