Differin and Dryness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Rac...
• December 17, 2019

For Acne "I've been using Differin for 3 months. I'm 40 years old and have had acne my whole life. I also need help with pigmentation and oiliness, this is supposed to help. I started using it at night and in the morning. I never had any dryness or irritation. It has not helped my pigmentation at all. I think it has helped my current acne slightly and has definitely helped the oiliness on my cheek area, decreasing my pore size. Didn't help oil in any other area. I notice that when I am using this, I do not get any new breakouts. If I miss days, I will feel a pimple coming under the skin, and it may be a little red, but as long as I put this on as soon as I feel it, it disappears and never makes it to the surface. Differin is the only medication that has ever done that. I must say this is the best product I've used."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2018

For Acne "I've dealt with acne since my early teens. Tried many prescriptions and OTC remedies to no avail. Now that I am in my 30s and taking skincare much more seriously, I decided to try Differin again since it's available OTC along with the face wash. I use the face wash every morning and night and the gel every night. I got the normal side effects in the beginning: dryness, some peeling, and redness, but I didn't let that deter me. Now I am going into week 7 and am beginning to see the difference. I still get little breakouts, but it's nowhere near as bad as before. Persistence with this medication is key. Give it time to work. I can tell that my skin tone is becoming much more even. My old scars are starting to fade. For the first time since my early teens, I am confident in my skin."

• Luc...
• December 3, 2018

For Acne "I had clear skin more or less until I was 18, then my skin broke out so bad, and I had spots all over the lower sides of my face for so long. I tried literally everything. At 19, I tried Differin, aware that my skin might get worse for a bit from the reviews I had read. The purge was pretty bad. My skin was red, raw, flaky, and so dry. It brought out all the spots from under my skin and didn’t seem like it was going to get better: the spots under my skin were still there, but the surface of my skin was so fragile. I decided to squeeze all my spots on my face (risky, I know). The scars lasted maybe like 4 months, but the spots stopped spreading after I did that and kept applying the Differin. Now my skin is so much better. I maybe get 1 tiny spot every two weeks instead of waking up with about 3 new spots a day. Differin was definitely a long-term solution for me."

• non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2019

For Acne "Never again. After a week of use, one morning I woke up and my skin was burning. I couldn't even wash it with water, it hurt me so bad. I got a burn, dryness, and WAY MORE acne than I have ever had. My pores were all clogged, and my skin hated me. I followed all of the instructions: used a very mild soothing cleanser and moisturizer, didn't use salicylic acid or anything like that, used sunscreen, only applied once a day, etc. It's awful. I thought it would improve my skin condition and acne scars, but it made me look even worse. What a waste of money."

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

For Acne "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."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2018

For Acne "So I wanted to try this because it was once a prescription medicine, and I wasn’t having any luck with other OTC brands. I read reviews and thought, “Oh, it can’t be THAT bad” (with the side effects), but let me tell you, I was WRONG. Day one isn’t bad, day two a breeze, but by day four or five, my face was raw and super dry as anything. My skin has never flaked in my life, and I looked like a man with a beard. Anything, including extremely sensitive lotion, BURNED my face. Even tears burned the hell out of my face. The drug works quickly, and it does work getting rid of blemishes. In my opinion, the side effects aren’t worth it to me. I stopped applying the drug to my face, and I’m unsure whether I’ll start up again in a few days. My face needs a rest!"

• NBP...
• November 2, 2018

For Acne "I am almost 32. Don't have acne, but I get occasional breakouts. Proactive was the ONLY treatment that worked to clear and even out my skin, but it's so expensive. I'm always running out of the toner before I'm finished with the 3 steps, and it's not readily available in all stores. Tried antibacterial washes, benzoyl peroxide products, acne kits...still had the occasional pimple. Tried baking soda and apple cider vinegar, which is what led me to Differin. ACV purges your pores, so my entire face was covered in tiny pimples under my skin. After the first day of using Differin, I saw results, it had only been one day, but I could tell the breakout from the ACV wasn't worsening. Day 4, I have no pimples, but I noticed my face by the sides of my mouth was dry and red. Day 6, the peeling. Almost like using Retin A, but not even close to severe dryness. Says side effects should subside, but in all honesty, this product is not complicated to use, results are fast."

• Per...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2018

For Acne "I had good teenage skin, mild acne in my 20s (controlled with occasional benzoyl peroxide), dull skin at age 35 (so began Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour ointment - not meant for face, but what a glow it gave me!) and painful noticeable nodular-cystic acne affecting the T-zone face area at age 36. I stopped the 8-hour cream, needled the nodules (leaving skin unevenness), used Oxy-10, Lenovate, and Isotrex gel. Age 37: all failed, so I changed to: - Differin: acne continued in initial 'purge'. After 6 weeks, significant reduction in number + size + pain of nodules and cysts. After 7 months, dryness and some white flaking (despite cetomacrogol emollient) but fewer, infrequent + mild breakouts - not painful nodules/cysts. - Zinplex - milk reduction. Instead, eat yogurt + cheese. Observational studies support this. - bread & caffeine reduction. I stopped eating store-bought bread and instead make my own with whole grains. I eat bread less! I drink water/herbal infusions. Not an evidence-based approach."

• Kaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2018

For Acne "I used Differin as well as about 6 other prescription acne products in high school. They didn't work so well or clear up the acne, but left me with painfully dry, patchy, flaking skin. I tried Differin again after about 10 years because the sulfur products that were working stopped being effective. After about 4 months of use, my skin is completely clear and feels so soft. My skin was already looking better after one month. It had also helped fade the dark marks from my acne."

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

For Acne "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!"

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

For Acne "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 :)"

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2022

"I switched to Differin after using rejuvenating sets for almost a year since that's the 'trend' and 'quickest' way to get clear, smooth, renewed-looking skin. A few months back, I decided to stop using those sets since I noticed my skin got flaky, dry, large-looking pores, blackheads and whiteheads, blemishes, and a few acne started to pop up (I have oily skin). My skin looked so dull. It's been more than 2 weeks since I started using Differin (night) and TO niacinamide followed by TO alpha arbutin (morning), and I can see my skin started to look dewy, pores less visible, and blemishes started to fade. I still got acne but only 1 or 2 that did last for 2 days for the first week. Today I only have bumps on my forehead and cheek near the ear on both sides of my face. I hope these bumps will be gone and clear my skin out just like it does for other users."

• Sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2017

For Acne "I have hormonal acne, and my skin's not sensitive at all. I only used this for 1 week, only every other day. This stuff seriously dried my face out so bad that not only did it dry my face out and make it burn and itch like crazy, but it also gave me dermatitis. Absolutely the worst product ever!!!"

• Cyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2020

For Acne "Terrible for my skin, it made my skin so dry, itchy, and felt like it was on fire. How do I even heal my skin? It's been two days without using the soothing moisturizer and the Differin gel, and my skin is still having terrible effects from it."

• Ang...
• December 4, 2016

For Acne "I was prescribed Differin 3 weeks ago. Two days after getting the prescription, I finally purchased the item and started treatment that night. Worst mistake ever. My skin is not sensitive at all, and I mean at all. I have literally put bleach on it, and nothing has happened. Not only has using this item every other day (at bedtime) made my skin break out, it has also: - made it extremely sensitive - caused chemical-like burns - blistered - made my oily/combo skin dry in some patches - caused my eyes (while I didn't even apply it here) to get wrinkles and burn 24/7. I can't even apply creams/face masks that usually soothed my skin when it was irritated. Horrible product, should be made illegal."