Differin

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Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on March 14, 2024.
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What does adapalene treat?

Adapalene is a first-line treatment for acne, working deep in your pores to target the source and prevent new acne from forming. There’s also evidence that you can use adapalene for wrinkles, to help reduce signs of aging.

You can also use adapalene for milia, also known as milk spots. Milia are small white or yellow bumps caused by keratin getting trapped in your skin. Adapalene increases the rate you replace old skin cells with new ones, helping to release trapped keratin from your skin. This should reduce any milia you have, and prevent more forming.

Adapalene can also be used off-label to treat lichen spinulosus, plantar warts, alopecia areata, and childhood acanthosis nigricans.

How does adapalene work?

Retinoids like adapalene treat acne by helping to regulate (or sometimes increase) the turnover of new skin cells, which should improve the process of shedding and replacing old skin.

Acne can be caused by an excess of sebum (the oil that keeps your skin and hair hydrated) mixing with dead skin cells, which can clog pores. Introducing a treatment like adapalene can help to exfoliate your skin and lower the likelihood of your pores getting clogged and forming acne. As well as reducing the formation of acne, retinoids have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help reduce swelling and redness caused by spots.

By increasing the turnover of skin cells and exfoliating your skin, adapalene has been said to help to improve some signs of ageing too. It also helps stimulate the production of collagen in the deeper layers of skin, which helps with wrinkles, fine lines, and the overall thickness of your skin. So for some users this might help make your skin look younger as well as helping with your acne.

Topical retinoids like adapalene have been used to treat acne for over three decades, and are clinically proven to be effective. A study involving 2,141 people who were either given adapalene 0.1% lotion or placebo for 12 weeks revealed that adapalene was significantly better at reducing total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory lesions than placebo. Adapalene was also found to be well tolerated, with reports of irritation in the adapalene group being mostly mild or moderate – and people found it easy to use.

When you first start using adapalene, there’s a chance your acne can get temporarily worse. But sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. This reaction is sometimes referred to as an “adapalene purge”, and typically starts after about a week of treatment.

As adapalene works to exfoliate and clear your top layers of skin, clogged pores in deeper layers are brought to the surface, which can cause acne symptoms to temporarily worsen. But after these clogged pores are cleared, you should notice your acne symptoms improving. Adapalene purges usually end within four to six weeks of starting your treatment.

Adapalene can also cause something called retinisation. As your skin adapts to the medicine, it can become dry, irritated, and develop more pimples, whiteheads and blackheads for a period of time. The good news is this typically improves after around four weeks of treatment.

What adapalene dosages are there?

Adapalene comes in two different dosages, adapalene 0.1% w/w and adapalene 0.3% w/w. Studies have suggested that adapalene 0.3% is significantly more effective than adapalene 0.1% for moderate to moderately severe acne, while still being well tolerated.

How to use adapalene

You should always use adapalene as instructed by your clinician. Typically, you’ll apply it once a day every day, usually before going to bed at night. Follow these adapalene instructions to get the most out of your treatment:

  • Wash the affected areas thoroughly with water, and make sure your skin is dry before you apply your treatment.
  • Apply a small amount of adapalene to your fingertips and spread a thin film over the affected area – then rub it in gently.
  • Wash your hands after rubbing it in.

It depends on your acne and how quickly it improves. You shouldn’t stop adapalene treatment if your acne gets worse after starting it without speaking to your doctor. Adapalene can cause your acne symptoms to temporarily get worse before they improve.

You’ll usually use adapalene for between eight and 12 weeks. If you’ve been using adapalene for three months, speak with your doctor. They can check how your acne is improving with adapalene, and recommend further treatment from there.

It’s generally recommended that you stop using adapalene while pregnant. While studies suggest that only small amounts of adapalene are absorbed into your skin, there are other acne medications available that are usually recommended instead. Speak to your doctor about adapalene pregnancy alternatives.

Adapalene should be kept in a sealed container at room temperature, out of direct sunlight and away from any heat or moisture.

What side effects are linked to adapalene?

One reason you might choose adapalene over other acne treatments is because it’s very well tolerated. Its safety profile is considered one of its main benefits over other similar treatments. But like any medication, there’s still some risk of adapalene side effects.

Common side effects of adapalene include:

  • Dry skin
  • Irritated skin
  • A burning sensation on your skin
  • Redness

Some more uncommon side effects of adapalene can be:

  • Localised skin reactions (also known as contact dermatitis)
  • Discomfort on your skin
  • Sensitivity to sunlight and sunburn
  • Itching
  • Peeling skin
  • Worsening acne

And there are some side effects that we can’t estimate the frequency of from the data that’s currently available, such as:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Painful or swollen skin
  • Irritated, red, itchy or swollen eyelids
  • Darkening pale skin
  • Lightening dark skin
  • Burns where you apply your treatment

If you have any questions or concerns, take a look at the patient information leaflet for adapalene – or speak to a clinician.

What treatments use adapalene?

The brand-name treatment Differin is adapalene gel under a different name and packaging. Adapalene – not available in the UK – is the generic version of Differin, named after the active ingredient in both treatments. Because it’s a generic medication, adapalene is usually a bit cheaper than the branded Differin – but they should both work exactly the same. There’s also a branded version known as Effaclar adapalene gel that doesn’t need a prescription – but this is only available in the US right now.

You can also get combined adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel for acne. Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic that helps reduce the amount of bacteria present on your skin. These bacteria can cause infections if they get into clogged pores and make acne worse, so using combined benzoyl peroxide and adapalene for acne can help more than using either individually. But benzoyl peroxide can also irritate the skin – so if you have sensitive skin, sticking to just adapalene might suit you better.

If you’re looking for a slightly weaker version of adapalene, you can try retinol. Retinol and adapalene are both retinoids, but retinol isn’t quite as potent. So it might be a good choice if your acne isn’t very severe.

There’s another retinol that’s slightly more potent than adapalene that’s called tretinoin, but there isn’t much in it. In fact, when comparing adapalene vs tretinoin, studies reveal that adapalene has comparable results but is less irritating. It’s typically seen as a good alternative to tretinoin for mild to moderate acne.

Adapalene is a prescription-only medication – you’ll need a consultation with a clinician before you can buy it. This is so they can make sure it’s a safe and effective treatment for you before you use it. There is a branded version of adapalene called Effaclar that you don’t need a prescription for, but at the moment it’s only available in the US.

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This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on March 14, 2024. Next review due on March 14, 2026.

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