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
October 8, 2007
Cons:
Irritable to the skin and is not very effective.
I saw no improvement in the whole year I used it. It created itchy, red sores on my face and neck at times and at times I think it made my acne worse.
October 5, 2007
Pros:
not a bad product
Cons:
slight redness
been using it for 6-8 months now. started with .1% cream, that worked the best out of any so far. that and 2 doryx a day got me almost clear. then doctor switched to gel and 1 pill a day. that was a so-so experiment. definitely made it worse than it was, but still not bad. now im on doryx 2 times a day again and .3% gel every other night. its not working all that well, redness, peeling, breakouts, etc. hopefully just the initial first month. doesnt really "clear up scars". time does that, not the medicine. starting to wish that i stuck with the cream and the 2 pills a day. oil is pretty bad sometimes, and ive been peeling for 2 or 3 weeks now. its getting rather annoying but ill be patient as i was with the cream.
September 30, 2007
Pros:
no smell, doesn't burn or cause irratation
Cons:
didnt really seem to work. if im in song for a long period of time i get better acne but tahts the case with all acne
didnt improve or make ance worst. try something differnt but a good back up to have
September 21, 2007
Pros:
Dries out top layer of skin cells promoting the sheding of the outermost layer of skin preventing buildup.
Cons:
It doesn't control facial oil, takes months to work, aggrivates skin, doesn't kill bacteria, and just a burden...
Not worth the time, effort, and money. My dermatologist (supposedly the best skin doctor in town) tells me that this is the best stuff... I'd love to slap him across the face a couple of times... Differin doesnt do anything but promote peeling of the skin. Acne is mostly caused by build-up of oil and bacteria deep beneath the skin around the hair folicles. So removing the top layer of skin isn't going to do much...
You can go to [link removed] and look at the "before&after" pictures, and see that even after 6 months of use, the acne still appears.
September 14, 2007
Pros:
pure doesnt aggrivate skin
Cons:
not always a nice finish
always cleanse brushes with antibacterial wash after each application
September 9, 2007
Pros:
Diminishes wrinkles?
Cons:
Makes every area on which it is used EXTREMELY greasy - to the point of nearly dripping. And this is skin oil, not the product itself!!! Unlike anything I've ever experienced before.
The product almost tricks you into thinking it's working - I used some samples from my dermatologist before deciding to take the plunge and actually fork over some money for it. The samples seemed to reduce the redness of my cystic acne (I went off birth control pills for the first time in 15 years and my face looks hopelessly disgusting - worse than anything I experienced as a teenager). After seeing the improvement in the coloration of the acne on my face, I decided it was worth a try, so I kept it up. BUT, what seems to happen is that the color will lighten, and if you have a scar or recent open area, that will improve, too - until you continue to use it, and then the same cyst actually grows back bigger and more painful than it was the first time (although you thought it was nearly gone). I've stopped using it for about 3 days now, and things are looking much better (I may have red spots, and they may hurt, but they're not growing and taking over).
August 22, 2007
Pros:
I don't have any to comment with
Cons:
I am yet to see results I have been using this treatment for 15mths and still get acne I am nearly 40 drives me crazy. slight tingle when applied to skin. little dryness around the nose.
I have given this product plenty of time to see if I will ever get results answer NO! Expensive for something that doesn't work.
August 7, 2007
Pros:
It got rid of all my acne on my cheeks and most on my chin
Cons:
It gets alot worse before it gets better.
I had to wait a while before anything got better, and after talking to a few people, they have noticed a significant change in a month. Now my a big part of where my acne was a huge problem is now completely clear. The bottom line, i'm still waiting for all my acne to be gone. It takes a bit, and you need to be consistant.
August 6, 2007
Pros:
WORKS! Can feel it working. Inexpensive (insurance).
Cons:
A slight bit of redness. Dry skin.
I really do recommend Differin.
I have suffered from acne since my early teens (21 now) ranging from quite serve to fairly mild acne.
I have been using Differin in conjunction with minocycline for about a week and I can already see the results. The doctor suggested it can take up to a month to see results, but already my acne is disappearing. My skin feels tighter, smoother, and starting to glow.
Yes, your skin will dry out a little bit, but it is rare to find a remedy that doesn't dry out your skin. However I find if you use a good face wash (try Cetaphil) and a good moisturiser (Cetaphil moisteriser)it minimises the problems.
Its honestly such a relief to finally find a reliable product, after using every over the counter product available to seeing only limited results.
Fingers crossed this is the end of my torment:)
And goodluck to everyone else.
August 3, 2007
Pros:
Differin helps to dry out the pimple, but fr me not the oilyness!
Cons:
like anything, you have to be prepared to stick with it.
everyone's skin is different and reacts in its own way with any treatment. if you've tried other topical lotions and haven't had much success then give differin a go, you might find that its the one for you!
Pros:
none