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
August 31, 2008
Cons:
it got REALLY bad before it got better, if you use a moisteriser in the morning after you wash your face the redness in your skin decreases.
i had tryed over the counter things for a while. the neutrtogena acne controll kit controlled my acne, but it didnt clear it up. my mom was bugging me about my skin all the time. my skin was fine in june 2008, but in the end of july i started to get sreious breakouts. she scheduled a doctors appt for me one day, and the doctor put me on some oral meds (tetrecycline) that i have to take twice a day, and Differin. i started using it right away. my skin was so bad that it HURT to wash my face. its been about a 2 weeks and already my face is clearing up! my forehead was my major problem area, and i only have a few blemishes that arnt even very noticable! but the problem now is that my face is red and irritated, but i've found that using a moisterizer in the morning after i wash my face has decreased the redness. BOTTOM LINE is give it a try, and you will definatly be happy with the clear, soft, toned face that you'll have after a while.
August 29, 2008
Pros:
results overnight. wayyy clearer skin, great spot treatment.
Cons:
dries out skin. use the cetaphil cream over top it at night and its not a problem.
WORKED AMAZINLY. my acne is almost gone now after just a week. i was using the whole exposed system, but it made acne worse so i switched to a gentle cleanser and differin at night. my acne is almost gone now (: it does dry out your skin, but just put on heavy moisturizer once it dries and you'll be fine.
definently try it.
August 26, 2008
Pros:
Makes my skin smooth
Cons:
makes my skin sore, itchy, red seems to take a long time to see any results
been using this for a couple of weeks now along side a course of tablets. there has been little improvment so far just my skin becomes more sore giess ill give it more time
August 23, 2008
Pros:
Works very well. Light/no itching, redness, peeling at all.
Cons:
Expensive (30$ for clear skin, YES.)
This treatment works, period. After a month, I'm seeing change in my skin overnight. Differin is not only an acne treatment, it's a self esteem boost.
August 4, 2008
Pros:
it cleared up all the pimles on my forehead and some of the ones on my cheeks.
Cons:
i use it only at night. it takes alot of time to clear spots.i also use it with zineryt so im not so sure how it would work by itself.
it doesnt completely stop break-outs but it has helped reduce them.
July 28, 2008
Pros:
Definitely reduces the size of pimples. Did not have any reaction, no redness, no flakey skin. Felt very clean and made my face beautiful and for the most part acne free.
Cons:
Took a long time to get to where I am today.
It works! For real I had it bad! The first thing I used to help my face was Proactive Solution (HUGE MISTAKE) you know maybe that stuff works on some people but I really doubt it works on a lot because it made my face even worse uh!!! But then after I went to a dermatologist he told me to go on differin..so I did! Let me just say woah! It was awesome, I don't really remember how long it took for my face to get cleared but it really did work I was soooo HAPPY and satisfied with the results...but then (here comes my biggest regret EVER!) I stopped using it because I thought I would be okay without it..ha bad idea..after about 2 or 3 months after i had stopped wow it got so bad!! i mean bad bad i hated myself because i stopped using it...so I went back and got on it again and it seriously took about 6 months for my face to get cleared again. That was a really long time but it works..and I do have very sensitive skin..worked for me. Now I am happy as ever!!!
July 25, 2008
Pros:
it's clear, dries fast, easy to apply
Cons:
very drying, peelings
i've used this product usually at night with some moisterizer. along with the benzaclin during the day also with moisterizer...and i haven't seen much of a difference. i still get big zits, i'm peeling, and just sad that it doesn't work for my whole face. still get pimples all the time...:(
July 24, 2008
Pros:
Smooth Clear skin works well with nodule acne helps clarity as well.
Cons:
Can irrate skin in the beginning, but after that it works wonderful!
Okay, I've dealt with severe acne for most of my twenties and have tired everything from over the counter to Proactiv to many different prescrpition medications. I get deep nodule cystic acne; especially when stressed or before my period. I also break-out with whiteheads and blackheads and have large pores this and benzoyl peroxide is all that works on me (oh and Acnomel). Differin actually changes the condition of your skin and I am proof of that. I had to go off of it after using it for about a year because I didn't have insurance and my refill ran out and couldn't afford to go to the doctor to get a scrip. BIG MISTAKE!! After being off of Differin for 3 months--bam--a couple of weeks before my period I get a huge nodule that swelled up on my cheek almost the size of a quarter! Needless to say I went back to the doc and she gave me the new stuff .03%, it took my skin a few months to get used to, but NO MORE PIMPLES! Be careful in the sun, if u get too red go off a few days.
July 22, 2008
Pros:
Easy to use
Cons:
Made some of my acne worse, especially on the cheeks. Hasn't really improved my skin....yet.
I am using Differin Gel 0.01%. I got free samples of it from my doctor. I have only used it for 5 days, but it has made the acne on my cheeks and forehead worse! It made some of the small acne on my cheek grow to a large size and made more acne appear on my forehead. I am also having more dry skin now, but it might be because of the astringent I am using with the Differin. But the dryness started when I started using Differin. But, everyone's skin is different.
I have read that Differin makes things worse before they get better, and I can definitely see that right now! I have also read that it takes at least 2 months to work and that is a long time to me! I am going to switch to Dan's BP regimen but I don't know if my parents will buy the products!
July 21, 2008
Pros:
It didn't cost me a lot of money. It cleared up a few pimples, but not a lot of them.
Cons:
My face was really red for about 2 weeks, i broke out in hives from the antibiotics that i took with it. Also it made my skin really dry.
I wouldn't use it, especially if it is summer because it can make your skin photosensitive. It did not work well
Pros:
very easy to keep up with,not expensive, doesnt have a finny smell or a smell at all,doesnt burn, doesnt dry my skin.