Adapalene (Non-prescription)
Results
Side Effects

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.

 [more]
3.3
1633
5
17.9%
4
31.4%
3
23%
2
16.4%
1
11.3%

Used Adapalene (Non-prescription)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
Number of Stars
Choose All That Apply
Clear All Filters
Done
August 14, 2011

Pros:

Didn't make me breakout (or if it did, I had too much acne to notice)
Helped to prevent breakouts
Cleared my skin

Cons:

Had to use with Clyndoxyl and Diane35 (I can't REALLY say that it's a con since it worked for me)

I used this product with Clindoxyl gel and I was also on Diane 35. I know that Diane 35 didn't clean my skin alone, because I started to use it a long time before I started to use Differin and Clindoxyl but it didn't really help. Clyndoxyl alone could'nt do it because it is a spot treatment so it doesn't help to prevent other pimples. I must say that it's not only Differin that helped me, thought. While Clyndoxyl was treating my actual pimples, Diane 35 was stabilizing my hormones and Differin was preventing another breakout. Those 3 products cleared my skin, ALL OF IT. I only have a few pimples sometimes (and acne scars too, but I think that it's because I used too strong products on my face), but those pimples totally normal since I'm 17 :P
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 13, 2011

Pros:

Clear, beautiful skin
Lightens pigmentation scars
Gave me a better self esteem
Worked the first week

Cons:

Burns for 10-20 minutes after applied
Flaky areas

I feel as if I'm one of those really lucky few who saw results the first weeks and completely skipped the initial breakout. I am 15 years old and have had acne pretty bad since I was 11, it brought me to tears to see myself finally with clear skin! Acne does so much to a teen girls self esteem its overwhelming with a world full of beautiful girls. I would never lie by saying the product worked wonders for me and is improving my entire lifestyle. Before I started using it, I was really scared about all the bad reviews, but I've been through so much I figured it was worth a try. Night one, I applied it and the next morning woke up to results, not big ones, but noticeable. Every night this continued and with every day there were better results. I only got 2 new pimples over the course of using Differin and it was because I picked at 2 of my little bumps:P I know, not smart. I completely understand that this product doesn't work for everyone, but what else can you expect when everyone has their own different skin with it's own special needs. If your considering trying Differin, I say go for it since it certainly helped me out. I'm sorry for anyone it doesn't work for but just give it some time and I'm sure improvements will come. Differin beat up my acne and I will forever love it!
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 9, 2011

Pros:

it will work on your skin but after a couple of weeks

Cons:

too expensive

I will use differin for ever
This Was Helpful

Report
July 28, 2011

Pros:

Improves acne scarring

Improves quality of the skin's texture

Improves blackheads

Cons:

Flaking

Very good product, I love it!!! I did not experience IB, this is my regime: Morning: Cetaphil cleanser with a SOFT washcloth (gets rid of flakies) Neutrogena Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating BH gel Oxy Clinical 5% BP Neutrogena Tone Correcting Moisturizer with SPF 30 Then my makeup. Night: Cetaphil cleanser with a soft washcloth Differin gel Neutrogena Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating BH gel Oxy Clinical 5% BP I firmly believe that this regime prevented the IB and it cleared my skin. I get flakes in the morning and by about 6pm. Gently using a soft washcloth for a little manual exfoliation helps immensely.
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 21, 2011

Pros:

only thing that ever worked

Cons:

none

A+
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 6, 2011

Pros:

In combination with Duac and Antibiotics cleared my skin within about 2/3 weeks
Non drying
Free on prescription
Fairly lenient - I've missed a good few applications and even survived a festival without getting spots.

Cons:

Only that when I'm on a night out and go back to people's houses I can't just pass out, I have to mooch home so that I can put it on.

I finished my antibiotics about a week and a half into Differin, and I was using Duac as well. I'd been on the Antibiotics (Tetracycline - nasty side effects) and the Duac for nearly 3 months with very little effect. I went a bit overboard with the new combination at first and my skin got mega dry, but my spots did go. I chilled out a bit and now I rarely ever use Duac, only on the very rare spot that I get. If I can be bothered that is - one spot does not phase me now! I've been using Differin for a little over 2 months and my scars have gone down, but nothing dramatic really. I've also swapped a moisturizer for jojoba oil, which was weird at first and I really didn't like it, but it's really grown on me. I completely freaked out reading these reviews, this whole I.B. thing is really intimidating. But I spoke to my Doctor and about 4 friends of mine using/that have used Differin and none have them suffered an initial break out. I'm really glad I did it as well because I didn't get one even a little bit. I think the best thing about this for me is that I'm no longer obsessing over my skin, and it's wonderfully refreshing. Defiantly recommend it, I give my skin a good hammering as far as alcohol and bad food goes and it's really holding out. Good luck everyone.
This Was Helpful

23 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 29, 2011

Pros:

(Used with Lymecyline)
My skin is completely clear of spots for the first time in my life- the first thing friends who haven't seen me in a while comment on is how great my skin looks. I'm so much more confident too :) Before staying the night with anybody, I used to put on more make up before going to sleep, terrified anyone would see my horrible skin underneath it all. Now I'm the first one to whip out the face wipes, and hardly wear foundation at all.
OH, AND IT'S FREE ON MY PRESCRI

Cons:

Oh gosh, I genuinely find it hard to write bad things about it!
The first few weeks I did have some nasty break outs and my skin peeled a bit, but it settled down so fast that I can't really complain.
Oh, I've also still got a few scars on my cheeks, but hopefully through following my course of Lymecycline and Differin gel, they will fade too :)

My skin is great for the first time in my life, and it makes me feel so much happier and more confident.
This Was Helpful

22 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 14, 2011

Pros:

- Gentle and clear gel
- Does not irritate my skin
- Clears up my face
- I am happy with the results

Cons:

- Can cause dry skin for some people
- Applying it properly so that it will work is tedious and must be done every night, no exceptions, otherwise it's useless

Before I tried Differin I had tried all the over the counter stuff, most of which did nothing or in some cases even made my acne worse. So I went to my doctor and she put me on antibiotics for a while with Differin. This was in November of 2010, and it is now June of 2011, so I've been using Differin for about 6 months. I am happy with the results as my skin has largely cleared up. I still get the occasional pimple, but I don't get the terrible break outs I used to get. In the rare instances that I do get a pimple, I simply apply the acne.org BP to it in the morning, shower/cleanse at night, apply the Differin, and then it's usually cleared up within 1-2 days. In the daytime I use the acne.org moisturizer. So overall my skin looks and feels a lot better, and I feel that this product helps in addition to other things I did to improve my skin tone, such as a diet change and drinking lots of water. The only problem is that I still have some small acne scars left over, but if I'm at the point where that's my biggest concern, then it must be working well. As for dry skin, this doesn't seem to be an issue for me, so I don't even moisturize after applying Differin. I use the Differin alone at night with no issues and then I wash it off in the morning cleanse. People who are prone to dry skin will need to moisturize with it, but if you do, wait at least 30-40 minutes before you do that as the gel takes a while to set in. So for me, this works well. Unfortunately, it will not work for all, as there's no one solution fits all when it comes to acne. However, if you are going to start Differin, my advice is ... - Read the instructions! - Apply it every night! - Apply it to your entire face! And if you find it's working, yes, you still need to apply it to your entire face to prevent future break outs, no exceptions or it will not work! Bottom line ... Differin seems to get the results I want when I use it proper
This Was Helpful

35 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 21, 2011

Pros:

smooths skin, non irritating, glowing skin

Cons:

acne does get worse, then better

It works, give it time, you wont see results overnight, but it works. My dermatologist prescribed this in addition to Finacea.
This Was Helpful

11 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 7, 2011

Pros:

-Great on sensitive skin
-Odorless
-Significantly decreases the size of pimples/decreases redness

Cons:

None really

As a longtime sufferer of acne, I feel like I have tried every product on the market, including an unsuccessful chemical peel treatment. I have very sensitive skin and tend to scar easily every time I break out. I highly recommend Differin for breakouts-it does not irritate my overly sensitive skin, and greatly reduces the size/redness of my pimples in a short amount of time-safe to say overnight as well! I use this consistently whenever I have breakouts and it never lets me down.
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 7 8 9 10 11 … 24
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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