Adapalene (Non-prescription)
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Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in...

Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Non-prescription adapalene is available only in 0.1% strength.

Adapalene is topically applied usually once a day before going to bed to all acne-affected areas of the skin, and not just on individual pimples themselves.

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3.3
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5
17.9%
4
31.4%
3
23%
2
16.4%
1
11.3%

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September 1, 2009

Pros:

A little goes a long way

Cons:

Not much improvement, red, peely skin

It cost too much and doesn't work
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August 20, 2009

Pros:

Um...none?

Cons:

Didn't work for 2 months, then made my skin worse for the 3rd month.

I have moderate acne, with lots of whiteheads on my forehead (cysts on cheeks, but that's another story). I was told by my derm to use differin 0.3 on my forehead where the whitehead were. Differin 0.3 did absolutely nothing for my forehead for 2 months except dry it out a bit. Then in the last month, my acne became HORRIBLE. I got tons and tons of legit pimples on my forehead, where basically every single whitehead used to be. I'll take the whiteheads thank you very much. I thought maybe this was the "exfoliation" process of Differin, as it will "unroof" whiteheads to make way for clear skin but clearly I was wrong. Thankfully every prescription I get is covered by my insurance. I'm going back to Duac....hope it helps.
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August 13, 2009

Pros:

-Reduces severity of acne.

Cons:

-It does not prevent future breakouts, so I still constantly have acne.
-The side effects are intense.
-It's expensive.

I've been on the 1% gel for about a year now and it STILL burns- it burns when I cry, it burns when I'm out in the sun, it burns to put on face lotion, it burns to put on sunscreen, it burns to sweat, it burns ALL THE TIME. Also, my skin is red and flaky, especially around my eyes, nose, and chin. I still have at least 3-4 zits on my face at all times. Granted, they aren't as big and inflamed as they were before I was on the gel- but they're still a constant problem. As I stated above, it did *somewhat* reduce the severity of my acne, but in my opinion, the consequences far out-weight the benefits.
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August 12, 2009

Pros:

Well, it didn't make it worse...

Cons:

It just didn't work for me. I have very deep, painful cystic acne, and this did nothing to clear it up, nor did it help the lighter breakouts. And it burned like a fiery pit of hell

Not for me, maybe for you
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July 13, 2009

Pros:

It doesn't have a bad smell, it's easy to put on.

Cons:

It broke me out a lot more, made my acne worse than it's EVER been. My skin is very sensitive and feels "sore".

I really don't like it, overall it hasn't worked for me. I have been on the 0.1% and antibiotics for about 5 months, why I stayed on it for so long when it was only making my skin woI have no idea. So the dermatoligist switched me to the differin 0.3% which I will start trying tonight, I hope it will work, but I'm a little skeptical from my first attempt with the 0.1%.
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July 8, 2009

Pros:

it was working the first week....

Cons:

i started to break out and get red spots on my face were the acne used to be......

well the bottom line is that its sucks and im never gonna go to a derm a again....... pronexin is really good just bought it last week an it works wonders..... i recomenned you guys to buy pronexin.......
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June 29, 2009

Pros:

it cleared a bit my forehead in the 6th week

Cons:

irritation, pain. and poverty. it costs so much! being a teen, using my allowance to save up for derm appointments, acne surgeries and medication. its also a bummer to have falling self-esteem bcoz of acne. i sometimes dont want to go out of the h

i dnt knw if itl work 4 me but still w8ing 4 the good effect. hoping for the best.
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June 26, 2009

Pros:

none

Cons:

My skin before using Differin was not so oily. After 4 months of applying Differin, my face was very shining and extremely oily and as a reuslt I was breaking our permamently.

I decided to quit bc the longer I used Differin the worse my acne became. In addition, I got acne albidum which I have never had before! This topical drug is definately not for me, I left with resistant scars,clogged pores and horrible, inflammed pimples, my skin got crazy after that! It is was waste of time and money.
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June 20, 2009

Pros:

I can't think of any other than that you feel safer using it, so you know you are doing something about your acne.

Cons:

I usually apply to my whole face, but I find if I put it in a spot where I have no pimples.. I'll get them. It takes a long time to work, if it does at all.

I'll be changing from it very soon because I've been using for quite a few months now thinking I should wait a little longer, but it is just not working.
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June 11, 2009

Pros:

no pros

Cons:

I started using differin to clear my mild to moderate acne and it turned into severe acne! I knew how long it was supposed to take, so I kept with it for over 5 months. My acne continued to get worse, i didnt even want to leave the house.

Differin may work for some, but it really did not work for me. My dermatologist even recommended it for me. So, just be careful. I have had skin problems for 4 years now just because of my 5 month use of differin. My advice: stay away.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website