Differin for Acne User Reviews (Page 5)

• 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."

• HPD...
• October 16, 2019

"I've been using Differin for 13 weeks now, and I'm still breaking out in painful cystic acne EVERYWHERE. I've got 10+ cystic pimples on my forehead, whereas I've never had them there before, and it's been two weeks, and they're still not gone. It's painful, itchy, makes you self-conscious AF. I hate it. If your skin isn't too bad but you're thinking about it, find an alternative. It's not worth it. I feel like I have depression because of this."

• Ros...
• October 15, 2019

"Started off with a few blind pimples on my chin and jawline. Started using this Differin and formed huge cysts on places I never even got acne before. It started to get better after about a month and then got so bad but kept using it until like 4 months. Now my skin is the worst I’ve ever seen it, with pimples constantly showing up everywhere in the same spots, even though I discontinued use months ago."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2019

"I started using Differin at 48 years old. I really got into skin care in the last 8 years and could never get rid of my blackheads and bumpy skin texture. Seriously, I’ve tried all OTC products from drug store to department store. The dermatologist told me to try Differin, and it might even help my wrinkles. Differin has cleared my skin to the best texture I’ve ever had without one blackhead. My skin is so soft. I’ve been using it for seven months. I started slow, using it every 2-3 days because of redness and burning. I found an extremely heavy-duty moisturizer without any retinoids in it, which helped me work up to using it daily. Make sure you’re not exfoliating with any other products in the first month or two. If you’re burning and red, then skip a day or two. It takes your skin a while to adjust, but the outcome is so worth it. Some of my sun spots have lightened as well. As far as wrinkles go, I’d say they are a tad better."

• Bar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 9, 2019

"I got Differin Gel about 20 years ago. At that time, it was available by prescription only. It took a few months before my skin cleared up. It really works!"

• skm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2019

"Differin burned my skin and destroyed my moisture barrier. I've stopped using and am now a week off of it, and all other actives and cleansers, and am still red, itchy, and have super visible pores. I guess I am just one of the people who are extra sensitive or allergic to retinoids, as I've heard many people have had a wonderful experience with it."

• Ers...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2019

"I love this stuff. It’s working really well for me and was a fairly smooth transition. I have some advice—definitely layer this over a lotion. Still works really well but prevents irritation!"

• 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."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

"Used this product for 1 week. During this first week, my face turned red and started burning to the point that rinsing my face was painful. However, it cleared up my acne for a few days, then the breakout started back."

• 18...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

"I'm sorry but I really thought Differin would be worth it, but instead it broke my face out and continues to after 3 weeks. I gave up and went back to my Vanicream regimen."

• Bar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 12, 2019

"Differin really works for acne, you just have to keep using it. I remember when I was in my late teens, I started breaking out more than when I was younger. I went to a dermatologist. At that time, it was only available by prescription. I remember her telling me to wash my face and gently pat it dry. Make sure your face is very dry before applying a small, thin amount on your face. She also told me that I would start breaking out even more a couple of weeks after I began using it. It gets deep in your skin and pushes all the oil to the surface. Your skin may get a little red and itchy. You will also start to see a little flaking on your skin. Don't give up. Keep using it. Eventually, it will clear up acne. When I started breaking out more, I would apply my makeup to cover it up. I like to put it on at nighttime after I wash my face. Give it a try!"

• Acn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2019

"22 Male. Been struggling with acne (all sorts including cystic) since I was 14. Tried everything. Started using Differin about 5 weeks ago. Within the first week, it removed 99% of my acne (including cystic). Week 2, face was clear. Week 3, started breaking out with cysts, week 4, new cysts emerged, and my skin got progressively worse. Week 5, skin is looking terribly inflamed and acne-ridden... Not worth it."

• K M...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

"I’m in my late 30s and deal with mild adult acne (mostly hormonal). After the first week or so, I thought I was off to a great start, and then everything changed. My face burned and peeled. Then the “purge” made me so self-conscious, embarrassed, and downright sad that I quit after week four. I had pimples popping up everywhere except my eyeballs. Seriously. There were pimples where I never break out. I finally searched online and read reviews NOT on the Differin website. Some said it cleared up after 12 weeks! I was never going to be able to deal with that outrageous skin for 8 more weeks! It’s not worth your money. No one should have to deal with weeks of extreme breakouts for a chance at clearing up acne 3 months later. I can’t believe they sell this. Please don’t buy this. I don’t want anyone else to feel as sad as I did."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2019

"I’m happy for those whose skin has significantly improved with this product, but it has ruined my skin!! I started to use Differin because I wanted to clear up my CCs. I have oily skin and consistently get acne here and there. It’s frustrating, but nothing compares to what happened after I used Differin. I’ve done some research before I started to use it. I’ve acknowledged “purging” or “retinization,” but what I experienced was extremely horrible!! Regret."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2019

"Absolutely horrible experience. Do not use. Still recovering months after using Differin, and I do not recommend this to anyone. Made my skin exponentially worse, not worth the purging."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2019

"I’ve been on Differin for around 5 months, and I have to say, this product has really made a positive impact on my skin. It is so soft and pretty much free of active acne, albeit I have some hyperpigmentation issues to work on (which Differin is helping with). DO NOT QUIT. I broke out so bad for the first three months and wanted to stop, but I kept pushing forward. It really does get better. The Differin purge is real, but conquerable!"

• lum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

"I'm a 23-year-old male. I would have 1 or 2 pimples at most every 2-3 weeks, but I was looking for something to help stop these few pimples, and Differin seemed to have a good option. BAD IDEA. This has ruined my skin. I have never had so much acne, and the worst part is the acne scarring that every pimple leaves behind. I've never been so self-conscious of my skin to the point where I'm avoiding leaving the house. I'm a week away from being 3 months on Differin and have been 'purging' since the first week. I am going to stop using Differin and will use only the VERY basic stuff, like moisturizer, and will try to update to see if my skin improves within a few weeks. I'm sure Differin or other retinoids work for some people, but it seems like a hit or miss product. It's not worth suffering for so long just to hope for a chance at improvement."

• NCR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2019

"I have oily skin. Since 2 years ago, I maintained a skincare routine that manages to get rid of my dry patches and dehydrated skin, but cystic acne is still a concern. BP doesn't work on me, and 2% salicylic acid ceased to work on me after a while. So I tried 0.1% Differin. First day, I experienced crazy itchiness, so the following day I decided to amp up my moisturizing game. DO NOT USE THIS WITHOUT A GOOD MOISTURIZING ROUTINE, BE WARNED. I apply Differin once every other night, and my routine for those nights is (in order of application) hydrating lotion, Differin, cream moisturizer, a spritz of hydrating mist, gel moisturizer, and sleeping mask mixed with tamanu, rosehip, and grapeseed facial oil. I don't have a waiting time, because my skin can tolerate it. I stopped having itchiness since the first day, and now my problem areas no longer have texture, and cystic/less severe acne goes away on its own with very minimal scarring (if any)."

• mar...
• July 18, 2019

"I literally never leave reviews for stuff, but I had to for this. It changed my life, I am significantly happier and more confident since using this product. I had cystic acne like I had never experienced before. It was HORRIBLE-my face was extremely oily and covered in deep red blemishes. Experiencing this in college was honestly making me depressed. My friend recommended Differin, and at first I was hesitant but decided it couldn’t get much worse. Within the first week, I noticed a change in the overall quality of my skin. While the acne had of course not suddenly disappeared, my face was significantly less oily and appeared brighter overall. After a month, I’d say my acne had decreased by about 50%. After three months on Differin, I’d say my cystic acne was about 80% gone. After five months on Differin, I genuinely do not have acne anymore. Even when I get the occasional pimple, it comes to a head within a day and quickly disappears. It changed my life!"

• She...
• July 17, 2019

"Traumatic experience. Used it for a minor breakout, then I started to be a big one! It actually worsened things, and all the purging was not worth it. There are other products without this purging process. It was a disaster for me. Twice."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2019

"30, male, extremely oily skin. I had cystic acne, and I have some of the worst scars, and now I get the occasional huge cyst/pimple. I rotate my use of this daily-one day cheeks, one day forehead, one day nose, kind of like that, because all over every day, even a thin layer, it burns because it's too potent. On this, I realized my brow ridge and nose produced less oil, and they look less 'congested.' I've been on it 3 months now. For the first time, I've healed a cyst without a scar in my life. There are absolutely fewer lines on my forehead, my nose gets no cysts and looks smoother like my forehead. To prep skin for dryness this causes, I use the CeraVe PM moisturizer before Differin. It just dries me out too much on bare skin. I also use SPF 50 daily on my face. I live in an area with a high UV index all year."

• Zam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2019

"I am 34 years old and female. For the past 6ish years, I started getting breakouts. Sometimes they're terrible. I get painful deep pimples, cystic acne, and blackheads. About 7 months ago, I started realizing how bad my scarring was getting. NOTHING WORKED THAT I TRIED. Well, maybe for a few days it would work. But nothing ever consistently worked. I tried salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, all at different doses with moisturizer, toners, etc. Anyway, when I tried Differin, it did not start working for a few weeks. Maybe 2-3 weeks. But I kept doing it. Initially, the side effects are facial redness and skin flaking. I pushed through that part of it, and my breakouts STOPPED. Like completely stopped. I will start to get minor breakouts if I skip a few days of Differin. Once I begin again, it starts working again. I always use a good moisturizer in the morning when I wake up, and I apply the Differin at night. This stuff is awesome for acne, and it really works."

• Jim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2019

"Made my acne bigger and horrible-looking."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2019

"I honestly love this. I guess everyone is different. I had sudden, severe cystic acne breakouts, and then someone told me to try this product, and I did, and it worked for me and worked rather quickly. I use the face lotion and then the gel over it. Honestly, I think the lotion alone is even great. Nothing else worked for me."

• Lil...
• June 23, 2019

"DO NOT TAKE THIS. The reviews are all true. I was using Tazorac on my skin for years, then my insurance wouldn’t cover it. Without the Tazorac, I started breaking out here and there, with maybe one pimple every couple of weeks on my cheeks or low alongside my jaw. I decided to try Differin because the Tazorac costs around $500 (or more) without insurance when it used to cost around $20, so I figured I’d try something new. I started using Differin about 4-5 weeks ago. For a couple of days, my skin did start to clear up a bit. And then... I started getting pimples - and I mean large, very noticeable red ones - literally all over my face in random places where I have NEVER gotten pimples before IN MY LIFE. Right now there are 3-4 total at the top of my forehead, 4-5 on each cheek - it’s the worst my skin has ever looked. It’s the large cystic kind that leave scabs, too, and I’ve never ever gotten those. I’ve always just had 'one here or there.'"