Adapalene topical and Acne: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Zoe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I don’t know why, but for whatever reason, I’m the only person who became an oil factory after using the gel cleanser. Everyone is talking about how harsh and drying it is, causing burns and flakes and whatnot. I experienced none of that. It made my face feel soft and seemed to really help speed up the healing of a few popped zits that I had when I began using it. But within 3 days, I realized my skin was literally greasy to the touch, which is something I’ve never experienced ever. I’ve never really understood what oily skin even meant until now. I’ve always been borderline dry but mostly normal, but after a week of use, I could take my fingers and swipe them under my eyes and around my nose, and instantly my hand would be shiny, greasy, and most disturbing of all, really smelly. The oil created literally smelled like a perm! I tried to push through, but I started getting blackheads everywhere, which is also something I’ve never dealt with. No thank you, Differin!"

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2022

Adapalene topical "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."

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2022

Adapalene topical "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."

• lzt...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2016

For Acne "This is so good. Initially, I was not keen because of what most said about having a bigger breakout on top of what I was already suffering. Well, I did :-( but I started in the summer holidays, so I didn't have to go out. After the breakout, it was about a month that I started to see change :-) Yes, your skin peels, gets very dry and uncomfortable. I recommend a fragrance-free moisturizer, put it on, don't rub it in, just let the skin absorb it. You'll find after the dry period your skin becomes greasy a little. This helps after extreme dryness. Overall, it's really worth a go. I'm also on lycimic tablets. Just need perseverance, as the cream draws out underlying spots which causes the initial purge at the beginning. Just have to avoid the sun."

• ari...
• March 7, 2021

For Acne "Before my dermatologist started me off with adapalene (gel), I had probably around 8-9 cystic acne spots. Two monstrous (nearly 3/4 inches in diameter) and two medium-sized ones on my forehead, 3 on the left side of my face, and 1-2 on my chin. My derm also put me on doxycycline (oral) and clindamycin (gel). After about maybe 4 weeks, all of my forehead cysts are gone and all that's left there are dark spots. However, I did get a cluster of breakouts on both of my cheeks. I reached my 7th week now. My left cheek has somewhat healed. One cyst is gone and another is currently going down. However, one didn't go down and it continuously grew, and now it's over an inch in diameter. Two more cysts grew on my right cheek and are just a tiny bit smaller than the huge monster on the left. I'm still putting my faith in this medicine because it cleared up my forehead. If my face does clear up more, meaning I no longer have my cysts, then I will change my rating, but for now I give it a 5/10."

• MMG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2019

For Acne "I tried both the 0.1% and 0.3% versions of this medication. The 0.1% basically did not produce any side effects, but also really didn’t yield any significant improvements with my skin. The 0.3% was horrible! My skin became so sensitive and itchy. I got whiteheads in weird areas, like under the corner of my nostril, despite the fact I specifically didn’t apply it to that area. I wouldn’t recommend this product."

• Kew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2017

For Acne "I have only been using Differin for a few days. I have seen a big difference from other regions I have been using. Today, I had a breakout. Like the one I originally got that sent me to the doctor. I spoke with the pharmacist. She told me that this particular medication tends to get worse before it gets better. Being hopeful, I am still using my Finacea in the mornings and my Metronidazole topical in the afternoons and Differin before bed. All the while taking the prescribed medication as well. Also, always use an additional moisturizer because these all like to dry your skin out. Another thing to add, if you are on the minocycline and Differin, both are sensitive to sunlight. So, if you go out, use a moisturizer with sunblock. Rosacea 1 yr."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "After my daughter's 6 to 8 weeks of use, acne has turned into a massive breakout, the worst ever during her 10 years, from a zillion pus-filled spots on her forehead down to her entire face and down her neck. Red, painful, and bleeding areas. Oily all over the entire area. Like an oil spill, production is high. Using acne face cleanser and moisturizer. Any advice? Calling primary care doctor to see dermatologist. At first, it seemed all was going well."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For Acne "The retinization period is bananas! I started this treatment Friday, March 15, and stopped using it March 17! The side effects, and I have every one of them, are painful!!!! The one time I didn't Google the medication before I used it! My chest is on fire, and it looks horrible! I only pray these side effects go away quickly! I read to continue using this medication even with the side effects! My chest burns just thinking about that! This is so embarrassing! I love my chest, and to see it all broken out, red, and burning is so discouraging! Good luck to whomever uses this medication! Just believe the side effects are real!!"

• VHK...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

For Acne "I’m 18 years old and I’ve had acne for over a year. I don’t have very bad acne, but enough for me to go to my doctor. I have used benzoyl peroxide for over 12 weeks, but that didn’t work for me. So my physician prescribed me Differin at night and erythromycin during the day. The first 2 weeks, it seemed to help, then I went through the so-called “purge” phase. My skin got better after that phase, I was at 5 weeks or so. Now I’m nearly at my 8th week, and I got a major breakout. My skin looks just as bad as it did when I started. I’ll update when I have reached the 12-week mark to see if Differin/erythromycin will have done anything."

• Lil...
• June 23, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "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.'"

• Jro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I started using Differin at night before I went to bed. I would wash my face with mild facial aloe soap, rinse, and pat dry before applying the Differin. In the morning, I would rinse my face with warm water and pat dry. Things were okay for the first 1-2 weeks, but then I started to break out with multiple whiteheads on my cheeks and temple areas. They would come up in multiples overnight. It was causing me to have more acne that was painful, so I quit using it after one more week. I waited for 2 weeks and applied it again, but again the pimples started again, so I quit it permanently. It causes some people to have more acne."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "I had to stop using this product very early on because it ruined my skin. It made my skin unbelievably dry and made me break out on my forehead worse than it had in 5 years. I also developed red blotches all over my face. Don't buy this."

• Hae...
• May 26, 2017

Adapalene topical for Acne "I've been on Differin gel exactly a month already. When I started using it, my skin got worse, I had the initial breakout, and my acne is going away, but they're leaving some blemishes. I don't feel like it's going to get any better. I'm hoping to see good results in 3 months, but sometimes I kinda don't believe that it is ever going to happen. Has anyone gone through Differin gel for 3 months and had good results? I'm 19, and I had an acne treatment 3 years ago, and I got rid of all acne, but now it is back! Please, someone tell me this is going to work. Lol."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "This triggered one of the worst breakouts of my life. I was using it to clear up blackheads and some minor congestion (my skin still looked pretty clear), and it broke my entire face out horrifically. I've stopped using it and am now trying to clear up the breakout. :("

• Unh...
• April 22, 2016

Adapalene topical for Acne "I'm on week 2, almost week three. My face didn't dry up like my doctor said it would. But I did, however, get easily sunburnt, and I have the worst breakout I think I've ever had since starting on it. I want to hide my face in a brown paper bag. My chin is literally swollen from the amount of breakouts this stupid cream has given me. I'm not impressed one bit."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2020

Adapalene topical for Acne "HORRIBLE! Made my face break out 10 times worse, redness dried out my cheeks, smh! Didn't help anything. After 7 long weeks, I quit using it and felt better in 1 week."

• luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2016

Adapalene topical for Acne "This dried my eyes out very badly and made them sore. It also made my acne worse."

• Ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2018

Adapalene topical for Acne "I’ve been using Differin for almost 5 weeks, and it’s made me break out horribly. This is the worst my skin has ever been."

• Yo-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2018

For Acne "Side effects weren’t as bad as I thought, however, the product gave me more blackheads that won’t go away. It also made my acne more scarring."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2012

Adapalene topical for Acne "It started to help in the beginning, then a month later, I got the worst breakouts."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "If you have sensitive skin, don't use this, it made me break out in cystic, painful acne. I think it's the paraben in the medication."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

Adapalene topical for Acne "If you have sensitive skin, don't use this, it made me break out in cystic, painful acne. I think it's the paraben in the medication."