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Differin

Adapalene

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User Ratings

Out of 10

Satisfaction

5.8

4.5 Effectiveness

4.1 Side Effects

5.1 Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 3 Differin side effects and 2 Differin benefits.

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Treatment Information

Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

Adapalene is the generic name of Differin and it is used in the treatment of acne. Available in topical form, it can be applied on the entire face avoiding eyes, lips, and mucous membranes. Tingling sensation associated with the application of Diffirin is temporary. Due to photosensitivity while on Diffirin, direct sun exposure should be avoided.

The active ingredients of Differin are adapalene. The inactive ingredients of Differin are Carbomer 940, edetate disodium, Glycerol (E422), Macrogol-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate, methylparaben, and poloxamer 124. It could also consist of hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment.

Common Uses:

Treatment of acne.

Off Label Uses:

Treatment of a skin-condition called keratosis pilaris and other skin conditions.

Side Effects:
Allergic reactions (hives, itching, burning, dyspnea or difficulty breathing, tigtness in the chest, swelling in the face, lips, and tongue).
Burning.
Dry skin.
Irritation.
Itching.
Redness.
Skin breaking out into blisters.
Scaly skin.
Skin feeling warm.
Skin peeling.

Cautions / Warnings:

Allergic reactions.
Increased photosensitivity or sensitivity to sunlight.
Initially acne could get worse, however it will progressively get better.
Should not be applied on skin abrasions, cuts, eczema-affected skin, sunburned skin, and wounds.
Not recommended in children below 12 years' of age.
Not recommended in pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Drug Interactions:
Drugs containing:
Ammoniated mercury and salicylic acid topical.
Benzoic acid and salicylic acid topical.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid topical.
Coal tar and lactic acid and salicylic acid topical.
Coal tar and salicylic acid topical.
Coal tar and salicylic acid and sulfur topical.
Doxycycline and salicylic acid topical.
Hydrocortisone and salicylic acid and sulfur topical.
Isotretinoin.
Pyrithione zinc and salicylic acid topical.
Salicylic acid topical.
Salicylic acid and sodium thiosulfate topical.
Salicylic acid and sulfur topical.
Salicylic acid and urea topical.

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How does your Treatment Compare?

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Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Accutane	8.04	7.23	4.06	45
Minocycline Hydrochloride	6.57	5.66	2.45	23
Doxycycline Hyclate	6.27	6.54	4.4	15
Differin	5.1	4.77	3.41	20
Solodyn	4.5	3.98	2.92	16

View All	About these Scores
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Effectiveness of Differin by Condition

Click on a condition to view RateADrug.com users ratings

Acne

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Effectiveness on "Acne"

About these Results
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of how users rate the effectiveness of their medication. Click on the various conditions to see how the effectiveness ratings change. Close

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How effective is Differin?

Reported Changes in Health and Well-Being

Since taking Differin, RateADrug survey participants noticed these changes in their health:

Effect on:	Much Worse	Worse	No Change	Better	Much Better
Appetite	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Balance/Equilibrium	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Blood Pressure	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Breathing	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Confidence	0%	5%	80%	10%	5%
Coordination/Motor Skills	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Digestion	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Emotional Well-being	0%	5%	85%	10%	0%
Energy	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Eyesight	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Memory	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Mental Clarity	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Pain	0%	10%	90%	0%	0%
Patience	0%	5%	90%	5%	0%
Sexual Health	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Skin Complexion	0%	9.5%	28.6%	52.4%	9.5%
Sleep	0%	0%	100%	0%	0%
Stress Level	0%	0%	85%	15%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of negative or positive changes in health and well-being experienced by users for all of the categories listed. Close

Commonly Reported Differin Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced these commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Allergic Reaction	95%	5%	0%	0%	0%
Blistering	95%	5%	0%	0%	0%
Change in Skin Coloring	85.7%	4.8%	9.5%	0%	0%
Dizziness	95%	5%	0%	0%	0%
Drowsiness	0%	0%	0%	100%	0%
Dry Skin	18.2%	27.3%	31.8%	13.6%	9.1%
Headache	95%	0%	5%	0%	0%
Itching	76.2%	23.8%	0%	0%	0%
Redness	38.1%	23.8%	28.6%	4.8%	4.8%
Scaling	80%	6.7%	6.7%	6.7%	0%
Sensitivity to Light	57.1%	9.5%	28.6%	4.8%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Less Commonly Reported Differin Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced less commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Breast Tenderness	95%	0%	5%	0%	0%
Drowsiness	94.7%	0%	5.3%	0%	0%
Scaling	83.3%	0%	16.7%	0%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

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User Comments about Differin

10 Aug 2011	At first the drug worked right away and I could see results the night after i put it on. However, after taking the drug for an extended amount of time the effects have lessened and it takes many more applications to actually see results. —Posted by Anonymous Respond Display Name: Email: (Required) Notify me of new comments Email me monthly survey results Sending... I agree to the Terms of Use
05 Oct 2010	This was prescribed by my dermatologist along with a couple of other medications and it really worked well. It took a few weeks for my skin complexion to improve, but after that my acne was gone and I've been clear ever since then. —Posted by Anonymous Respond Display Name: Email: (Required) Notify me of new comments Email me monthly survey results Sending... I agree to the Terms of Use
01 Jun 2010	i love differin i added it to my daily routine along with benzaclin gel and my face looks great, i have people that havent seen me since i had horrible acne and they tell me i look like a new person. I had no confidence and hated going out in public, it really had a bad impact on my social skills, but now that people aren't staring at my acne, I have great confidence and people-skills. —Posted by Baby-Butt-Skin Respond Display Name: Email: (Required) Notify me of new comments Email me monthly survey results Sending... I agree to the Terms of Use
08 May 2010	it might work for some, but not the others —Posted by Anonymous Respond Display Name: Email: (Required) Notify me of new comments Email me monthly survey results Sending... I agree to the Terms of Use
26 Feb 2010	I have been taking differin for awhile. When it works it works well. However it is not always effective. Additionally it makes my skin really dry. It also causes redness and can be painful. —Posted by Anonymous Respond Display Name: Email: (Required) Notify me of new comments Email me monthly survey results Sending... I agree to the Terms of Use