What is Differin?
Acne is a skin condition where the pores get clogged by hair, sebum (an oily substance), bacteria and dead skin cells. People in the 11-30 age group are more prone to acne, but it can affect anyone.
Differin is an acne treatment you can get as a gel or a cream. It can be used to treat mild to moderate acne of the face, chest and back. Pimples or rashes with or without pus and blackheads are the types of acne that can be treated with Differin.
Differin is to be applied on the affected area of skin at night before bed. Avoid eyes and lips while applying.
It isn’t used to treat severe acne.
How does Differin work?
Adapalene is the active ingredient in Differin. 1 gram of Differin contains 1mg of adapalene. Adapalene is a retinoid which means it works a bit like Vitamin A in the body, but it’s specifically designed for acne.
When you have acne, new skin cells are formed at a high speed but the old cells aren’t destroyed. These old cells, sebum and bacteria then lead to clogged pores. Adapalene controls the production of excess new skin cells and prevents clogging of pores. This helps the sebaceous cells to excrete the excess sebum and avoids spots from forming. Adapalene has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps in reducing soreness and irritation of the affected area.
Differin works only on the surface of the skin as only very small amounts are absorbed.
What forms of Differin are there?
Differin is available in two forms – gel and cream. The active ingredient in both forms is adapalene and 1g of both the gel and cream contain 1mg of adapalene. So they’re both the same dose.
You can use gel or cream depending on your skin type. If you have oily skin the gel form is more suitable as it dries up quickly. If you have sensitive skin, the cream might be better as it’s less likely to cause irritation.
Stay on our British site 
