Acne Treatment with Adapalene: Everything You Need to Know

Do you struggle with acne and blemishes? Considering trying adapalene? I’ve done the research and want to share my detailed experience with using adapalene for acne treatment.

I first started using adapalene in high school to treat forehead acne. After my acne cleared up, I stopped using it until this year. For the past three months, I’ve been using adapalene again, this time to treat acne on my chin and cheeks. I use the brand Differin, which is available over the counter at drugstores, so no prescription is needed.

If you're dealing with acne and thinking about trying adapalene, here’s everything you should know based on my experience:

First Impressions

The results from using adapalene do not come over night. In my experience, it can even take months before seeing visible results. So it's important to remember to be patient when you first start using adapalene. When I first started using adapalene, I even noticed my skin becoming worse. During the first few weeks, I noticed more pimples on my face. In my experience, this was just a sign of my skin acclimating to treatment. Lastly, it's important to note that adapalene can also cause dryness.

Treatment Routine

I'm someone with combination skin. I am oily in my T-zone and on my cheeks, but I am very dry around my nose and chin. Since adapalene can be so drying, I've noticed that I can't apply the product to my dry areas. I also only apply adapalene at night before bed, since you should only use it once a day. I don't like to apply it during the day because the product makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.

After I remove my makeup and cleanse my face at night, I distribute a pea-sized amount of adapalene to my cheeks, my forehead, and slightly around my chin. Once the product has completely dried, I apply an ultra-hydrating moisturizer all over my face.

Pros and Cons

Cons:

• Adapalene can seriously irritate the driest areas of your face

• The time it takes to experience results varies significantly from person to person

• Initial skin flare-ups

Pros:

• Significantly clearer skin

• Budget-friendly

• Available without a prescription from a dermatologist

My Final Score

Now that I've been using Differin again for the past three months, I have finally noticed that my skin is much clearer than before. That being said, I am still left with some acne scars, so my next step in my skincare journey is to even my skin tone. However, I am very glad that I am not battling with pimples as much anymore.

Overall, I highly recommend adapalene to anyone who needs a simple solution to stubborn acne. I definitely give adapalene and Differin two thumbs up!!

Here are some before and after photos of my skin:

Before: After: