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
November 9, 2009
Cons:
Doesn't get rid of big red pimples, seems to target the smaller stuff. dried out my skin a little.
I took this product with benzacline and an oral medicaton (menacycline) and it worked really well. But if your going to take this product and you have moderate to severe acne i would take it with another medication, topical and/or oral.
October 22, 2009
Pros:
None.
Cons:
No improvement in cystic acne on face after six months of usage. Very costly product.
We used it without an antibiotic, such as Doxycycline or Tetracycline. It cost too much money as no improvement in skin. You would be better off trying some other topical agent that costs less. Disappointed. It used up alot of our insurance money.
October 8, 2009
Pros:
Slowwwwwllllyyy clears up acne,
easy to use
Cons:
Dryness, peeling (gone after about 2-3 weeks)
Initial breakouts were horrible for me.... my acne got so much worse
It eventually will clear it up after a few months, my doc prescribed me 100mg minocycline along with night time differin gel, im on my 4th day of both, and things are looking pretty good... If you can get past the initial breakout, you deserve an award, its terrible but its worth it, All the crap is flushed out from deep in your pores.
September 30, 2009
Pros:
None
Cons:
made my skin extremely oily, broke out isn worst breakout ever
I used differin for only one and a half weeks, and I had had enough. I only had a few minor pimples,maybe 3 or 4. I thought I might be going through a hormonal thing so I asked my Doctor and she prescribed me differin. Now, this was last year(2008). My skin became extremely oily and I started to break out in places I never in my 30 years ever broke out. It made my very mild acne go to moderate acne. It has now been a year since I put that poison on my face, and my skin is still not back to normal. I have extrmely oily skin which I know was due to using the differin. If any one is brave enough to use this beware of what can happen and only put it on a little area before putting it all over your face. I think it is ridiculous that an acne medication would do this to me. Nothing should ever make your acne worse and take months to get better. I thought once I stopped using the differin, my face would calm down and go back to normal. A year later, left with oily skin and marks.
September 2, 2009
Pros:
makes skin soft after application
Cons:
doesnt help with whiteheads, makes skin more oily
Ive been using differin for 6 months. At first my skin got alittle worse, but after that i thought it would get better. I dont have insurance so my derm gives me samples because its too expensive for me. I've also been on doxycycline 75mg once daily. I honestly think that only the pills are working and not the differin cream. The differin makes my skin much more oily and doesnt help with my acne marks either. Doesnt work on whitheads either.
September 2, 2009
Pros:
- cleared up most acne after a few months
- like the tight feeling after it dries on your skin
- gentle enough for my sensitive skin, not really drying
Cons:
- I seem to be dependent on it
- suuuuper expensive
- stopped working after a few months (other factors involved though?)
I used to be on this with the oral doxycycline, and they made my face about 10x worse the first few months, but then I stopped taking the oral after my second refill and my face started to clear up nicely. However, after a month, it all started coming back again. I tried using it with different cleansing/moisturizing products to no avail.
However, now I am using Cetaphil bar cleanser, Neutrogena On-The-Spot 2.5% BP, CeraVae moisturizer (THE single most amazing lotion that I have ever used), and actually yogurt masks almost every other day. I am also drinking A LOT of water, taking a multivitamin that contains sufficient amts of vitamins A, C, and E, exercising, eating healthy, and hardly touching my face. It is starting to clear up again, you guys!
August 8, 2009
Pros:
Easy to apply, very minimal drying effect, no scent, tube lasts a long time, makes pimples go away faster, really cleared whiteheads-nothing has worked as well as differin, works well with clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide, affordable with insurance
Cons:
Took 2-3 months to see results, made me very sensitive to the sun- have to use lots of SPF, initial breakout was horrible but just means it works & it went away in a week or so. Does not work well with Salicylic Acid, made acne worse for a few days
This product really works! It does take time but be patient, it is well worth it. I have mild acne but it is the one and only thing that has cleared my resistant whiteheads! I apply it at night after cleansing with mild, non-soap cleanser and then apply clindamycin lotion after differin. In the morning I do the same thing but in Differin's place I use Benzoyl peroxide and then clindamycin, then SPF moisturizer. The initial breakout was probably the worst thing about it but that goes away quickly. Again, this product really works but you HAVE to stick with it and be patient. You will love the results!
July 31, 2009
Pros:
Limits breakout and somewhat fades macules caused by past acne
Cons:
Very slow to work and never completely healed my acne
I have been a religious user to Differin for 8 months now and am about to leave the product for accutane. I used a .1% cream every night for that duration and have had noticeable improvement, but still far from perfect. I never noticed any severe dryness or any peeling whatsoever, which actually is a disappointment. This product is still a cornerstone to prescription acne and must be tried before moving into more severe treatment options. I sincerely hope that this product works for you and that you experience far better results than I.
July 24, 2009
Pros:
My skin did not get any BIG pimples for a long time and some of my white heads also disapeared.
Cons:
As with most things I've tried, It didnt completely clear my skin (though it helped a lot) Also skin is very sensitive so dont even think about waxing and stay out of the sun or wear a hat.
My mother is a dermatologist, and I have had problematic skin since I was 11. from 13 to 16 it was truely at its worst. I got perscribed Differin Gel at 17 along with contraceptive pills (Diane 35 or Dianette) So Im not really sure what caused my skin to get better. The first few weeks of using Differen I could really see my skin was getting better. However, as more weeks passed I noticed it got to a point where it just would not get any better. In the end I stopped using the gel as my skin was irritated by sun and waxing and I was fed up. My skin didnt get any worse from stopping the gel, actually I felt it got a bit better and less dry. I would recomend it for short time use like 1-2 months.
July 15, 2009
Pros:
helps reduce acne
Cons:
won't clear up your skin completely, better if use it with Erythromycin, need to get prescription.
I loved it when I tried it a year ago; my skin improved a lot, but after a few months acne came back and I'm tired of spending money on doctors and treatment, so now I'm trying baking soda and apple cider vinegar as a toner. I recommend it because compared to how my face looked like before the treatment, I saw a big difference, and felt comfortable again when going out in public.
Pros:
Gets rid of blackheads and little bumps, and forehead acne