-
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Please read THIS THREAD about a rebrand for SF.
Adapalene (Differin) Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment Trial
- Thread starter Inanimate
- Start date
Well, I’m not sure as to who is still following along with this haphazard thread other than one or two people, but for the sake of consistency, but more so because I’m fucking lonely, I’ll provide an update.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be using adapalene daily. I’ve neither experienced dryness, irritation, nor peeling, in the four weeks that I’ve introduced it. To that effect, I haven’t experienced a worsening of breakouts either. As it happens, the breakouts I did experience were less severe—so much so that I don’t recall having any impulse to pick at them, and they healed rather expeditiously. The only breakout, albeit superficial, that currently has my attention is one that is very localized, which quite possibly occurred because I somehow scratched the shit out of my face unwittingly.
Anyway, I’m considering the 6 week mark to be the end of the adjustment/retinization period. I’m still going to be using a salicylic acid (SA) wash by day for the simple fact that it comes with less risk of dryness and irritation compared to benzoyl peroxide (BPO), which is especially important when I’m shaving. Additionally, the risk of bleaching fabrics is out of mind with SA, even though it’s unlikely to occur with a BPO wash as long as I rinse it off completely. Most of all, I’m trying to find any excuse to continue using SA so as to not hurt his feelings.
Finally, I hope to reintroduce BPO into my nightly routine whether it be in a wash or leave-on product after the 6 weeks. By way of the latter option, I’d essentially be using an Epiduo (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, 0.1%/2.5%) dupe. However, I’d be layering the actives separately rather than using them in a combination product. I’ve been using 2.5% BPO in a lotion formula, OXY Total Care Clarifying Moisturizer, on alternate nights with the adapalene. The marketing doesn’t lie: the product contains both clarifying/degreasing (presumably BPO) and moisturizing ingredients, and it comes in a rather generous amount (3.4 fl oz / 100 mL). Great for spot treating obnoxious inflammatory lesions on the back without the need for moisturizing them first. It’s available in the US at least.
Alright, back to desolation in degrees.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be using adapalene daily. I’ve neither experienced dryness, irritation, nor peeling, in the four weeks that I’ve introduced it. To that effect, I haven’t experienced a worsening of breakouts either. As it happens, the breakouts I did experience were less severe—so much so that I don’t recall having any impulse to pick at them, and they healed rather expeditiously. The only breakout, albeit superficial, that currently has my attention is one that is very localized, which quite possibly occurred because I somehow scratched the shit out of my face unwittingly.
Anyway, I’m considering the 6 week mark to be the end of the adjustment/retinization period. I’m still going to be using a salicylic acid (SA) wash by day for the simple fact that it comes with less risk of dryness and irritation compared to benzoyl peroxide (BPO), which is especially important when I’m shaving. Additionally, the risk of bleaching fabrics is out of mind with SA, even though it’s unlikely to occur with a BPO wash as long as I rinse it off completely. Most of all, I’m trying to find any excuse to continue using SA so as to not hurt his feelings.
Finally, I hope to reintroduce BPO into my nightly routine whether it be in a wash or leave-on product after the 6 weeks. By way of the latter option, I’d essentially be using an Epiduo (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, 0.1%/2.5%) dupe. However, I’d be layering the actives separately rather than using them in a combination product. I’ve been using 2.5% BPO in a lotion formula, OXY Total Care Clarifying Moisturizer, on alternate nights with the adapalene. The marketing doesn’t lie: the product contains both clarifying/degreasing (presumably BPO) and moisturizing ingredients, and it comes in a rather generous amount (3.4 fl oz / 100 mL). Great for spot treating obnoxious inflammatory lesions on the back without the need for moisturizing them first. It’s available in the US at least.
Alright, back to desolation in degrees.
No, but thank you for your kind offer.
Some lady from some social media platform, we’ll call her Karen, was ranting about the La Roche-Posay Adapalene being much more expensive than Differin, and that simply being a high-end brand doesn’t justify the cost. I’d be inclined to agree if she wasn’t comparing the $29.99, 1.6 oz LRP adapalene to the $15.49, 0.5 oz Differin, which she made no mention of. The aforementioned prices are from CVS. Furthermore, the 1.6 oz Differin is more expensive at CVS at $31.49. While it’s less expensive than LRP at Walgreens, LRP is perpetually on sale (hyperbole) at least online.
If that doesn’t make your ass itch, get a load of the people agreeing with her uncritically. No questions asked. Not one dissenting opinion, counterargument, or fact-check, but that’s none of my business. I don’t think any eczema cream is going to relieve the timeless itch of herd conformity.
Some lady from some social media platform, we’ll call her Karen, was ranting about the La Roche-Posay Adapalene being much more expensive than Differin, and that simply being a high-end brand doesn’t justify the cost. I’d be inclined to agree if she wasn’t comparing the $29.99, 1.6 oz LRP adapalene to the $15.49, 0.5 oz Differin, which she made no mention of. The aforementioned prices are from CVS. Furthermore, the 1.6 oz Differin is more expensive at CVS at $31.49. While it’s less expensive than LRP at Walgreens, LRP is perpetually on sale (hyperbole) at least online.
If that doesn’t make your ass itch, get a load of the people agreeing with her uncritically. No questions asked. Not one dissenting opinion, counterargument, or fact-check, but that’s none of my business. I don’t think any eczema cream is going to relieve the timeless itch of herd conformity.
I’m assuming you started Epiduo on the 27th. (You mentioned starting it earlier in this thread.) It can take up to three months to start seeing results according to the packaging of my adapalene. It may not be Epiduo, but I’m still using the same retinoid, which does the heavy-lifting. I think you’re still in the midst of acclimating to the treatment, so you’ve no need to be discouraged. As long as you’re not excessively irritated, you’re on the right track. If you’re tolerating it well over the span of a few weeks, that’s even better; in that case, consider upping the frequency.
Maybe I should try something like this. I had chickenpox when I was 12, and funny enough, that's when I started to get acne and it still flares up. I usually use the salicylic acid cleanser and benzoyl peroxide cream combo, but I haven't had access to the cream for a while. So I've noticed I've been breaking out a bit more. It's not widespread, but I'll get it in weird places, like now I have one under my eye and around my mouth. Hopefully I can find something that works.
Same here, though I do take to certain brands because I know that I tolerate them well. I’m more concerned about what’s not in the product than whatever is being touted on the front label; the active ingredient is what’s important, not the brand. I do wonder what percentage of benzoyl peroxide you use in the gels/creams because “maximum strength” (10%) makes me miserable, whereas the lower percentages are much more tolerable yet have similar efficacy.
I had tried to introduce both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in the same routine a number of times, but the cumulative tightness I’d experience days later makes me regret it every time.
I had tried to introduce both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in the same routine a number of times, but the cumulative tightness I’d experience days later makes me regret it every time.
@Inanimate - I’m so glad you’re doing this thread! It’s been good reading!
I use a BPO wash and BPO/clindamycin cream, and I’m on oral tetracycline. I have spot cover goo that has SA in it. My BPO wash is STRONG (10%). It took several weeks before it didn’t burn on contact - eek. I have to wear sunscreen with high protection factor if I plan to be in the sun - because every product/medication I use increases sun damage risk. Generally, I avoid being in the sun because sunscreens make me break out. (I’ve tried a lot of them - including very very expensive ones that are supposed to be anti-acne - but it doesn’t matter. I react to something basic in all sunscreen products - perhaps I’m allergic?)
Overall, I’ve had fairly good progress with the BPO, clindamycin, and tetracycline. Definitely has reduced breakouts and the spots are now rarely really inflamed. Very few of them are cyst-like now; they tend to be more superficial.
I hope everyone who needs this thread has success!
I use a BPO wash and BPO/clindamycin cream, and I’m on oral tetracycline. I have spot cover goo that has SA in it. My BPO wash is STRONG (10%). It took several weeks before it didn’t burn on contact - eek. I have to wear sunscreen with high protection factor if I plan to be in the sun - because every product/medication I use increases sun damage risk. Generally, I avoid being in the sun because sunscreens make me break out. (I’ve tried a lot of them - including very very expensive ones that are supposed to be anti-acne - but it doesn’t matter. I react to something basic in all sunscreen products - perhaps I’m allergic?)
Overall, I’ve had fairly good progress with the BPO, clindamycin, and tetracycline. Definitely has reduced breakouts and the spots are now rarely really inflamed. Very few of them are cyst-like now; they tend to be more superficial.
I hope everyone who needs this thread has success!
Oh, my. Good thing it was a wash-off product in the first place. Luckily, I’ve always kicked off my benzoyl peroxide usage at a moderate percentage (whether it was unplanned or systematic), so it never unreservedly assaulted my face.
That’s curious. As far as irritants and pore clogging ingredients go, I avoid (off the top of my head):
That’s curious. As far as irritants and pore clogging ingredients go, I avoid (off the top of my head):
- fragrance
- fragrant compounds (i.e., limonene, linalool, citronellol)
- essential oils
- citrus extracts and other fragrant plant extracts
- dyes
- menthol (or anything with a cooling effect as they tend to be a nuisance to me anyway)
- coconut oil
@Inanimate - I’m so glad you’re doing this thread! It’s been good reading!
I use a BPO wash and BPO/clindamycin cream, and I’m on oral tetracycline. I have spot cover goo that has SA in it. My BPO wash is STRONG (10%). It took several weeks before it didn’t burn on contact - eek. I have to wear sunscreen with high protection factor if I plan to be in the sun - because every product/medication I use increases sun damage risk. Generally, I avoid being in the sun because sunscreens make me break out. (I’ve tried a lot of them - including very very expensive ones that are supposed to be anti-acne - but it doesn’t matter. I react to something basic in all sunscreen products - perhaps I’m allergic?)
Overall, I’ve had fairly good progress with the BPO, clindamycin, and tetracycline. Definitely has reduced breakouts and the spots are now rarely really inflamed. Very few of them are cyst-like now; they tend to be more superficial.
I hope everyone who needs this thread has success!
I use a BPO wash and BPO/clindamycin cream, and I’m on oral tetracycline. I have spot cover goo that has SA in it. My BPO wash is STRONG (10%). It took several weeks before it didn’t burn on contact - eek. I have to wear sunscreen with high protection factor if I plan to be in the sun - because every product/medication I use increases sun damage risk. Generally, I avoid being in the sun because sunscreens make me break out. (I’ve tried a lot of them - including very very expensive ones that are supposed to be anti-acne - but it doesn’t matter. I react to something basic in all sunscreen products - perhaps I’m allergic?)
Overall, I’ve had fairly good progress with the BPO, clindamycin, and tetracycline. Definitely has reduced breakouts and the spots are now rarely really inflamed. Very few of them are cyst-like now; they tend to be more superficial.
I hope everyone who needs this thread has success!
. I'm using lymecycline at the moment (it comes under that class) but haven't yet seen a difference. I have used it in the past and it completely cleared the acne, but then I stopped taking it. So here we go again.I have tried top-of-the-line sunscreens that are free of scents, dyes, oils. I figure it is one of the chemical UV filters since I react to them all to some degree. I have not tried the mineral blocks - I truly just avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods of time. If I must be out, then I use the screens and live with the break out. 
2 The best of limited choices.
* Acy slaps her hands away from her face - DO NOT TOUCH! *
2 The best of limited choices. * Acy slaps her hands away from her face - DO NOT TOUCH! *
I have tried top-of-the-line sunscreens that are free of scents, dyes, oils. I figure it is one of the chemical UV filters since I react to them all to some degree. I have not tried the mineral blocks - I truly just avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods of time. If I must be out, then I use the screens and live with the break out. 2 The best of limited choices.
* Acy slaps her hands away from her face - DO NOT TOUCH! *
2 The best of limited choices. * Acy slaps her hands away from her face - DO NOT TOUCH! *
Give the mineral sunscreens (without the fragrance, dyes, and other offenders) a try as well. I’m not well-versed in mineral sunscreen products, but I trust that Neutrogena and La Roche-Posay has some good ones.
@Inanimate - I use La Roche-Posay - the lightweight, non-greasy one on my face. The greasier one on arms, etc. I still break out a bit, but La Roche-Posay is the best I’ve tried! (It’s very very expensive here.) As I said, I just really don’t go out and play in the sun all that often. Thanks again for the tips!
Thanks again for the tips!
@Inanimate - I use La Roche-Posay - the lightweight, non-greasy one on my face. The greasier one on arms, etc. I still break out a bit, but La Roche-Posay is the best I’ve tried! (It’s very very expensive here.) As I said, I just really don’t go out and play in the sun all that often. Thanks again for the tips!
Thanks again for the tips!