Differin Anti-Acne Gel (Adapalene) Review

Differin Anti-Acne Gel (Adapalene) Review

When I was still in my late teens and early 20’s, my skin never broke out during the normal days. Aside from very occasional acne breakouts which results from monthly hormonal imbalance, I never got a zit. That was way back before when my face was still free from everyday makeup. I started using makeup frequently, and that’s the time when I started to suffer from breakouts.

I had little knowledge of what kind of makeup was good for me. I was using the wrong products for me that time and they caused me to break out more. I had zero maintenance for my skin, aside from a moisturizer which I seemed to always forget to apply, so my skin was not used to any kind of treatment. After a few weeks, my skin did not improve in any way, so I finally took some guts to treat it.

I found Differin Anti-Acne Gel (Adapalene) from constant research on which products are good to combat acne and do not contain salicylic acid.

I familiarized myself on how to use this gel by reading the guide that comes with it. I also read articles about adapalene and thought it would suit the type of skin that I have.

From Differin website:

What is Differin®?

Differin® (adapalene) products are proven medicines that get deep into pores to help clear the acne you have and help keep new acne from starting. The Differin® product ingredients work under the skin’s surface at the source of the problem.

How does Differin® work? When a Differin® (adapalene) product is absorbed into your skin, it begins to normalize the skin cells that clog pores. The result? The Differin® product gets deep into pores to help clear the acne you have and help keep new acne from starting.

Indication: DIFFERIN® GEL and DIFFERIN® LOTION are prescription medication known as a retinoid and are indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years and older. Adverse

Events: In controlled clinical studies, the most commonly reported (≥1%) adverse events in patients treated with DIFFERIN® GEL were dry skin, skin discomfort, pruritus, desquamation, and sunburn.

I didn’t feel any sting or burn upon application, which is a good sign that this product will be gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I only applied it on the breakout area and used it only at night as advised.

What I like about Differin Anti-Acne Gel (Adapalene):

• It’s odorless.
• It’s mild, which is good for sensitive-skinned people like me
• Doesn’t feel heavy when applied
• Non-greasy and it dries pretty fast
• No purging. I was expecting more flare ups, but it didn’t cause me to purge.
• Readily available at local drugstores (it’s a non-prescription drug here in the Philippines)

What I don’t like about Differin Anti-Acne Gel (Adapalene):

• Makes you more sensitive to sunlight which causes sunburns
• It takes time to work. But of course, every product that is meant to cure or prevent takes time.
• I was told to avoid it on the nose part, but I was too eager to use it on a zit on my nose. Lo and behold, my nose turned very red and dry.
• It wasn’t too effective to combat acne. I used it for several months. It gave little improvements.

Tips:

The fact that Differin is odorless and lightweight makes this product suitable for those with sensitive skin. Use a pea-sized amount of this gel. I was once stubborn and used more and I ended up with an irritated face and a sunburnt look. Avoid using this around your eyes and nose. Lastly, don’t forget to apply sunblock regularly as Differin gel causes your skin to be more sensitive to light.

Overall:

I think this product would be best for those with sensitive skin. It’s non-irritating and doesn’t cause much of the expected adverse effects. It was just too bad that it only showed little improvements on my skin and didn’t totally reduce acne. Perhaps I need a stronger product to eliminate stubborn acne. But for those with really sensitive skin and for those who don’t need strong products, you can try this Differin as it’s gentle.

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