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
July 21, 2008
Cons:
dried my skin a little, pretty expensive:cost about $90 with insurance and $25 off coupon
try it. it takes acne away and made my skin alot smoother
July 7, 2008
Pros:
it did say what it was going to do..which was making the acne worse however that was more of a con.
Cons:
made acne worse ...but it burned my face and peels and it hurt so bad i couldnt even touch it... also i put it on my chest too...and it made my acne 10X worse...and scared it.
i had to stop using it for my face because it hurt sooo much. i didnt have severe acne so i guess i could live.
as for my chest(i had light acne) i had to stop i couldnt take it gettin more worse day by day...and now its scarred and i had to wear turtle necks for months (and i never even owned any at first ><) but my scars are slowly healing...since i stopped using it...but it initially was the cause of it...
i think it might work if i kept on using it but i couldnt...go on...with the 10X worse acne and pain..the thing that got to me was the
scarring i seriously never had it so bad in my
life.. but who knows if i kept going it might have worked but theres no way im risking that torture again.
July 3, 2008
Pros:
did not hurt my skin and cleared a small amount of acne
Cons:
it did not clear all of my acne and stopped working at all after about 4 months. Also, even with insurance it was expensive.
It did not do what I want. I used it for a long time because my dr said that it won't work right away but really after a long time it stopped working at all! there are many times of skin, but for my type it did not work.
July 2, 2008
Pros:
made my skin better than it was but not completely clear. cheeper than stuff like proactive
Cons:
took a few months, makes my skin really dry and flaky, burned at first
it works but takes a while and drys out skin
July 1, 2008
Pros:
It doesn't burn and it seems to be working.
Cons:
None so far.
I used clyndamycin for a few months in the morning, just to clear up any 'infection', according to the doctor. My skin seemed to get worse, then I added Differin gel in the evenings (mild version). After only a few days I can already see a difference. A lot of the redness has gone and the bumps have gone down on my forehead. (usually I have redness and small bumps on my cheeks, chin and forehead all the time, but no cysts).
As for cost, it seems that this product is MUCH more expensive in the US. Before insurance in Canada it was around $47, and I ended up paying $14.
May 8, 2008
Pros:
It works!
Cons:
I have insurance but it is expensive if you don't have it. Can dry out your skin.
I have never had horrible acne but have been cursed with the always persistant "small bumps" on my forhead, blackheads around my t-zone, and minor breakouts around my jaw line. I am 25 and was fed up with not having a better complexion. I went to a Derm and she put me on differin 0.1 and an the antibiotic Doxycycline. I have only been on both for a little less than two weeks and I can already see a big improvement. I haven't got any breakouts and my bumps have decreased significantly. The derm wanted to see me again in a month and hopefully take me off the antibiotics and up the differin to the 0.3. I was lucky enough to not have any purging or severe dryness so I am truly happy. I have read that to see the true results will take a month or so - and I am anxiously waiting to see how much better my skin can get.
April 23, 2008
Pros:
Yes
It works sort of forms a layer to stop itching a thi film that stops you from playing with the skin that helps and slow the medication works
April 4, 2008
Pros:
Not as many white heads
Cons:
Dries out
Itchy
Makes red
WOW, i am only 13. but have been using it for around one month... nearly. I am waiting to see better results. It is only moderaate on my chin and down the left side of my face, like sideburns! Most acne gone except scar tissue... LOTS! which sucks,its not permanent and the doc has told me to give it 6 months. i really would like to see a bit more improvement as my confidence is still at an altime LOW. DONT wear make up (even mineral), white heads pop out from every where
SUNLIGHT is fine for me, just causes the chin to get red.
March 15, 2008
Pros:
Makes skin nicer, does not irratate skin
Cons:
nothing dramaticly different.
didn't really clear up my face but made my skin in between my zits better, however weird that sounds. I would say this product is more for mild acne. Unfortunalty i do not have mild acne. so it really isn't working that well
February 19, 2008
Pros:
Really gentle, gets rid of small blackheads within a few days, and doesn't smell bad like other acne medications. Also helped with dark spots and scarring.
Cons:
Expensive, takes a while to kick in. Sometimes makes your face oilier than normal.
I think that anyone with mild/moderate acne should use this product! I was surprised that I didn't break out more in the beginning, like a lot of people said they did which was a plus and it really helps with dark spots on your face. Really worth it, and it can't hurt to try it :]
Pros:
Actually works, unlike many products, it took about 3 weeks to work but now i only get about 1-2 zits every once in awhile