Adapalene topical and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "I've just passed the 2-month mark after having my doctor prescribe it to me. I've always used benzoyl peroxide, which has always worked for me, but I told my doc I didn't want to put something on my face every single night for the rest of my life. She prescribed Differin. She said I had to wait at least a month to see improvements, as purging is normal. 2 months later, and I'm still purging. I've gotten painful acne in places I didn't have it before, and I'm overall very unhappy with the results. The prescription says it may take 1-3 months to see results, so I will continue for another month, but I don't think it'll make a difference. Would not recommend."

• Car...
• September 25, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I purchased this product after seeing the commercial for it several times. I had tried everything OTC and thought that this might actually work. It didn’t. I’ve had moderate acne for about 5 years, and it always comes in spurts. I really didn’t notice anything the first week of using it. In the second week, I noticed my acne getting worse, and by the third week, my acne was unbearable. I had the worst acne of my life, and so I finally did research because I hadn’t before I started. All the reviews I read said that it gets worse before it gets better, but usually starts really working after a month or so. I decided to stick with it and kept hoping it would get better. It didn’t. After 12 weeks of using it, my acne was awful. I had developed more scars than I ever had before. I threw it away and went back to my old routine. My face started clearing up right away. Everyone has different reactions, but I wouldn’t recommend this product to any of my friends."

• loe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2013

For Acne "It's my 5th week using this medication. You do get breakouts, but that's part of the treatment. I have noticed a difference on my right side. I have hope that by the 12th week, my skin will be clear. It just takes patience!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2022

Adapalene topical for Acne "Beware of Differin, it doesn't work for everyone - their website says around 80% of people had positive results, so there's still 20% that don't. Differin ruined my skin, it made it 100 times worse than it had ever been. I had mild/moderate hormonal acne, and I started using Differin every other night for the first two weeks, then increased to every night. I only used a pea-sized amount, as instructed. I used Differin for just over four months, and there was a purge for the whole of the first month, then it started to get a bit better, so I had hope. But for the last two months, it just got significantly worse until my whole face was covered in cystic acne, which I'd never had before. It made me feel awful. A lot of comments about Differin said to stick with it, so I kept going, but if you've reached the three-month mark and your skin is getting worse, you really should stop. I wish I had stopped earlier, it gave me bad scars, but my skin is finally recovering five months later."

• SD9...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "This is a miracle in a tube! I had moderate to severe adult acne and would have breakouts on my cheeks, jawline, and chin that would leave dark marks for months. I have oily/sensitive skin. At first, the gel burned a lot, and I got a few more pimples, which are side effects of the product. But now, after about a month, my skin is adjusting and looks better than it has in years! Little to no pimples and dark marks are fading! My routine: Morning - wash face in lukewarm water with Dove Exfoliating Soap, then apply Aveeno Clean Complexion moisturizer. Makeup - e.l.f. Blemish Control Primer and BB Cream. Night - same as morning routine, but add Differin gel after washing face with soap, and apply Aveeno moisturizer about an hour afterward if needed."

• paw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2020

Adapalene topical for Acne "I have struggled with acne since I was 18 years old. I am now 25, and Differin is the ONLY thing that has cleared my skin. I tried so many things before Differin and went to dermatologists that only recommended me Accutane, a treatment that I really didn't want to do. I started using the Ordinary retinoid about 6 months before Differin, so I had a lot of purging before and really feel like I prepped my skin for Differin by using lighter retinoids months before. At first, I did break out a little bit, and my skin sometimes is slightly drier, but those days I don't use Differin and deep moisturize, and I am totally fine the next day. I have never had clearer and brighter-looking skin in my life, and I feel so much more confident now. I would say you definitely have to take it slow and prep your skin, but for me, it has 100% worked."

• Med...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2023

Adapalene topical for Acne "I used this for over four months, and the purge never ended, so I called it quits. My skin was better before I used it, so that helped me make the decision to quit. I used it every night after cleansing and before moisturizing. My routine is very minimal, but I am no stranger to skin care, and so many products cause pimples on my face. I’m sad this didn’t work for me, and I don’t like that people say you just have to stick it out for long enough because for some people it just doesn’t work."

• ra2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "I started Differin in April 2021. We're in December 2021, hoping for it to make my skin look better. I had a pimple here and there, but nothing really serious compared to after using Differin gel. It made my skin much worse. I was hoping a lot from this product after hearing a lot of good reviews on it. It caused me pimples in places where I never had acne. And I still have 2 tubes that I bought in advance because I was so confident about it. Now I’m on month 9, and I think I’m willing to stop using it. I don’t recommend it."

• Sor...
• August 5, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "I used this acne gel before. First time by itself. It irritated my skin. My skin was red, dry, and patchy. I stopped, thinking maybe this was like a reaction. To later find out, it takes a little while to get used to. But as for the second time, I used the whole range. The cleanser, the gel, and the moisturizer. Then I started to see the difference everyone has been raving about. It has been only 3 weeks, but my skin is softer and less patchy. My forehead acne has completely gone away. But my chin cystic acne is apparent. But it had definitely gotten smaller. However, this product made me break out like never before. Basically, my whole face became a whitehead central. But it is working. My acne marks, scars, and acne are less apparent."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I've always suffered from acne and couldn't find anything that worked well. I saw Differin online and decided to give it a try-after all, this hormonal acne has been with me since I was a teen and I am now in my 50s. The first and second week of use was awful. Whiteheads were all over my face! I was so ashamed to go out. Now I am in week 3 of using Differin and I am glad to say my skin is clearing up! It's smooth and glowy, and the breakouts are clearing up. Dead skin rolls off my face, revealing new improved skin! My complexion is starting to smooth out and the dark spots are fading. I purchased the full line of Differin products and I like how everything works together. Please stick with the routine: cleanse and use gel at night, apply moisturizer as necessary, and be determined and patient with the process. It really does work! For me, I had nothing to lose since nothing worked anyway. It was best to give it a try!"

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "I have been using Differin for more than a year now. I am so disappointed with the cream. I had clear skin earlier and had 2-3 acne spots and some warts. I asked my dermatologist to recommend me something for my acne because for warts there was different treatment going on. She recommended me this and told me it will be showing results in 3-6 months. It has been more than a year, and I have used 3 tubes already. My cheeks are full of pimples and acne. Earlier I had a problem on the right side of my face, but after using this cream, both sides of my face. I am going to stop it today. I have had enough of Differin."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "I have been using Differin for more than a year now. I am so disappointed with the cream. I had clear skin earlier and had 2-3 acne spots and some warts. I asked my dermatologist to recommend me something for my acne because for warts there was different treatment going on. She recommended me this and told me it will be showing results in 3-6 months. It has been more than a year, and I have used 3 tubes already. My cheeks are full of pimples and acne. Earlier I had a problem on the right side of my face, but after using this cream, both sides of my face. I am going to stop it today. I have had enough of Differin."

• kuu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "Tried it, really wanted it to work, but my dermatologist recommended that I should stop using it. My skin started purging at the end of my first week of using it. It’s now my 3rd or 4th week, and I'm still purging, like crazy. I got a lot more acne than before. My face hurts to touch, and it's heavily irritated. I actually got some kind of allergic reaction, at least my dermatologist said so. Really wanted it to work, and I was so willing to push it through the purging part, but I guess it just wasn’t for me. I know it’s an OTC acne medication or whatever, but please discuss with your dermatologist before using it!!"

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2021

Adapalene topical for Acne "This product has positively changed my life! I did my research so that I use it correctly. I only wear it at night with my normal skin care routine. My skin has never been this clear. I did break out the first week, but I kept at it, and it’s almost completely gone. I have no noticeable acne. Wear sunscreen no matter what race!"

• Kal...
• November 27, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "I've been using Differin for a little over 2 months now. I was struggling with hormonal breakouts and closed comedones for a long time and decided to go for it because nothing else was really helping. I got rid of everything in my skincare routine with SA or glycolic acid in it and simplified it just to double cleansing with a mild cleanser, a moisturizing gel, and Differin. I definitely had a purging phase, my skin looked the worst I ever remember it looking, I had acne all over my cheeks. I had a breakout of literally 8-9 cysts clustered on my chin. It made me feel really self-conscious! However, I'm starting to see some real improvement, I'm not getting as many comedones, and the ones I did have mostly vanished. The acne I do get though is kinda painful and appears in places I normally would never breakout in, like my temples. I realize it's a little early to be making judgments on it, but I feel confident that I'll continue to see more improvements with time."

• wir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "I began to have breakouts after the mastectomies... had to take hormonal pills. I tried so many things, went to a dermatologist and tried stuff. What really worked was a skin regimen and taking a low-dose antibiotic (doxycycline). Then my daughter told me about Differin. I have been on this for almost 3 months. There has been some good clearing up, dry patches where the blemishes were. My face is very oily, and so this didn't bother me. I never moisturize because of the oil.. all of them make my skin break out even more. Expect to have some breakouts as you get used to this. I am almost down to the wire, things are clearing up slowly but surely. Medicare doesn't cover lots of meds like this, so OTC."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2020

Adapalene topical for Acne "I’m too old for this. I had some hormonal acne, which didn’t surprise me since my skin is sensitive and acne-prone. My dermatologist friend suggested Differin. What an awful experience. My skin looked worse even after 3 weeks that I had to stop using it. I had a lot of large cystic acne, like a teenager, horribly embarrassing. Stopped it cold turkey and went back to 2% benzoyl peroxide, and they went away in a week. Never again."

• Jho...
• June 26, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "Had my derma check-up for my moderate acne on my cheek and chin, and she prescribed me this (Adapalene) Differin Gel 0.3. For the first week, I saw a little improvement on my cheek as the tiny pimples somehow disappeared. By the way, I have some cystic acne on my cheek and chin. For the following weeks, as I saw the improvement, suddenly came the breakouts in my 4th month. Hoping this is the breakout I've read about before the clearing process of the medication. Is anybody here who had the same situation before?"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I decided to give Differin a try. I started with the occasional cystic bump, mostly hormonal. As stated in the disclaimer, after two weeks my face broke out. Then, as the weeks progressed, it was clearer and smoother. By week 8 to 10, it never looked better. Now it has started to break out all over again, bad. Worse than it's ever been. I'm at week 12, and I don't know whether to continue or give up. Help!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2015

For Acne "I have used it for months now, and it helps so much! When my period comes around, it somewhat helps, but I'll still get some acne, and it clears up right after. To me, if I forget to put it on my face for one day, it sucks!"

• Kei...
• June 21, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "So I have been using Differin for the past few weeks, and I see somewhat an improvement, but I also see a lot more pimples, and I don’t know what to do. Do I keep using Differin on it or not? These pimples are making me so insecure about myself, and I don’t like it."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2022

Adapalene topical for Acne "Well, this acne cream is a roller coaster. I have been using Differin for about three months now, and I have been left so, so upset with the results. I started off using it every three nights and gradually upped how often I was using it until it was every night. I thought that this would reduce the purging, however, I could not have been more wrong. Every day I was waking up with a new cystic pimple, and for someone with mild acne, this was really alarming because I had never had to deal with these before. There were not just slightly sore cystic pimples, we are talking sore for weeks cystic pimples, and I am still left with the aftermath. This cream is shocking. It may work for some people, but it definitely didn’t work for me and has completely ruined my skin. Never again, do not use this unless you are willing to endure the lengthiest and most painful three months of your life. I would NOT recommend. Find ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE!!!"

• Let...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2017

For Acne "I am a guy with a moderate acne case and oily skin. Since 2nd year high school, I'm already suffering from acne. Now that I am 24 and working, these pimples are making me less confident. Sometimes, I don't want to go to work anymore. I have tried a lot of OTC products to eliminate pimples, but none of them worked. It is already my 1 month and 5 days using adapalene 0.3 gel, and to be honest, it's making my acne even worse. I'm having a lot of acne on my cheeks, especially on my forehead, which never happened to me before. However, I am still using it. Am gonna give time for it to work on me since I am reading a lot of reviews advising to just wait. Btw, I am using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser as my facial wash. Will keep you guys posted!"

• diz...
• October 1, 2015

For Acne "This week is my 8th week in using this product. I can say now that it really works. Before I started using this, I had cystic acne all over my face and neck, but after 7 weeks of using, things change. For the first 6 weeks, expect peeling, redness, scaly face, breakouts. I had all of this. But now I only have two pimples, not cystic acne. At first, I really wanted to stop using this because of the negative effects. Really, patience is a virtue."

• Aq2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "Love this stuff!! I have been using it for a month, and my skin is less oily and definitely starting to look clear. I am still in the purging phase. Keep sticking it out, though. I still get breakouts during that time of the month, but they are not too bad. I occasionally get cystic acne, I believe I only get them when I accidentally have gluten. Differin helps the breakouts for sure!"