Adapalene topical and Dryness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Kal...
• August 9, 2016

For Acne "I am 15 years old and have had acne in my T-zone area with the occasional cluster on my cheeks for about a year and a half. I have been prescribed 0.3% adapalene gel and am so frustrated with it! The first three weeks blew my mind in how clear my skin was, but now my acne is worse than ever! My little bumps that I had on my forehead have now turned into big bumps. I have now read the reviews and see that it gets worse before it gets better, so I hope that is the case with me. It had been about a month and a half. I have also noticed my eyelids and the corner of my mouth being very dry and peeling. My skin burns when I apply moisturizer sometimes, but I fight through the pain."

• ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2019

For Acne "My dermatologist prescribed adapalene cream for my acne. I had forehead acne that seemed not to go away for the past year. The first week I used it, my skin had to adjust first to the cream, as it brought itchiness and dryness, but I continued nonetheless. After 2 months, the pimples were all gone! So before you describe it as a non-effective drug, just remember that people have different skin types, which react differently to creams. I never even purged."

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

Adapalene topical 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

Adapalene topical 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 :)"

• Bes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2017

For Acne "I'm 24 and have mild to moderate acne on my chin and red hyperpigmentation spots from old pimples. I've tried benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, but this is more effective and also helps with hyperpigmentation from old acne. I also prefer not to take a pill (antibiotics, Accutane) to treat acne. I was excited to find this over the counter. The first 3 days I used it, my acne got worse. Within a week, however, my pimples dried up. It is very effective. I gave 9/10 and not 10/10 because my face has been very dry, and sometimes it burns a little. This is a normal side effect I expect to get better with using it more. You can use this every other night if your skin gets too dry."

• Lag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2017

For Acne "I was prescribed EpiDuo Forte at night and Aczone in the morning. Started December 30, 2016. 36 yo female with cystic acne x 5 months. My derm and I felt that this combo was not working well enough after 2 months. I've just restarted BC and switched to Differin 0.3. I'm noticing a difference already at Day 5. My skin is probably tolerable from the EpiDuo as I'm not experiencing the dryness that some say. Hoping this combo works!!"

• Lyl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 30, 2021

For Acne "Before using this, I had horrific acne for years. It caused me to be self-conscious and really not like how I looked. I was convinced my acne would never go away. After a year on this product, my acne was almost completely gone. After a couple of years, I almost never break out, as in it's rare for me to get a single tiny pimple. And because of the properties of this medication, my skin has healed beautifully. It is very drying, so applying face cream ten minutes prior to applying this medication is helpful. There is also a purging period, but it’s worth it! Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water."

• Khu...
• March 29, 2017

For Acne "This is absolutely a lifesaver for me. I had small red pimples all over my face. But after I started using my adapalene gel, my skin has become a lot clearer and the inflammation has reduced to a great extent. Though adapalene makes my skin extremely dry, it's worth it."

• 112...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2016

For Acne "This medication worked perfectly fine for me in the beginning. Regular dryness and flaky skin. But now my face looks like a war zone. There was more acne than before, and my skin still has the dryness with a moisturizer. There's even flaking. But I think it will get better in the upcoming months."

• Jes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 10, 2018

For Acne "Adapalene helped clear my skin within two weeks. The one downfall is I experienced extreme flaking and dryness, particularly around my eyes. I used Aquaphor to maintain my eyes and made sure it got nowhere else as it is so thick and will clog your pores! Other than that, I stick to a Cetaphil moisturizer and face wash and had wonderful results. My skin looks better and feels better. I found acne that was coming in would disappear in a day or two when usually it’d be there for weeks. I also take Minocycline, but the two together have really changed my skin."

• Mja...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2020

For Acne "I use Differin gel for late 30s acne, moderate to severe, and it has cleared up my skin almost completely, nothing else really worked like this. The first few days, lots of bad dryness. I use it only every 3 days, otherwise, my skin is too dry, but I get maybe one pimple a week. It took 2 weeks to work, but once it did, my skin cleared up in 1 week."

• 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."

• Eva...
• July 11, 2019

For Acne "My acne started around 1-1.5 years ago one spot at a time (only on my cheeks). Before then, I had absolutely no skin issues. I sought help 1.5 years after the first breakout, which was enough time for the acne to develop under my skin (when I would drag my finger over my cheeks, I could feel lots of bumps which would later become acne). Before using adapalene, I used other creams recommended by my dermatologist, which didn't help at all. I started using adapalene three months ago, and the bumps under my skin have completely cleared, and I no longer have acne but rather the occasional yellow pimple which at least takes much less time to disappear and leaves no lasting pigmentation. I still have lots of pigmentation from the acne only on my cheeks, but my skin is totally smooth. It didn't help much with blackheads, but it resolved the few whiteheads I had. My skin doesn't tend to dry easily, so I didn't experience a lot of dryness when using this cream, but it is a little sensitive to, e.g., harsh towels."

• Jla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

For Acne "I'm a 24-year-old male, and I developed some minor acne on my chin, despite never having had acne before. Nothing I got over the counter worked, so I went to the GP and was prescribed adapalene alongside an oral antibiotic. The side effects were nasty; I had red, dry, peeling, and itching skin for three weeks, even in places I hadn't applied the gel. By week four, I was past the 'purge,' and my breakouts slowed. However, this was short-lived, as by week six, my skin got worse; I broke out in places I had never broken out (my jawline, forehead, cheeks, and all around my mouth were covered in angry, inflamed spots, and my chin started breaking out again too). While these spots were coming to a head and healing faster, they left red marks like never before. My neck was also red and itchy all of the time, despite not applying it anywhere near my neck. I carried on using the gel for 12 weeks to see its full effect. Honestly, I wish I never bothered; it's made my somewhat minor acne almost severe."

• Lib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2017

For Acne "Horrible! I'm only 19, and I've tried everything there is for acne beforehand. I can honestly say I've never felt pain on my face like this. Skin is burning, dry, tight, broken, stinging, and red raw after only two days of using the Differin cream/gel! It's ruined my skin and shattered self-esteem. Would not recommend to anyone!"

• xxx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2017

For Acne "Yes, adapalene did work, but the side effects were terrible: dry, flaky, irritated, wrinkly skin that won't go away after weeks of not using adapalene. Adapalene, for me, should be used as a last resort if you're just starting, because having lumpy and irritated skin that won't go away even when moisturizing every day is actually painful to feel and to see. I also wouldn't recommend seeing a dermatologist if you don't have cystic acne, seeing an esthetician is better (to me)."

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

Adapalene topical 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

Adapalene topical 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

Adapalene topical 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."