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
December 25, 2011
Cons:
none
This did not work AT ALL for me. I went from having light acne to moderate acne, even after using this product for months. I never had any acne growing up... I didn't even have to wash my face and I had perfect skin. When I started college I started to get a few breakouts probably due to stress, so I went to a derm to try and stop more acne from forming. WOST DECISION EVER. This gel was so irritating and drying I felt like I couldn't leave my apartment to go to class, let alone go or do anything with friends. I would NOT use this if you have tried another product that dried out your skin...trust me this will be worse. After going to a different derm, I now am on Duac and it is working wonders!
September 16, 2011
Pros:
cheap, because we have health subsidy.
cleared up my skin a LITTLE.
Cons:
-dried my skin out
-flaked my skin
-skin still looked oily
-burning feeling all the time, like sunburn. painful
-doesn't reduce redness
I have light acne and the doctor prescribed me this.
The burning is really, really, sore, especially if you go in the sun.
I stopped using it.
September 7, 2011
Pros:
Helps keep acne under control
Makes pimples go away faster
Cons:
REALLY EXPENSIVE!
Makes red marks take longer to fade
Dries skin out
Can stain clothes
This kept my acne under control at first when it was moderate to severe. But now that i'm using tea tree oil and I've stopped using Differin, I'm begining to suspect that it was the Differin that made my acne form red marks that lasted for ages. But if you want your acne to be kept under control mostly (by that I mean reduced to light acne, not cleared completely), then I would recommend this.
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.
December 13, 2009
Pros:
none
Cons:
It got rid of the big pimples, but then it created this skin of little bumps everywhere...it was disgusting. Overall, it did not help my skin and it strongly irritated my skin.
Doctors get money to promote this product, along with all of their other galderma products like differin and cetaphil. Sometimes their products work for some people, but for me it didn't, probably because i have sensitive skin. Although I told my doctor I had sensitive skin, he still prescribed it to me and the result was lots of red rashes mixed with little bumps all over my skin.
November 17, 2009
Pros:
Its easier to use then other medications
Cons:
initial breakout
stings a bit
basically this is my second week using it. and i have had the worse break out experience in my life! but now its stable. Hopefully it works.
November 11, 2009
Pros:
Not that expensive, but I have drug coverage with my medical plan. I'm using the cream and it feels nice going on and soaks in quickly, doesn't leave face greasy.
Cons:
I've only been on this for not quite 2 weeks yet. Initial slight stinging the 1st few days. I seem to be breaking out even more, but my dermo said to expect this. I'm using this with a SA face wash and oral amoxicillan.
Too early to tell just yet. I'm hopeful, though. (Just embarrassed to be out in public right now!)
November 9, 2009
Pros:
Clear skin :D
Cons:
I have heard it is quite expensive if you don't have a medical plan to cover some of the cost.
Slight stinging when first start using the cream.
I starting using this at the same time I started using Alesse (birthcontrol) since both were supposed to help acne and my face broke out quite badly. I stopped taking the alesse 2 weeks ago and have continued with the differin. I have already noticed a huge improvment! My skin is essentially clear. Great product.
October 28, 2009
Pros:
Made my skin soft and spot free temporarily
Cons:
I suffered a similar reaction to above at first try, my eyes were swollen, my skin was puffy and my red. Burning painful and dry. I had used it inconjunction with benzoyl per. I stopped using the two together and on its own it was quite good.
Definitely worth looking into skin sensitivity and your skin type before hand.
October 27, 2009
Pros:
Haven't noticed any yet
Cons:
Burns slightly and has made my skin worse so far
I'm not completely happy yet as it has made my acne worse so far which is not good. I'm getting more cysts too
Pros:
-AWFUL
-DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN
-DRYING