Differin and Acne: What Users Say

• els...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2014

For Acne "I began using Differin after I had an experience with some mild acne. The first two weeks were horrible - my acne went from mild to severe in a matter of days. However, that's how the medicine works. It pushes the acne out and allows your skin to heal. So even though the first two weeks are hell, it does work. Once the initial breakout clears you're home free."

• els...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2014

For Acne "I began using Differin after I had an experience with some mild acne. The first two weeks were horrible - my acne went from mild to severe in a matter of days. However, that's how the medicine works. It pushes the acne out and allows your skin to heal. So even though the first two weeks are hell, it does work. Once the initial breakout clears you're home free."

• Wil...
• September 3, 2020

For Acne "I started Differin 3 months ago. I began with inflamed hormonal acne on my cheeks and chin. My dermatologist prescribed me clindamycin topical, and recommended I also use Differin. The first month I did not notice a difference in my acne, but I did notice my overall complexion was looking more even. The second month the purging started, and it was bad. Then it would seem okay, and then get bad again. Push through this, I know it's hard, but purging is essential for clearing your skin with this medication. I started to get breakouts in new places which was rough. I'm now on month 3 of Differin and I have no active breakouts! I do have some red marks on my cheeks from hyperpigmentation, and I'm now using some serums to help with that, although the marks will fade naturally with time. Be consistent and persevere because this medication does truly work, I promise! It will be a rocky road but there is a light at the end of the tunnel :)"

• che...
• February 2, 2020

For Acne "Skin type: oily + very, VERY acne prone. Summary of review: DON'T GIVE UP even though the purge sucks!! The Differin purge lasted for about 16 to 18 weeks for me, but keep in mind that everyone's skin is different. It was horrible. My skin was dry, and waves and waves of nodules and cystic acne would spring up overnight. But all of those side effects started to disappear around week ten. Pimples would still appear, but they would come and go and barely leave a mark since the PIH scars faded so quickly. I still have some discoloration from the purge, but overall my texture has evened out, I haven't had a single pimple since, and my skin has become less oily than when I started. So don't be discouraged! The results at the end will be so much better than dropping out midway during the purge finding new products. So yup, the purge sucks. But stick through it! The results will take some time, but it's so worth it! Good luck, and don't give up!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2019

For Acne "I’ve been on Differin for around 5 months, and I have to say, this product has really made a positive impact on my skin. It is so soft and pretty much free of active acne, albeit I have some hyperpigmentation issues to work on (which Differin is helping with). DO NOT QUIT. I broke out so bad for the first three months and wanted to stop, but I kept pushing forward. It really does get better. The Differin purge is real, but conquerable!"

• Adl...
• February 27, 2014

For Acne "I've had acne for about 12 years now since I was 13 years old. I have tried different things including Proactiv and Acne Free, along with some other prescription medications. Nothing ever cleared it 100 percent. I have been using Differin gel 0.03% for a little over two weeks now. At first, my face was dry and broke out worse than normal. The last few days, my face has gotten better, I have about 5 blemishes rather than 12 large cysts that I would normally have. I am hoping that the rest clear up soon. I notice my acne scars have gotten better looking as well since using Differin. I am super excited to see the coming weeks' progress."

• lum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

For Acne "I'm a 23-year-old male. I would have 1 or 2 pimples at most every 2-3 weeks, but I was looking for something to help stop these few pimples, and Differin seemed to have a good option. BAD IDEA. This has ruined my skin. I have never had so much acne, and the worst part is the acne scarring that every pimple leaves behind. I've never been so self-conscious of my skin to the point where I'm avoiding leaving the house. I'm a week away from being 3 months on Differin and have been 'purging' since the first week. I am going to stop using Differin and will use only the VERY basic stuff, like moisturizer, and will try to update to see if my skin improves within a few weeks. I'm sure Differin or other retinoids work for some people, but it seems like a hit or miss product. It's not worth suffering for so long just to hope for a chance at improvement."

• lum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

For Acne "I'm a 23-year-old male. I would have 1 or 2 pimples at most every 2-3 weeks, but I was looking for something to help stop these few pimples, and Differin seemed to have a good option. BAD IDEA. This has ruined my skin. I have never had so much acne, and the worst part is the acne scarring that every pimple leaves behind. I've never been so self-conscious of my skin to the point where I'm avoiding leaving the house. I'm a week away from being 3 months on Differin and have been 'purging' since the first week. I am going to stop using Differin and will use only the VERY basic stuff, like moisturizer, and will try to update to see if my skin improves within a few weeks. I'm sure Differin or other retinoids work for some people, but it seems like a hit or miss product. It's not worth suffering for so long just to hope for a chance at improvement."

• mar...
• July 18, 2019

For Acne "I literally never leave reviews for stuff, but I had to for this. It changed my life, I am significantly happier and more confident since using this product. I had cystic acne like I had never experienced before. It was HORRIBLE-my face was extremely oily and covered in deep red blemishes. Experiencing this in college was honestly making me depressed. My friend recommended Differin, and at first I was hesitant but decided it couldn’t get much worse. Within the first week, I noticed a change in the overall quality of my skin. While the acne had of course not suddenly disappeared, my face was significantly less oily and appeared brighter overall. After a month, I’d say my acne had decreased by about 50%. After three months on Differin, I’d say my cystic acne was about 80% gone. After five months on Differin, I genuinely do not have acne anymore. Even when I get the occasional pimple, it comes to a head within a day and quickly disappears. It changed my life!"

• Nic...
• February 1, 2012

For Acne "I've never had acne until November of last year. Due to large amounts of stress, I broke out all over my forehead and chin. It caused me to get stressed out even more! I went to my doctor to tell her about all the symptoms I've been having due to all this stress, and she gave me Differin for the acne. I've only been using it for about 2 weeks now, and I've definitely noticed a difference! The left side of my forehead is almost completely cleared up! I remember after only 3 nights of using this that I woke up and noticed my acne had gotten worse (this is a good thing, I knew it meant that it was pushing the acne up to the surface to get out). I love this!"

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2015

For Acne "I've used this product for 12 weeks now. My comedone acne completely cleared after 8 weeks of use. Broke out a lot in the first 8 weeks, but once I reached 8 weeks and onward, my skin has drastically changed. Would definitely recommend this for comedone acne, and do try and persevere as it takes at least 8 weeks to work."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2020

For Acne "I had like a few breakouts, so I went to the dermatologist for medicine, and they told me to use Differin gel. I guess it works for some and not for all. Because I started with 2-4 pimples and then used the Differin, and now I have full-blown acne. Like all over my face, I used it consistently for 6 months. Never stopped until I realized it wasn’t working, all it did was give me more acne, and I hate my face and regret using this product. It said I would see a difference in 12 weeks and no more acne, but I saw a difference, alright... made my face horrible. So... happy it works for some people, I guess."

• Mik...
• August 30, 2013

For Acne "I had clear skin all the way up to junior year. I became stressed out due to the workload and decided to buy products that contained chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. I even purchased a system, but I believe that it dried out my skin and produced an oil flare-up. My acne was considerably worse after 30 days. I got cystic pimples. I finally convinced my parents to seek me a dermatologist. I was prescribed Differin lotion (0.3% adapalene) along with minocycline 100 mg, twice a day. I wash my face now with Purpose gentle cleansing bar. The first week I only used Differin because my insurance had not cleared minocycline yet. I saw significant improvement. Almost my 3rd month and breakouts have ceased."

• reb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

For Acne "I am on my 15th week of Differin currently, and my acne and scars are really clearing up. I still get some occasional pimples, but not a massive amount. Even at week 12, I had a ton of acne from when my skin was “purging,” and the scarring was unreal. I never got a massive amount of acne on my cheeks before using this product, but besides the scars left behind, which continue to clear up by the day. I’m very happy with how my face is looking, even though it took 14 weeks to be happy and see good results. Stick with it because I came on this website all the time and always heard bad reviews, but also good ones saying to stick it out, and I truly agree to just stick it out. Or try something else if you can’t/won’t be able to deal with the possible 14 weeks of unbelievable amounts of acne and scars."

• 26w...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2017

For Acne "I have been using this product since it was made available without a prescription. If you are going to use it, be sure to read the instructions and warnings. This product has a period of time at the beginning of use that makes your acne worse and then clears it. I went through this process when I started taking Spironolactone, so I knew what to expect and I trusted that it would go away - it did. My skin looks and feels fantastic! I still get an occasional zit here and there - I'm pretty sure it's my fault as I'm a toucher/picker/popper. This is an easy product to add to your routine. Make sure to use it at night and wash off in the morning so you don't have to worry about sunburns. I highly recommend Differin."

• Whi...
• April 5, 2017

For Acne "I will be 30 in 3 months, and my skin is worse than it was when I was 16! What the hell! I find it interesting that everyone who really enjoyed this product properly used this product. I was prescribed Differin when I was in my teens, and it worked wonders! Now that it's OTC, I recently started using it again. I am at the 4-week point, so yes, my face is breaking out. I remember when I first used it years ago, the same thing happened, and with patience, my skin cleared up. I have already noticed a difference in my cheeks, which seem to not be breaking out as bad. I am patiently waiting for this period of breakouts to come and go, so I can see those great results once more. I used Differin as a teen and loved it."

• nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2020

For Acne "I was excited to start this product. I knew I was going to have a face purge. However, it has been over 2 months, and my face is really red and has so much acne. My face is worse than when I started. I don't want to give up, but it is making it so much worse, and I feel so ugly - disappointed."

• Che...
• August 16, 2017

For Acne "I needed to share an honest review. I got Differin to get rid of these stubborn invisible pimples around my chin. Basically, they're clogged pores. They appeared even though I wash my face daily and nightly and exfoliate regularly with expensive products. Then I found Differin. I've been on it about 3 weeks now. Although I have gotten breakouts all over, my forehead is its clearest it's been. The pores on my cheeks are getting smaller and clearer. My nose has practically no problem areas anymore. The invisible pimples/clogged pores are subsiding dramatically. I am getting breakouts in those areas, but my face looks radiant anyway."

• Hil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

For Acne "I wanted to share my experience with Differin as someone in the middle of the dreaded acne purge. I am coming into 6 weeks, and I have to say this has been the worst my skin has looked since I first started breaking out 17 years ago. I am not only getting whiteheads that seem to burst at the most inopportune times, I am also getting a lot of actual raised acne. It is all happening in the majority of problem areas. The worst thing is that it is happening in clusters. It seems to be more painful than my normal breakouts since they come hard and fast. They also subside fast, but as of right now... more seem to be not far behind. Right now I can't help but give this 1 star because this is pure awfulness... plain and simple. That being said, I am moving forward using the medication. I will update next week and week 8 when most of the purging is supposed to be at an end."

• Bea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 20, 2019

For Acne "My dermatologist prescribed this before it was OTC, and it may have been a higher dose then, but it still works with the 1%. I do not have severe acne, but it is cystic, especially around my menstrual cycle. What I have learned to use and what my doctor recommended was to only use Dove sensitive soap with the product. I wash my face with it before I apply it. You want to be sure to use it on your entire face, not just particular spots here and there. Sometimes I could even wear it under my makeup, but at night is easiest for me, once a day. Anyway, when my skin did get really dry, my solution is always Vaseline, all over your face for one night, maybe two. It's messy and feels very gross, but worth it. I always have baby soft skin without dryness, and my wrinkles are less present after a night of this. Lastly, although I do still get cystic acne on Differin, it's less often, and they come out more easily if and when I do pop them. Hope this is helpful."

• Get...
• June 4, 2017

For Acne "I have been using Differin for 15 weeks, and this is the best my skin has looked in years. And I am excited that it'll keep getting better from here. The initial breakout phase was terrible! So for anyone going through that now... keep going, there's a bright light at the end of the tunnel!! Antibiotics won't hurt too!!!"

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

For Acne "I've just passed the 2-month mark after having my doctor prescribe it to me. I've always used benzoyl peroxide, which has always worked for me, but I told my doc I didn't want to put something on my face every single night for the rest of my life. She prescribed Differin. She said I had to wait at least a month to see improvements, as purging is normal. 2 months later, and I'm still purging. I've gotten painful acne in places I didn't have it before, and I'm overall very unhappy with the results. The prescription says it may take 1-3 months to see results, so I will continue for another month, but I don't think it'll make a difference. Would not recommend."

• Ary...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2021

For Acne "So I had high hopes for this product. Not only because I had exhausted most topical solutions for my acne, but because I had seen some great reviews online. My acne was mainly on my cheeks and some spots here and there on my forehead and chin. I never really experienced cystic acne until I started using this product. Three months in, and the purging hadn't stopped. I thought I'd give it more time. Four months in, the acne is cystic and has shifted to my forehead. My right cheek is mostly clear, but I have acne on my left cheek. I'm one week away from five months, and my skin feels greasy. I'm getting blackheads on my forehead, not to mention I now have pitted scars and hyperpigmentation from the ongoing purge. I'm contemplating whether I should continue with this product till month six or pack it in and start trying to clear my HPI and scarring. Right now I'm in the process of making my own coconut kefir so I can heal my gut using probiotic-rich foods. I honestly feel like I'm at my wit's end."

• Ary...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2021

For Acne "So I had high hopes for this product. Not only because I had exhausted most topical solutions for my acne, but because I had seen some great reviews online. My acne was mainly on my cheeks and some spots here and there on my forehead and chin. I never really experienced cystic acne until I started using this product. Three months in, and the purging hadn't stopped. I thought I'd give it more time. Four months in, the acne is cystic and has shifted to my forehead. My right cheek is mostly clear, but I have acne on my left cheek. I'm one week away from five months, and my skin feels greasy. I'm getting blackheads on my forehead, not to mention I now have pitted scars and hyperpigmentation from the ongoing purge. I'm contemplating whether I should continue with this product till month six or pack it in and start trying to clear my HPI and scarring. Right now I'm in the process of making my own coconut kefir so I can heal my gut using probiotic-rich foods. I honestly feel like I'm at my wit's end."

• Car...
• September 25, 2018

For Acne "I purchased this product after seeing the commercial for it several times. I had tried everything OTC and thought that this might actually work. It didn’t. I’ve had moderate acne for about 5 years, and it always comes in spurts. I really didn’t notice anything the first week of using it. In the second week, I noticed my acne getting worse, and by the third week, my acne was unbearable. I had the worst acne of my life, and so I finally did research because I hadn’t before I started. All the reviews I read said that it gets worse before it gets better, but usually starts really working after a month or so. I decided to stick with it and kept hoping it would get better. It didn’t. After 12 weeks of using it, my acne was awful. I had developed more scars than I ever had before. I threw it away and went back to my old routine. My face started clearing up right away. Everyone has different reactions, but I wouldn’t recommend this product to any of my friends."