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. 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
Adapalene is available in strengths up to 0.3% by prescription. Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one. Adapalene is also available over-the-counter in 0.1% strength. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Adapalene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
July 14, 2011
Cons:
-Watch out folks, it doesn't work for everybody
After two weeks of using this product I am getting the kind of breakouts I've never experienced in my life, even in my teenage years! When I started using Differin my skin was already on its way to recovery but I got this just to speed things up a little... and boy was that a bad call. I know it will work on some of you, but if you experience bad breakouts, then don't bother. Walk away and try something else. In the first three days of use my zits got so big they needed their own phone numbers.
June 25, 2011
Pros:
-helped with fine lines on forehead
-cleared small pimples
Cons:
-acne appeard in places where I was clear
-created cystic acne after 3 months use
I used the 0.1 cream based differin and I had a horrible breakout when I started it. I thought it would end, but it kept gettng worse and worse and now I have many cysts on my face becasue of it. Not strong enough for very oily skin.
June 14, 2011
Pros:
Acne will sometimes peel off in the morning
Cons:
Acne gets way worse!
My doctor prescribed this about 2 months ago and told me to smooth "just one drop" over my entire face before bed. Well, it's hard to smooth one drop but ok... well my skin got WAY DRY. like WOAH dry. I can't put makeup over it, either. It makes the dryness look more noticable. I stopped going out of the house (literally) for weeks. :( My acne got a lot worse. I clean it 3 times daily, I take doryx daily, use acayna gel also, clean it with sycilic acid, AHA, BHA, gyclicic acid.. all daily. And I have over 20 pimples. Rediculous. I was completely clear a month and a half ago.. anyway, for me, it made my skin too dry for me to deal with. and I THINK it made my breakouts worse (based on the other comments!)
April 8, 2011
Pros:
may help if you have light acne
Cons:
did not work for me
some days were good, most weren't, but then again my acne is hereditary so i get cysts and my face is pretty pumpy. i used it for a year and did not notice any improvment. BUT if your acne isn't so bad then try it. now im on Retin-A, uses it for 3 months now and my face is hell!
March 9, 2011
Pros:
made skin less oily
Cons:
broke my skin out like CRAZY
Used this along with 50 mg of doxy for my very light, comedonal acne and I deeply regret it. I heard the IB was bad, but I had none stop painful acne on my cheeks for 2 months when never in my life had I experienced such acne. I had to stop using it because I couldn't leave my house without makeup to cover the mess. The dark spots/scarring left behind are horrible too.
January 10, 2011
Pros:
Wasn't on it long enough to see
Cons:
Takes AGES to work
The WORST initial break-out I have ever seen - my acne turned from moderate to severely severe over night!
I stopped using Differin after 2 months so I didn't really see results. I went back to my doctor for the 4th time that year and got Duac (The most freaking amazing stuff EVER!) - try it :)
December 30, 2010
Pros:
Large active spots deactivated
Soft skin with a glow (eventually)
Helps milia spots to surface
Brings up most blackheads (for a short time)
Softens scars
Cons:
MAJOR itching and irritation
Gave me a month of severely dry skin
It 'moves' throughout the night
'Burns' delicate skin
Didn't actually prevent my spots
Makes scars red before softening them.
I had read the reviews stating the devestating effects of Differin and started to use it with caution - it totally lived up to bad reviews and unleashed havok on my skin. I can only describe it as a burn, red, patchy with deep dryness and an incredible itching once my skin was naked against the air. I wouldn't have been able to go work but thankfully I work from home. All products irritated my skin until I found an oily non drying face pack that I left on all day to soothe. This and Differin were the only things to stop the overwhelming itch. I made the mistake of puting it on my neck and chest - DON'T EVER USE IT ON THIS AREA - it will burn you badly. Differin likes to move around and will pool around the delicate skin about the eye. To stop it moving use a barrier eyecream before applying Differin. It will also creep around the lips so barrier those too. Also, use less than a pea size amount. Differin did not stop me getting spots but does help reduce them once they appear. I will stop using it when I have an alternative. For me it was not worth the initial discomfort but I trudged through the dark days in the hope it would be my cure, but it wasn't. ME: 20's dry-ish skin, mild acne, mainly on chin. I used Differin Cream 1%
December 28, 2010
Pros:
worked a little
good weeks and bad weeks
Cons:
not much consistency, just never seemed to actually 'clear up' enough to seem worth it
was on it for roughly a year, had my good weeks when i felt like I was finally clearing up then next week, bad skin again. It was this way for literally a year so to be honest maybe my body got used to it or whatever but didn't seem to actual cure anything, merely keep it at bay at the most.
November 21, 2010
Pros:
-does clear skin (kind of)
-easy to put on
-cheap
Cons:
-slimy and kind of gross
-made my skin really funky horrible initial breakout
-DOESN'T WORK WELL AT ALL
-really bad scarring and i wouldn't scar before!
My skin was better before and although it purges the skin i would still break out. Ruined my skin and i hope it will go back to normal i'm stopping it today i've used it for 6 MONTHS. And at first it works kind of and you think oh if i stick with it it'll make my skin better but nope!
November 9, 2010
Pros:
Less acne
Cons:
Makes me scar, a lot!
I'm using Differin for 4 months and I recently discoverd that every zit I get while on this product, creates an indented scar! Aargh! I don't like acne... but scars are worse! Please let them go away... :-(
Pros:
-Clear
-No scent
-Comes in a tube, easy to apply