Differin for Acne User Reviews (Page 5)

• how...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

"I have had hormonal and regular breakouts since I was near 16 years old. I suffered with minor to severe acne. I tried everything (and I mean that) to maintain my skin. In October of 2019, I was doing research and found Differin Gel. I was skeptical at first, it seemed to be a hit or miss with the reviews. I decided to go for it and purchase it at my local Walmart. In the 1st week, I saw no difference, when weeks 2-3 hit, my skin had NEVER been this bad ever. But I knew from reading online that the purging stage was no joke. My skin was purging hard. I had big, painful breakouts everywhere. It became very hard to be confident. I barely wanted to leave my house, let alone look at anyone without feeling insecure. By week 12, my skin was clearing up quickly. If you have the patience, try this product because the RESULTS WERE WORTH IT. My skin has never been this clear before. No matter how hard it gets, DON'T STOP. I will continue to use Differin for A LONG TIME."

• che...
• February 2, 2020

"Skin type: oily + very, VERY acne prone. Summary of review: DON'T GIVE UP even though the purge sucks!! The Differin purge lasted for about 16 to 18 weeks for me, but keep in mind that everyone's skin is different. It was horrible. My skin was dry, and waves and waves of nodules and cystic acne would spring up overnight. But all of those side effects started to disappear around week ten. Pimples would still appear, but they would come and go and barely leave a mark since the PIH scars faded so quickly. I still have some discoloration from the purge, but overall my texture has evened out, I haven't had a single pimple since, and my skin has become less oily than when I started. So don't be discouraged! The results at the end will be so much better than dropping out midway during the purge finding new products. So yup, the purge sucks. But stick through it! The results will take some time, but it's so worth it! Good luck, and don't give up!"

• gga...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2020

"Differin doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for me. The purging phase lasted about 2 months, but now my cheeks and chin are smooth, and the scars are healing. To get the best results: 1. Wash your face once at night with a mild, non-acne treatment wash. I use Glossier Milk Jelly. 2. Dry your face with a paper towel. If you research how much bacteria lives in your towel, this will make sense. 3. Put Differin on your face (don't overdo it. Use a small pea-size amount for the whole surface). Let it sit on your face without moisturizer for a few minutes. 4. YOU MUST USE A STRONG MOISTURIZER right after you use Differin and the morning after as well. This made all the difference. I wasn't doing this at first, and it changed everything and allowed my skin to heal. I used Weleda Skin Food. It's a little pricey, so sometimes I rotated it with Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion. They did the job! 5. Once a week, I'd use a gentle exfoliator to get rid of the skin coming off."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2020

"I tried everything, especially pills, to get rid of acne, but nothing worked. If you start using the wash and gel, you see results quickly. Also, a good foundation for your skin if you wear makeup, like Clinique! But Differin actually works well."

• Lia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2019

"My face was so clear, and suddenly I got acne all over my forehead, very small bumps. My dermatologist prescribed this to me, and it's amazing. It's week 3, and the bumps are almost gone, and my face is glowing, and old acne marks are lighter. Everything is great, I think I'll continue using this for a while."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2019

"I've been using Differin for only 6 weeks, and my skin isn't perfect, but I can definitely see a difference, and I can tell it'll get even clearer! I was really worried about the purging and the dryness, but my dermatologist gave me minocycline (prescribed pill for acne) and also a really nice coconut oil-based moisturizer, and I haven't had any issues except a couple of minor breakouts! I definitely recommend going to the dermatologist before using this product because they can give you products or tips to prevent any irritation!"

• Adu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

"I am 38 years old and am suddenly dealing with large cystic acne after several years of clear skin. I have tried every topical treatment since age 17 and decided to try this one that it's OTC. The retinoid purging process is definitely real and it's ugly, but the texture of my skin truly is improving day by day, even with the large breakouts from the purge. I'm going to stick with it as it's only been four weeks and I'm pretty confident it's going to dramatically improve my skin's texture and appearance over the next couple of months."

• reb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

"I am on my 15th week of Differin currently, and my acne and scars are really clearing up. I still get some occasional pimples, but not a massive amount. Even at week 12, I had a ton of acne from when my skin was “purging,” and the scarring was unreal. I never got a massive amount of acne on my cheeks before using this product, but besides the scars left behind, which continue to clear up by the day. I’m very happy with how my face is looking, even though it took 14 weeks to be happy and see good results. Stick with it because I came on this website all the time and always heard bad reviews, but also good ones saying to stick it out, and I truly agree to just stick it out. Or try something else if you can’t/won’t be able to deal with the possible 14 weeks of unbelievable amounts of acne and scars."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2018

"I had been breaking out like I never had before this past summer. I had continuous acne on my chin and around my nose, which later spread to bumps all on my cheeks and forehead. I was later diagnosed with a severe case of folliculitis. After using the Differin face wash, gel (once a day), and the moisturizer at night, I found that my face is clearer than it has been in a long time. I experienced some dryness in areas, but my skin looks better than I could have expected in such a short amount of time. I definitely recommend this product :)"

• LJA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2018

"I first started using the 0.1 gel with Aczone for the first 10 weeks of use. I had been using Aczone for a few years prior and pretty sure it wasn’t working anymore, and all the Differin did was make me constantly break out throughout those 10 weeks (keep in mind I had mild acne when I first started). Finally, at 10 weeks, I switched to the 0.3 gel (nighttime) and clindamycin phosphate 1% gel (morning and night), and now I am starting to see improvement. I’ve been using that combination for the past 3 weeks and currently only have 1 active tiny little pimple as opposed to the multiple I had 3 weeks prior. My face is currently red, peeling, and burning from increasing the dosage as it gets used to it, but I didn’t have any more of a purge than the active pimples I had before switching. If anything, my face is dramatically clearer since switching. I’ve also cleaned out all facial moisturizers/makeup and have switched to silicone and oil-free to help keep my pores unclogged."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2018

"I’ve only been using this gel for a month now, and I’ve noticed a big difference. I never had bad acne, but I did get hormonal acne on my cheeks and jawline. After the first use, I never got a pimple and still haven’t gotten a new pimple. I also never purged or peeled. I recommend using a mild, fragrance-free hydrating cleanser and using a deep moisturizer (Cerave is good). I think the reason people get so irritated by it is because their face cleanser is already too harsh with acne-fighting ingredients, and they don’t moisturize. I haven’t seen a noticeable improvement with my scars, but I have no active acne."

• Anonymous
• August 8, 2018

"I’ve only been on this for about a week and a half, and it started working immediately for me. It made me purge within the first few days, but I can definitely tell that it’s working. My skin now looks clearer and less congested. I am still getting spots (I get moderate whiteheads on my forehead and around my nose, and I get nodules on my chin. I am a teenager, btw), but I'm hoping that this will continue to make my skin improve. I am squeezing my spots, which I know I shouldn't do, but I'm pretty sure this gel makes it heal super quick, and it makes marks fade quite quickly. Apart from the marks and few spots I am still getting, my face looks a lot clearer already. I would say that my acne was moderate before I started the treatment, and it got a lot worse within the first few days, but things are now looking up."

• Adi...
• May 11, 2018

"I never thought I’d be leaving a review about a product that helped clear my acne, but here I am doing exactly that. I’ve had oily, acne-prone skin for as long as I can remember, and at 42, it was still going strong! I mostly get deep blocked pores on the back of my neck that become really inflamed and turn into massive red lumps that rarely come to a head and linger for ages, and my back was a similar story. After many trips to the doctors over the years proved fruitless and after my latest breakout, I’d almost given up, but after another search through Google, I decided to give Differin a go. Well, I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a bumpy road, no pun intended, but after around 10 weeks, things are really starting to clear up! The purge at the start nearly got me to quit several times, but I thought, what the hell, you’ll get spots whether you stick with it or not, so give it a chance. I’m glad I did, this isn’t a quick fix, it’s more of a long haul type of gig, but I’m now seeing very good results!"

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

"I developed 'adult' acne, and nothing else was working anymore until this. I spent about $40 for the first purchase (I bought the bigger size and still have half left after 2 months) and have been using it for 2 months consistently. Quit all your other products except for wipes to remove makeup. Trust the process, it can get worse before it gets better because it draws all the junk out. Just push through because it's so worth it. My skin is nice and clear, and I can finally wear lighter foundation instead of laying it on to hide my breakouts."

• NIN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 6, 2018

"I recommend this product to anyone. The results are amazing, for better results, use it at nighttime. Works better if you avoid exposure to the sun. If you use it during the day and you have exposure to the sun, it will cause black spots. You don't need to use too much, otherwise, using more than needed will cause dryness. You can apply moisturizer on top to avoid dry skin, but it really works."

• mad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 26, 2017

"I've been using this product (Adapalene 0.1% gel) for 13 months now. I had a lot of small zits on my forehead and a good amount of acne on one of my cheeks. The first week or so is the worst, it dries your skin and is very painful. After a month, you start getting huge cysts and under-the-skin pimples, especially in the areas where there were little zits before. It's embarrassing, but push through. After about three months, my skin started clearing up. I still use this product daily, and my skin is better than before I started, for sure. Around my period, I get more acne, but it goes away quickly. This product is not a fun process, but it works decently in the long run. Make sure you invest in a good moisturizer to use daily."

• ala...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 26, 2017

"So I think people should be aware that there are two products and two percentages. There is a cream and a gel. There are also a 0.1% and 0.3%. The one sold in the store is 0.1%. BenzaClin was leaving me with little bumps on my head (I'm athletic, and it started to create fungus on my head) while prescription retinol gel was just making me red and puffy. I tried the 0.1% gel from Walmart. I was aware it would take a while, so I gave it two months to work. My skin looks so much better now. I use Neutrogena anti-wrinkle moisturizing on top of it. I'm guessing if it's like any retinol product, you have to build into using a higher percentage, at this point, I could probably ask my doctor for 0.3%, but I figure why mess with a good thing."

• Dir...
• November 8, 2017

"For a while, I was struggling with the worst, most painful acne of my life. I bought a tube of Differin for $15, and within a week, inflammation was down and things were looking good. Two months into it, I don't have a single pimple on my face. I only wash my face once every three days to help prevent over-drying, and every night, I remove my makeup, use micellar water, apply a layer of Differin, and then an oil mixture to moisturize. I've found that facial oil, rather than a moisturizer, increases the effectiveness of Differin, it almost seals it close to the skin at night. I wouldn't recommend Differin to everyone, but it worked wonders for me. It's all about patience and dedication."

• Che...
• November 6, 2017

"I have been on this gel (1%) for 7 weeks now. I have had hormonal acne since 12, I am now 29. My doctor had me start with using it twice a week, then 3x a week, etc. Yes, there was a purge, and yes, it does seem to be still purging. The fact is that I'm seeing improvement. I will not be stopping this treatment as nothing has worked like this before (you name it, I've tried it). I would say I'm seeing 65% improvement at this point. A huge plus is that I also have noticed scars fading, wrinkles softened, and any wounds from picking definitely heal much faster. Lotion morning and night, and Cerave foaming cleanser. My skin hasn't been this healthy in a long time."

• Lee...
• August 29, 2017

"Excellent product. Cleared my acne in 1 week. You have to follow the instructions to avoid skin irritation and limit sun exposure."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2017

"I've been using OTC Differin gel for a month or so, and so far, so good. I had been dealing with weird small whiteheads that were repeatedly erupting around my nose and upper cheeks, which were leaving small holes. :/ I could've sworn I had an overgrowth of the common demodex mite that we all have, but since I take an immunosuppressant for my RA, it was getting out of control. I began putting a drop or two of tea tree oil in my cleanser (Biore blemish fighting ice cleanser) and a pea-sized amount of the Differin gel every night, and I've noticed a huge difference. I barely get those whiteheads, and it appears the holes are less noticeable. I also change my pillowcase every other night but will continue with this regimen!"

• Ken...
• June 25, 2017

"This gel is amazing, if you didn't stick it out for a full 8 weeks with this, then you are missing out. This gel has a purge phase that lasted about 6 weeks for me with extremely dry, flaky skin, then very oily breakouts worse than what I was trying to cure, but I bought the moisturizer, which is a must, and stuck it out. I put this on at night after the moisturizer and wash it off in my morning shower. Do not leave this on your face and go out in the sun, it says so on the packaging and could cause chemical-like burns. I absolutely love this product!"

• Cwe...
• June 16, 2017

"I've only been on Differin for about 3 weeks now, but I've been noticing huge improvements. I am going through an initial breakout but haven't experienced any burning or drying, not even the first few days. I use a CeraVe foaming cleanser, rinse, and immediately apply my moisturizer to my wet skin in the shower (to avoid water loss). I then apply Aquaphor to the skin around my lips, nostrils, and eyes. My dermatologist refers to this as preparing the orifices (to avoid any irritation or dryness). I then dot the Differin around my face and rub it in. In the morning, I wash my face with a 0.5% salicylic acid wash from Murad and apply a physical sunscreen (I use CeraVe's)."

• Jo0...
• March 14, 2017

"I've tried several over-the-counter acne medications and washes, homemade applications, and NOTHING seemed to work. I saw a commercial on Differin Gel and literally told myself, 'Sure, another acne med that claims to be effective.' I figured I might as well give it a try considering I was beginning to accept my terrible acne. I saw results in a week or so, and so did my family and friends. I am almost 2 months in, and my face is practically clear, even the dark acne scars vanished. I highly recommend Differin Gel to everyone that is suffering from mild to severe acne, I promise!! I always apply the gel after washing my face in the evening, applying the gel all over my face and jawbone. Good luck!"

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2017

"I have only just started this product, but I'm in love! I usually don't leave reviews, but this felt necessary-DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE NORMAL SKIN OR LITTLE ACNE. This product is clearly meant for us more oily skin types, and I can honestly say it's worked like a dream. Yes, my skin has become a little more dry and sensitive, but that's to be expected. It cleared up my super bad breakout in about a week, and now I'm working on getting rid of my blackheads and the scars. I definitely recommend this product, and be sure to moisturize when using!!"