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:
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July 20, 2017
Early days - advice needed
I have the cream version of this as the dermatologist said it's slightly more emollient. He suggested building up gradually so I've been doing every 3rd evening and so far I haven't seen much improvement as of yet, but my skin hasn't got any worse ( was dreading it getting worse before it got better like lots of people said) but I am in early stages..... My question is to people on this is that I'm at that stage where my face is red and a bit textured and dry, does anyone have any suggestions what I could do to help this? Wearing makeup over the top is a nightmare it looks awful!
May 4, 2017
This stuff is amazing.
In a word: amazing. Let's just get this out of the way... Yes, you have to use it consistently every single night for three months to see serious results. Yes, it can and probably will cause a horrific initial breakout. Yes, your skin is going to be difficult and irritated while it gets adjusted to the medicine. But it is so totally worth it... My skin has never looked this healthy. It is literally glowing after three months of use. My pores are actually free and clear of blockages and my skin looks beautiful and supple in regular sunlight. The texture, although crazy and peeling for the first 60 days or so, is now so soft and smooth. The tone and color has evened out and most of my sun damage (years of baking in the sun) and a lot of my fine lines are now just gone. I get compliments all the time. Give this stuff a try and don't give up... stick it out, it's worth it. I used Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% to help with the initial breakout in the mornings underneath my moisturizer. Don't over exfoliate while on it... try an AHA or BHA once a week at a low concentration. Definitely don't mechanically exfoliate as this will impede your progress... be very, very gentle with your skin.
July 20, 2017
it doesn't have to be that horrible. you can start out just using it every other night after applying a moisturizer. i also don't use this treatment in conjunction with other acne medication like salicylic acid/benzoyl peroxide because it most likely would cause irritation and inflammation. acne is an inflammatory skin condition and all efforts should be made to minimize irritation. i personally use a gentle, hydrating cleanser (neutrogena hydro boost gel cleanser) and the cerave daily moisturizer twice a day and it's the best thing i've ever done for my skin. i hate all neutrogena products besides this line. they really hit the nail on the head with this one. also, the cerave is a really great moisturizer because it has ceramides in it. the ceramides help to rebuild the skin barrier function. people with acne have been found to have damaged skin barriers and that allows for bad bacteria to enter our pores and cause infection. my skin feel hydrated, supple, clean, and calm after i have done this skin care routine. was recommended this routine by a dermatologist and couldn't be happier.
January 9, 2015
Might work for you, but not for me.
Okay, I had clear skin for a very long time and then I started breaking out, very mild acne. Like any teenage girl, it bothered me. I went to my doctor and she prescribed me Differin. I have been on it now for 7 weeks. My skin is horrible, I am embarrassed to go out with my friends anymore because of how horrible my skin is. I know have cystic acne on my cheek (where I have never broken out, EVER) . My face is very irritated, dry and red. This has not helped my face, instead it has caused me to go a complete 180 turn for the worse. This product did not work for me!
September 27, 2014
Please help
I'm on 4months using differin but until now I didn't see change yet. My skin is so hot and peeling this is the side effect too?
August 16, 2014
Not sure
I'm 24 have had acne on and off since a teenager trying lots of different creams anti-biotics... Last years before Christmas I had an extremely bad break out of acne over my face, chest and back after trying a a couple of different treatments eventually i found the antibiotic Oxytetracyline after about 3 months if being on it my skin cleared I am still carrying it on in fear it will come back. In this time I went to a dermatologist and this is when she recommended differin adapaline to carry on long time during and after my antibiotic course. The problem is I have tried a couple of times to start this product out the longest I have lasted is about a week as my skin seemed to get flaky and try break out even more... Is it worth me sticking it out through this. Also I do used sun beds every other week or so and I will struggle to give this up, help?
August 10, 2014
8 weeks in
I'm 20. My doc prescribed me Differin and Doxycycline Antibiotics for my mild acne. Well. It's been 8 weeks and my acne has moved from mild to moderate and I have more pimples than when I started the Differin. The doc said to take it for 3 months but I doubt that it will start producing any results in the 4 weeks I have left. This has left me extremely frustrated. I really thought this would work because for the last 4 years I have been using over-the-counter products like Benzoyl Peroxide and this was the first time a doctor looked at my acne. I feel like these last 2 months on DIfferin were a waste of time, money and effort.
July 17, 2014
I really wanted this to work :(
I was so happy when I was prescribed this!
I followed all the rules pea sized amount far away from nose and eyes. Even put vasilene on eyes before the application. But I experienced severe eczema and itchy eyes. It was horrible. I felt soooo gutted as so many people said it would work. Oh well just not worth the dry itchy eyes to me. I held out for 31 days. Also I became extremely oily and broke out on my forehead which is actually acne free. I know people say it only lasts a while but I thought it was worth mentioning. Hope this works for you. I had better luck with duac aka Clyndoxil.
July 9, 2014
Hopeful!
I'm 15 and have had moderate acne for about 2 years. I eat extremely healthy, work out and have had a continual face routine for about a year using asap and organic spa. Nothing really helped so i went to the doctor. She prescribed me Eryacne and Differin. This was about 3 weeks ago now and i have read a lot of reviews on here saying how people were already seeing results in 1 week etc... I havent had an IB but i have had flaky skin for about the first week but thats died down now. Only reason why i'm worried is that i hope i start to see a change (good or bad!!) so i know that is working in some way... Has anybody else had this happen? I just want to know how long it takes to see any change? Some people say a week and some say a month? Is that right? My face hasnt really changed at all!
So if anyone could let me know if this happened to them if they didnt see much change for 1 month or so and then it did help or not?
But i'm staying postive:)
December 15, 2013
Think before you use!
Cons:
Makes skin incredibly dry
Skin peels a lot
I have mild to moderate acne which is mostly on my cheeks. It started at about 12 and has been getting worse (I am now 17). I have been using this product for around three weeks. I think mine is 0.3%. This product cleared up most of my acne after a week and a half, however, it has made my skin hypersensitive. It feels like a constant intense sunburn. The skin peels off lots around my mouth and eyes and it doesn't seem to make a difference how often I exfoliate. This does make it hard to put make up on during the day. Using moisturizer is incredibly painful as my skin is so dry. The dry patches are constantly bright red. I am hesitant to stop using it though, as it keeps the acne away. I am using with antibiotics.
September 25, 2013
Did not work
Cons:
Flakey skin
Made my pimples sore
Dried my face out
Sad to say this product did not work for me. At first i thought my acne was getting better but then things took a turn for the worst and my acne flared up so bad! I stayed on the product for two months but things just seemed to get worse. I quit using it and it is starting to get better.
December 7, 2017
Takes at least 3 months for the treatment to work properly.
Pros:
Cleared up mild to moderate acne