There are 111 ratings for the drug: DIFFERIN in the Askapatient database.

Key to ratings for differin: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

Page: 1  2    Results are sorted by Age from oldest to youngest.

Rating	Reason	Side Effects	Comments	Sex	Age	Time Taken and Dosage		Date Added
				F  M
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4	breakouts	Dull headache and slight drugged feeling upon waking. Unexpected for a topical application. I do have a history of drug sensitivity so I'll chalk it up to that.	You need to use this lotion very lightly on the skin. Uneven application resulted in patchy dry spots and thickened skin. I can only hope the dry skin peels off in a few days. My doc said it takes a while to work. I saw some zits shrink overnight, but gained dry skin patches in return. I'll continue to use it but alternate every other night as it's VERY strong stuff.	F	45	1 days		9/18/2008
4	acne	Dryness, redness, irritation and flare up of underlying pimples.(initially) I had to skip days in between to decrease the irritation. In the winter I also have to cut back.	It creates a very smooth healthy appearance to the skin if you stick with it.	F	43	2 years		2/22/2004
4	Adult acne	Dryness, tightness, redness, mild discomfort, peeling, irritation, sensitivity and headaches.	I have had mild but chronic acne since puberty and hoped once I hit adulthood it would go away. Instead in my mid to late thirties it got a little worse. It got even worse when I went through seven months of army training (eating only army food and daily physical training which raises testosterone level). I decided to get something for it so my skin would be halfway decent when my husband returned from his third deployment in Iraq. There was some initial discomfort and it is absolutely neccesary to use strong sun protection and moisturizer. I have been using the product for about four months. Overall I am very pleased. However it is extremely drying and I have experienced headaches which I believe are associated with dehydration. I think has something to do with my age. I'm all dried up anyway. Ha ha. I have found that it really helps to drink a ton of water which is also good for the skin.	F	43	4 months		11/28/2007
5	Hormonal Acne/blackheads	Minimal peeling around nasal area the first week. Face stings slightly when heavy sweating.	Derm prescribed Differin 0.3 gel with Aldactone and Benzoil peroxide for horomal acne and blackheads. Wow! was I impressed with Differin. I saw immediate results in removing blackhead on my nose. My skin is more evened out and I am more comfortable going in public without foundation. Also is removing fine lines and brown spots. Will be part of my routine from here on out. Since being on all 3 of these meds, my face is sensitive to sunlight and sweating. But, no big deal, doesn't stop me from being in the sun (use more sunscreen) or from working out.	F	41	30 days		9/20/2009
5	hormonal acne	In the beginning dryness aroung chin area and increased breakouts. After 9 months my skin looks great! It also helps fade minor acne scars.	Don't pay any attention to people's comments about drying skin and breakouts. That is what is supposed to do! After awhile this goes away your skin will adjust and you'll be left with flawless skin. BE PATIENT!!! Most of those comments are from people using it less than a month. It does work! Trust me. Just use a light moisturizer before applying any makeup or toss the makeup and use a light powder (not mineral powder.. it clogs pores) and don't go in the sun with out SPF 30 on your face or you'll be sorry.	F	39	9 months		4/26/2009
5		very little drying	Those of you who reported an increase in acne when starting… don’t stop! This is what the drug is supposed to do! It’s bringing out pimples deep in your skin. After 6 months this stopped. Then, my acne disappeared for good. Let it work. The pay-off after a few months is well worth it. A little acne now, then gone for good. I’ve been almost acne free for 3 years. Be patient, and let it work. I think it’s a miracle drug.	M	39	3 years		1/20/2008
5	Acne Vulgaris (Mild to Moderate)	None	I have a lot of patience with retinoids because I used Retin-A for more than 10 years beginning with my late adolescence. As I've gotten older, Differin has been a miracle because my skin just can't handle the harshness of Retin-A anymore. Here's the thing. Not every retinoid is right for everyone, but if you're using these products, you have to use them exactly as directed, be consistent and patient. I would NOT recommend starting retinoids within a few weeks or months of a major life event (i.e. wedding), because your acne will get worse before it gets better. I noticed an overall improvement in my skin in 2-3 days, with a major improvement after using Differin for 6 months. Judging by my prior experience with these drugs, it takes app. 1 year to really get the full effect of the retinoid. Again, there are different retinoids for different people. I have very sensitive skin, but break out monthly from hormonal changes with horrible cysts, and also get deep blackheads and whit	F	39	8 months		7/25/2007
3	acne	none	I saw a bit of improvement, but not much	F	39	1 years		11/16/2006
4	adult acne; hormonal acne	Dryness and burning, appeared to age overnight especially around the eyes	The first week I had severe burning then dryness and peeling. My eyes appeared to age overnight. However, the peeling is revealing newer skin with smaller pores and a glow I have not had in years. The product dries out the skin's upper layers as it is supposed to. The aging appearance is your skin drying out like a layer shedding snake skin (a little embellishing) that needs to shed to reveal the new skin. If you can endure the burn torture it is well worth the youthful look you get in a week or two, if you are over 35. If you are younger you might want to try something else. As for the acne, mine did get worse over the first 1-2 weeks but dried out and is now healing. I am on week 2 still. I think it shows promise but Differin def has a price to get you where you want to go. Oh, just a good laugh for you: I was chopping chiles the other day and rubbed my cheeks on accident. Now that together with the 3rd day on Differin and my face was red like a sunburn and wow did it hurt. I guess the days following that were nothing compared. I did use this product years ago in my early 30s for spot treatment during PMS. It worked really good. When I was pregnant at 34 I stopped, as you have to. It really did not get bad enough to retry meds until now.	F	38	14 days .3% 1X D		3/5/2010
3	adult acne	redness, tenderness, photsensitivity	My dermatologist said it could be used for wrinkles, so I applied very small amount around eyes, ouch I will never do this again, It caused red small cuts on wrinkles, and hurt like crazy. Ill live with the wrinkles	F	38	7 days 150 1X D		4/7/2010
5	mild acne	I've used this product probably for 4 or more years on my chin and nose. Initially I had dryness, redness as if sunburned. But nothing unmanagable. Recently I started using it on my chest as well, and it has caused extremely itchy, scaly, red skin. I'm hoping that will subside soon.	On my face, it has worked like a charm. I almost never ever get the big, deep, painful pimples I used to get on my chin. I love it! And I've used it for years on my face. Still waiting for results on my chest.	F	37	4 years		6/3/2006
3	pimples	burning, very light peeling, redness	This got rid of tiny bumpy zits on my face, but not regular pimples. I still get those. Also, I think it dried my skin out so much that it gave me some very fine lines.	F	37	4 months		1/19/2005
3	Acne	I am curious to see if anyone else is affected by headaches from using this product. Years ago I was on Accutane which I believe is similar to differin but taken orally rather than topically. Accutane caused headaches while I took it. Since I began applying Differin, I have noticed a recurrence of headaches. I have also noticed that I have broken out in areas where Differin is not applied. That is, I have used Differin on my face but not on my chest; my chest has broken out while my face has improved.	It has certainly helped where it has been applied. My skin looks much better and it has caused no real irritation to the skin. You use a very small amount of the medication which is nice since it is very expensive and most insurance companies do not cover it for those of us suffering from adult acne.	M	37	60 days		7/19/2004
1	Acne	Horrible sunburn type rash that itched mercilessly all over my neck where Differin was never even applied (I know because every time I stopped using the gel, the rash would miraculously disappear from my neck and then reappear once I restarted again). Miserable rash that lasted 6 months until I finally made the connection to this product! The rash felt very systemic. It was never raised or bumpy. It looked like I had a terrible sunburn and itched like crazy. It's been weeks since I've stopped using this gel and my face still feels hot. I also notice that I can no longer use the products I use to use without any problems because now they all burn and cause extreme sensitivity. In fact if I use anything of any strength (even weak Salicylic Acid), it starts to make my neck red (although not nearly as bad as when I was actively using the gel). I am guessing my skin thinned terribly and will never be the same as a result of this crap. Think carefully before using this product. Wh	Please use this product with extreme caution though I would not advise anyone to use it period! Please see side effects for what this has done to me. If you google Differin with the words rash, irritation, harmful, etc you will find posts from other people asking if others have gotten a strange rash on their necks or chests after using Differin on their faces (some getting a rash by simple exertion or exercise when they never got this before using Differin). All kinds of odd little systemic flushing and rash like problems that coincidentally only occurred after beginning this topical! I wish I could turn back father time.	F	37	180 days		1/2/2009
5	Acne	None	excellent product!	F	36	5 days		10/13/2003
4	adult acne	The 1st couple of days my face was really dry and I had some peeling. I also had a burning sensation around my chin and upper lip area, but that subsided after a couple of days.	It has been a couple of weeks now since I began using Differin and I love it ! It has really cleared up my skin. Co-workers and family noticed the difference in my skin in the 1st week. I would like to note that I did not have severe acne but would break out constantly, especially around my cheeks & chin. I am going to continue using it and would definately recommend it to others to try !	F	36	2 weeks 1X D		4/1/2010 Email
2	Acne	Mild flaking	Hasn't worked for me after 30 days and as most people will attest to has actually made the situation worse. Will continue patiently for another 30 days and repost results.	M	34	30 days 1X D		6/18/2010
1	severe breakouts	burning, redness, inflamation, dryness, flaking.	Differin ate away at the acne that was open/picked at, and created large sores and craters on my face that were horrible... the acne would've been better than what had resulted after using the Differin. It also made my face extremely flakey. I keep trying to give it a chance but it keeps resulting in my skin being worse than before.	F	34	2 months		9/30/2008
5	Moderate hormonal acne.	NONE!!! But if I stop it for a few days, my acne comes right back so I must be consistent.	This is a miracle drug for me. Within the first 2 weeks of using it, my acne cleared up 99%. It doesn't dry my skin, it gives it a baby smooth feel actually and it actually seems to be erasing my fine lines!!! I don't know what the deal with this is but it's a miracle for me and I'm not ever going to stop using it!!	F	33	4 months		10/2/2008
4	acne	some drying...seemed to open my pores then scar them somehow to where there is a hole..but minor		F	33	45 days		12/9/2003
1	very mild acne caused by Eumovate	Reddness, Papules became bigger, itchiness and dry skin. Lots more blackheads and whites by using this product	Everybody says that Acne will get worse before it gets better well with Differin it certainly does. I am 32 and for the first time in my life I got acne as a reaction to a steroid cream and by using Differin I am in a much worse position than I was. Be very careful and use only on one spot to begin with I am now on Duac - see what that does !	F	32	5 weeks		5/21/2007
1	mild adult acne	sever dryness, redness, itchiness, and eventually burning sensations	I was using in combination with Clindagel, both Galderma products and formulated to work together. I noticed itchiness and dryness right away, and severe dryness, redness, and burning sensations after about 2 weeks. I used each for one week individually, and had only mild dryness symptoms. I have not noticed an appreciable difference in my acne when using them individually or in combination.	F	32	2 months		1/12/2006
5	adult acne	redness, peeling and itchy	I have only been using drug for one week but have seen some visible results already. My dermo reccomended mixing pea size amount with a little facial moisturizer (I use purpose) This prevents it from drying so much. I have been impressed by this product. I would reccomend not using Foundation while using the product. Your skin will heal more quickly. I go back for a followup in 11 weeks and hopefully if the results keep going the way they have in such I short time I will be thrilled.	F	31	7 days		4/7/2009
4	adult acne	I didn't have any major side effects, but it seemed like my skin became much oilier for a few weeks (and it is back to normal oiliness now). My skin didn't turn red, dry or flaky ever, nor did i have any irritation.	I had acne in late high school and early college. I started on ortho-tri cyclen and had terrific results for about 8 years. My skin was as close to flawless as I could have hoped. For a couple of reasons, I had to get off the pill 2 years ago and within about 3 months, my face started to break out again. I thought I could handle it but in the past 6 months it's really gotten worse and I felt pretty self-conscious about it. As an alternative to the pill which I know will clear me up, I started Differin 1% at night and Clindamycin lotion in the morning. Like many, my face got worse. It was bad and pretty horrifying as I was just starting to date someone. But after about 7 weeks, my face started to clear up. I'm on week 8 and my face is pretty smooth. I still have the marks from zits past, but i'm hoping they will fade in time and the medicine keeps new ones in check. So, to add more testimony to the others', this might work for you if you are willing to stay on it for several w	F	31	8 weeks		3/17/2008
5	adult acne	First week--very irritated, scaley, red, and sensitive to touch. I took a day off here and there. Now at the end of 3 weeks, side effects have nearly disappeared. Worth $104.00? I'm pretty sure I've spent at least that much in the past year on makeup and over-the-counter treatments that didn't work or made my acne worse. I took Accutane in my early 20s and it worked great, but the risks and side effects are too high now that I'm wiser. This is the next best thing.	My doctor told me there was a generic available, but there isn't! When my pharmacist told me the total, I almost fainted, especially because I'd have to tell my husband how much it was. He, too, almost fainted, but he's seen the difference it has made to my face and my confidence. So it's worth it.	F	30	21 days		5/29/2006
5	Mild Adult acne on face,pms brkout	No side effects except for making skin even more sensitive. Took only days to see skin improve.	I use at night. Saw improvement almost immediately. I love this product. Also makes skin look brighter and refreshed. Note: do not have any part of your face waxed when using this product. It will cause burns.	F	30	1.5 years		6/22/2007
4	Clogged pores and Forehead Acne	Dryness around mouth and cheeks. Slight redness.	It has cleaned up my clogged pores nicely and keeps them clean which is equaling less breakouts. Cleared up forehead acne within first week. I'm impressed to say the least! I will continue to use this in conjunction with Cetaphil Cleanser and a Micro fiber wash cloth.	F	30	15 days .01% 1X D		3/30/2010 Email
3	adult acne	burning, redness in the cheeks, flaky skin	only on my 5th day....im hoping after reading others comments, this will all be worth it...	F	30	5 days		12/16/2009
2	acne	drying skin. NEVER cleared my acne. I think it actually got worse.		F	30	3 months		1/1/2010
5	adult acne	dry skin, sensitivity to lotions and sunscreens	Initially there was a lot of drying, redness and a few breakouts, but my doctor told me to be patient and keep using it, even though it might look worse before it got better. I'm glad I did, because my skin is 100% clear and I can go out without makeup and still receive compliments, which makes me feel very confident. During the first 3 months I would get one or two very deep, very tenacious pimples that have left red marks, but the red marks are slowly fading. I was prescribed a combo of Differin and Metrogel, which seems to be helping to fade redness and old acne marks. I noticed that I get a build-up of dry, rough skin depending on how much I apply - too much and my skin gets flaky - so really use Differin sparingly and it will help with the dryness.	F	29	5 months		10/13/2009
5	mild acne	I have recently started using Differin and have had amazing results. My skin has completely cleared up, and I don't need to wear makeup. The only bad experience I had was after using it a few days I had a facial and the products used did not react well with the Differin, causing very red sore skin which took about 4-5 days to heal. You need to be very careful about what other products you use at the same time.		F	29	1 months 1X D		4/22/2010
4	acne	Red VERY dry skin, tender around eyes, broke out worse for first 2 weeks	I went on ti because I am getting married May/08 and wanted picture perfect skin. Starting to notice improvement. Skins still a little red on my chin and getting small red pimples but nothing like before I started. Maybe doesn't work for everyone but try to be patient if it doesn't work right away and keep mosturizing. My doc said 2 to 6 weeks to really notice chance.	F	29	23 days		6/18/2007
3	mild acne, skin discoloration	extremely swollen eyes!!! Red burning circle around my eyes	I use a pea sized amount,twice a week, only on effected areas, nowhere near my eyes and when I woke up on morning my eyes were like two massive puffs.Red, itchy, painful. Swelling lasted 1 week,I am unrecognizable.	F	29	14 days		2/3/2010 Email
3	mild acne	none	i am interested to see if this clears up my acne on my jawline and neck. my skin feels smoother but i still have red bumps and a few pimples on my chin. i think it may take a couple of weeks to get the redness out. i am also on minocycline 100mg	F	29	5 days		10/20/2006
1	adult acne	severe cysts, red marks	Had very mild acne after stopping Yasmin. Derm gave me Differin - worst thing I could have done. Used it for a week; my face hasn't broken out like this since I was 14. I've been off it for a week and am hoping these cysts clear up soon.	F	29	7 days .1% lotion 1X D		5/15/2010
5	Moderate Acne	First week or so I had slight dryness, a little redness. Acne got a little worse after a couple weeks, but it was tolerable	I only use Differin now, was using Plexion topical and Tetracycline as well at first, stopped those after 3 months. My skin is 100% clear. Acne scars are gone at this point. Just deal with the dryness and extra breakouts at first as your skin reponds to the medicine, it doesn't last long. It does work if you use it PROPERLY and stick with the program.	F	28	1 years		2/16/2006
5	Acne	No side effects. Took several months to see skin improve.		F	28	6 months		3/26/2007
5	Adult Cystic Acne	NONE	I looove this product! It's the only thing that's ever kept my skin clear!!!	F	28	4 years		9/19/2006
4	Moderate adult acne	Redness, some peeling	I have been struggling with this so long, espceially been breaking out terribly in the last yr. Now, after some of the intial pimples and peeling, the whiteheads have all but disappeared and my skin is finally becoming smooth! Now, some red marks from previous zits are still there but they will fade in time....it looks worse at first but after 3 weeks I am seeing improvement, and the scars are red marks, not indents, I think they will fade in time. Keep using it...the redness and peeling isn't so bad after a couple weeks. Use a good matte mosturier under makeup if you have oily skin (I recommend tea tree oil products) and a heavier moisturizer at night on top of the differin to keep skin hydrated)	F	28	3 weeks		10/27/2007
2	Breakouts	Dryness,dull skin,light peeling	I was prescibed this by a dermatologist that told me if I used nothing else to use this and I would get fantastic results. I saw nothing at all. I waited month after month and the same under skin bumps just stayed exactly where they were with no impovement. In fact the product made my chin worse and I developed several deep pimples as a result. I stopped using Differin and used benzoyl peroxide instead sparingly with a good moisturizer and my skin cleared. The differin seemed to bring the pimples out and not let them go away. I saw no clearing with Differin. Very disappointing. I only give it a 2 rating because the irritation I expected was not as bad as I thought it would be, it just doesn't heal pimples at all.	F	28	3 months		10/1/2008
5	acne	Initially, had to start with every third night and work up to every night due to burning. Also had a mild increase in acne, small bumps all over, for a few weeks. And some initial peeling. Was annoying but I could live with it. After that, I still get some dryness/peeling every once and a while but nothing else.	I love Differin. It has helped both my acne and my acne scars. It also has greatly improved my overall skin texture! I saw some change at 3 months, but real change came around 6-8 months. So do be patient and keep using it! Far too many people quit before the medication has a chance to work.	F	27	9 months		4/9/2008
5	severe acne, in combo w/other drugs	Initially, burning and peeling. Had to work up to every night. Started with every 3rd night, then every other night, then every night due to burning. Peeling was more of a nuisance and subsided in a couple of weeks. Did notice an increase in acne during the first month or so, lots of very small pimples in places I usually didn't get them. It was frustrating but bearable. It eventually subsided and now it's smooth. I still experience occasional burning and peeling but overall no more side effects.	I really like it. It's helped my acne and my skin tone is really good. Fine lines are gone, skin tone is more even and brighter overall. It also seems to have helped some of my pitted scarring. I noticed some improvement in the scarring around 3-4 months, but not much. I'm at the 6 month mark now and I am really seeing some good results - both with scars and with overall skin tone. My skin looks really good overall. Very happy with Differin. You really do need to give the drug time to work though, many months.	F	27	6 months		1/2/2008
4	moderate to severe acne	I am on Differin for the second time in my life. Had to stop taking it before because I did not have insurance. This product initially causes flakiness and sensitivity but it gets better the more you use it. You can start by using it every other day or so and use it nightly after your skin gets used to it.	My doctor specifically said only a pea sized amount and only at night. The sun makes the medicine ineffective so if you are putting it on in the morning, you are wasting your time! Also you MUST wear sunscreen with this product - it makes you very sensitive to the sun. My doctor also told me that when you apply it, the differin spreads itself once your skin absorbs it. so AVOID ANY AREA BY YOUR EYES! you have to account for the medicine spreading to this area on its own so be careful! Differin changes the direction in which your skin grows, so it is less likely to be clogged by dirt and oil. It is a prevention medicine that only works while you continue to use it!	F	27	6 days .03% 1X D		6/1/2010
3	acne - face, back	None. I am taking this together with tetracycline. I am using differin at night and Lachydrine (or generic AmLactin) during the day as moisturizer. Using DOVE as a soap. I am always careful to have my skin hydrated since dehydration worsens acne (some of the red color is due to that).	I am using this a little on my face (since I don't have a bad condition there) but mostly on my back. There is a slight improvement on my back but not yet significant. However, I have been using the product only for a month now. Doctors told me that my back condition is a combination of acne and KP. KP is not an easy thing to treat.	M	27	1 months		5/28/2007
2	acne	dryness, peeling, burning, wrinkles, very deep scars - and I don't use a lot.	I take differin at night and duac in the morning. The doc said I can wear makeup - yeah right. makeup is a mess because it is a flaky, clumpy mess and it burns. I also have new wrinkles. I'm not sure which one is the culprit-the differin or the duac. Also, I've never scarred from acne until after using these creams. They are deep scars, too. The acne has improved, but not enough to account for all the scars and wrinkles.	F	27	5 weeks		3/17/2007
2	adult acne-chin and cheeks.	The first two weeks were hell. Couldn't even touch my face or apply make up.My skin was tight and sore and my eyes looked weird! I reduced to putting it on once every three days and then built up to daily use relatively quickly. Apply a very thin layer.	Less is more with this cream. It hasn't made any difference to my skin so far...I still find the creases at the side of my eyes are really sore even though i dont put the cream there at all. Seem to have extra wrinkles around the eyes. Due for a review in january. Dont expect the dermatologist to continue with it. It's not working for me at all.	F	27	4 months		11/22/2009
1	in preperation for my wedding	I went on Erythramicin(to prevent cyst breakouts I get when stressed) and was perscribed Differin to prevent any topical break outs. I got the perscription and started using 2.5 months before my wedding. HORRIBLE results. My skin is a mess. Red marks, deep black heads, it is terrible. After 2 years of being off of Proacive, then using Cetaphil and Benzoil Peroxide...these both worked, but started to loose their effect. I thought this was the miracle I was waiting for. I just went back to Proactive, and am hoping my skin will clear up in the 12 days I have before I get married! At this point makeup makes it look worse!	I had the cream. It made my skin like an oil slick.	F	27	2 months		11/27/2006
5	Hormonal adult acne	I made the mistake of starting the 3% topical 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. My family kept asking about the insane sloughing off of my face. Immediately following, in week 3, my face was perfect. I no longer have the crazy break outs I had on my chin. It has also cleared up black heads on my nose I've had for a long time. Don't give up on this stuff. It's a dream! Now if I get a pimple it goes away over night.		F	26	1 months		12/16/2008
3	differin	some dry patches, tingling-sensitive skin, redness around nose, worse before better.	Used the .1% for about 2 and a half months. It got worse before better. You people with the redness and wrinkling should use a sunscreen. I used hawaiian tropic oil free faces brand and it was the best. After that the sensitivity and redness decreased. Be careful though because some experience burning sensation and redness with this lotion.	M	26	2.5 months		12/6/2008
1	mild to moderate acne	dryness, burning, tingling, tightness, wrinkles, peeling	After the fourteenth day or so of taking this medication I started to experience a burning sensation where the application was applied (cheeks and chin). Also, my whole face started to peel a lot and my face felt very tight and dry. The most alarming side effect of this medication is the wrinkles it produced. I got new fine lines under my eyes and near my mouth and nose. It seems like the places near where I placed the cream wrinkled. Before I started using any vitamin A products I had no wrinkles. I used Retina-A two years ago for a few days. After I used this product I saw a fine line under my left eye. But I thought maybe I never noticed it before because I wasn't paying close attention to my face. After the first wrinkle, I've been paying very close attention. I now have fine wrinkles under both eyes and near my mouth and nose. These wrinkles were not here before I started using differin. To me it isn't worth wrinkles to have very clear skin. If wrinkles bother you, do	F	26	14 days		4/30/2008
1	acne / perioral dermititis	SEVERE BURN , scaly tight skin, can not hardly bare to open my mouth wide because it pulls my skin tight around my lips, i am miserable		M	26	4 days		7/14/2009
1	acne	severe rash, redness, itchiness, very harsh product		F	26	1 days		4/13/2004
4	acne	none at all	I found out that sequential approach works. I applied gel for 2 nights for two weeks and then i added one night extra for every two weeks,i.e. twice weekly for 2 weeks,3 times weekly/2 weeks, 5 times/2 weeks,6 times/2 weeks and every day. And it worked great. No peeling, no dryness, no stinging. There was no burst of acne all at once but it came gradually, lasted for few days and disappeared. Scars from previous acne had diminished.I also tried azelaic acid which worked fine as well.	M	25	2 months		5/3/2006
3	Adult Acne	Terrible first two weeks. Peeling and redness and breakouts	I have been on this for a month. The redness and peeling has gone away and my skin does have somewhat of a smoother texture. But I have like 3 large cysts that appeared recently, which I have never gotten before! I really hope these go away or else I will have to stop this! Did anyone else have this problem?	F	25	1 months		10/22/2009 Email
3	severe acne	burning, irritation, peeling	i've only been on differin @ nite and duac in the am; also solodyn antibiotic. the combo has worked well so far. i've been told you have to be patient with differin. i had to change my moisturizer from purpose to cetaphil. for some reason the purpose doesnt work well with the gels, it leaves residue. i hope it gets better with time. acne is by far the most embarrasing thing to have ever!	F	25	2 weeks		10/27/2009
1	hormonal cystic acne	The day after applying Differin for the first time, I experienced flushing and burning, similar to a mild sunburn all over my face. By that night, my face was completely covered with miniscule water blisters that began spreading down my neck and chest, even though I only applied a pea-sized amount of Differin to my face. My face then began to swell, with fine wrinkles appearing around my eyes and mouth, and my face is now burning fiercely. I am also experiencing the formation of some pimples, but the pimples are nothing compared to the water blisters. Due to the water blisters that were not listed as a side effect on the medicine label, I have not applied any more Differin to my face, although I was supposed to use it twice weekly. It has been almost a week since I first applied Differin, and my symptoms are getting worse, rather than improving. I am, of course, still waiting for the phone nurse from my dermatologist to return my calls regarding what I should do.	Regardless of whether or not your dermatologist believes you can use this product, if you have sensitive skin, a fair complexion, and/or mild acne, I would strongly recommend that you do thorough research about Differin and only do a small spot test to begin treatment. I am sure this product works well for some people, but like any medication, there are always exceptions. I would much rather suffer from acne than use this product again, which is a strong statement, as cystic acne is excruciatingly painful. Please exercise caution when considering the use of this product.	F	25	5 days		7/22/2009
5	little pimples and cystic acne	Dry skin, Itchiness, redness, very increased acne until it got much better. Side effects were bad at first but after 6 months its gotten much better.	The first couple months were awful... I counted down every day to 4 weeks... then 8 weeks... then 12 weeks. Need to be patient to experience good results! At first I experienced extremely dry, peeling skin, redness, itchiness. My face became worse than ever before and I was embarrassed to go out in public. I also went through phases where my skin was really dry (also during the winter) so I used Cetaphil strong face moisturizor. But then, my skin started to get oily (when the weather got warmer), so I switched to an oil free Neutrogena face moisturizor, and covered up with Clinique Advanced Concealer and Clinique Powder (Clinique has worked great as a great coverup of acne for me!). After about 4 months on Differin .1%, I still wasn't completely satisfied with my results. I went back to the dermatologist and was prescribed Differin .3%. This has worked with amazing results, and now I'm happier with my skin than I have been in a long time. Bottom line... it takes time to work.	F	24	6 months		6/13/2008 Email
5	Acne	Slight dry skin in the beginning of treatment.		F	24	18 months		7/2/2003
4	Acne	mainly bad dryness. Burning and itching sensation that is felt when applied, but has decreased w/ usage period. Definitely has helped me, although large isolated comedones still occur--yet rare.	Expensive-my insurance does not cover. I would reccommend that anyone at least try. Be patient and be confident.	M	24	2 months		12/7/2004
3	Mild acne, hormonal breakouts	Peeling, dry skin, flaking, eye swelling	KEEP THIS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES. I can't stress this enough. It says so on the package and in the drug information. I had been using it for about a year and one morning woke up with my eyes completely swollen shut. After visiting with 5 different doctors and and allergist we figured out it was the differin, I can't put it anywhere even close to my eyes without developing serious swelling. However for acne, it works well, especially as a spot treatment with mild breakouts.	F	24	1 years		4/24/2009
3	adult acne	I just started using this medication. Day 2 i have very dry skin, face hurts,peeling skin, skin is tight when smiling, and i have some swelling and redness around my eyes. So far im not sold because it feels like torture....but i will continue to apply in hopes that it works.		M	24	3 days		1/2/2010 Email
1	very mild acne	dry skin, burning sensation, rash and more spots than ever appeared within two applications. seriously do not use		F	24	3 days		6/5/2007
4	mild acne small bumps	dryness, very itchy, skin peeling, painful around eyes b/c accidentally applied (be careful to avoid eyes!), symptoms are better with time, must apply lots of moisturizer	One month into treatment, taking Differin at night and Duac in the morning, worse in first 2-3 weeks before it starts getting better, but sticking to the program. Wash w/ Cetaphil cleanser at night before Differin and apply Cetaphil moisturizer every morning after Duac. Just now I am starting to see my skin clear and small red bumps fade and disappear. Some days small pimples show up but overall medication is working. Would recommend but must show patience.	F	23	1 days		4/3/2007
3	Hormone imbalance/acne	Nothing yet...well, maybe a little bit more acne than I had...but I'm trying to wait it out.	I have a P.C.O.S. So, my dermatologist prescribed Spironactalone and Differin (as the topical medication.) I have been using it just as my doctor said. And, I'm gonna hope for the best from all of your comments...just stick with it. I have a bunch of little ones on my chin and around that area...it's very annoying (but I've had worse...so I try not to complain.) the Differin seems to be making more...which is troublesome, but you say you need to just get through that and be faithful with the regimen, so that's what I'll do, I'll keep y'all posted if it gets better/worse. Thanks or all the comments, they really helped me.	F	23	16 days		9/19/2008
1	mild adult acne, blackheads	burning,extra pimples	took in combo with something called zoederm and broke out worse than ever. Doc told me it would get worse before better but at 2 mo. just still getting worse, embarassed 2 b seen at this point and makeup can't hide it.	F	23	2 months		6/18/2006
5	acne	none	great	M	22			2/27/2004
5	pimples!	love it	i've use differin for two years on and off again i love it. put a moisturizer on and allow it to dry before you apply differin and in the morning don't wash again just rinse with water	M	22	2 years		11/20/2008
4	minor pimple breakouts	Dryness, Redness	I think it works pretty good for my breakouts. I don't have full blown acne, but breakouts in my t-zone, back, and chest. I put this medicine on it daily and the pimple is gone within 3 days or so. I haven't had any problems with serious reactions. I would recommend it.	F	22	4 years		2/13/2005
5	Persistant Acne	Mild drying of the skin	I have been taking differin since i first turned 20 years old. I have always had MAJOR acne and had begun to get a TON of scarring from it. My dermatologist told me to use differin and now my skin is flawless. Not only does it help me skin control oil, but it minimizes my pores and makes my skin so smooth. i believe it helped the scarring fade too. you can still see the acne scars SOMEWHAT, but my makeup covers it. I reccommend that when yo start using the gel, put on a light moisturizer afterwards. use it every other night then work your way to every night. I actually use mine in the morning and the night without a moisturizer now and people can't believe how nice my skin is now. On a scale of 1 to 10, this product gets a 20. My confidence has never been better.	F	21	1 years		8/19/2008
4	mild acne from Birth Control	first 2 months acne got severly worse. After the first week I could see white bumps under my skin where I was about to break out	I was prescribed diffrin because or hormone irregularity after being on Seasonale Birth Control. I previously didnt have acne but then I got it. This product seems like h*ll at first, making you breakout everywhere, even if you never really did there before, BUT STICK WITH IT. I'm on week 9 and my skin is significantly clearer (A few scars but they will fade with time). i know the pimples are painful but they will go away. dont quit early!	F	21	9 weeks		7/9/2007
2	mild acne	huge breakout of whiteheads, drying, peeling, bumps, far worse than when started	i used differin a few months ago just for the blackheads on my nose and that seemed to help. recently i put it over my entire face to unclog my skin and it is horrible. i have 20-30 whiteheads when i've never gotten whiteheads before. yesterday i made the mistake of using differin right after the shower when my pours were open and that evening i woke up with a burning face and peeling skin everywhere. dont use it on open pours or right after washing your face. you'll be sorry. ive heard good things about this product but i dont have a year to wait for it to work or even 4 months. i like mario badescu drying lotion. it works immediately on pimples or minor acne. i think my skin has become too used to it though because it used to do wonders when i first started it years ago and it still helps but not as much. if u rather have a quick fix and differin isnt working for u i would give it a try. also neotrogeuna blackhead scrub and blackhead pore mask/cleanser work well to keep my face clear	F	21	2 weeks		9/6/2008
3	Acne and acne scar	Firstly,my dematologist doing the chemical peeling for me... but..second procedure,she ask me to keep on using the differin up to six months... now stil using this product... I think is good for acne but about the scar I think it doesn't work well.....	hope it can really clear my pesking ACNE...... and my scar,hopefully can heal faster...	M	20	4 months		11/25/2006
1	i was taking deriva-c gel	my face has become extremely oily, red, starting getting a lot of acne i never used to get so many at a time even my skin started to peel this is the worst expierence of my life	i just used for 4 nights continously acctually deriva-c gel is a combination of duac and differin on top of this my derm prescribed me salicylic acid face wash which is not supposed to be used while on treatment i feel like killing my derm	M	20	4 days		5/9/2007 Email
5	acne	some dry skin	for the first 2 months of using this my skin was a little improved but i kept having at least 2 cystic pimples at all times, and then after almost exactly 8 weeks my skin completely cleared up and i have not had a single pimple. i don't have to wear any makeup and have never had such clear skin. so even though it took a while for me to have such amazing results, it was well worth the wait! i love my skin!	F	19	2.5 months 1X D		8/19/2010
4	acne	Dryness, but not terrible.	Just a minor break-out at the beginning. But with most of the stronger acne meds. this is not unusual. Ive been on Accutane 3 times, so im used to the majority of the symtoms. Im taking Differin in the morning, and a high lvl benzoil at night.		19			8/10/2007
2	under the skin lumps and mild acne	really didn't experience any side effects -- found it very easy on my skin when compared to other products used to date.	I really hate differin. My skin was looking great except for some small under the skin white lumps (keratin?) which is when my derm perscibed it. Instead of taking care of the lumps, it took me back about 4 years and brought back all of the acne I had finally gotten rid of! I've given up using it because I'm not patient enough to wait 6-8 to see improvement plus I'm not convinced it will work for me.	F	19	3.5 weeks		8/2/2006
5	Ongoing acne	Flaking without moisturizer, intial dryness, occasional isolated pimples when taking more than two days off of the medication.	Differin honestly changed my life. I got SO many compliments on my newly smooth skin and I never experienced any breakouts while on the medication. Occasionally a pimple would appear IF and ONLY IF I went off of the medication for more than two days. Some may feel sticking to this regimen is annoying but the results are truly worth it. My dermatologist switched me to Retin-A and it's not nearly is good and I hope to get another prescription for Differin.	F	18	1.3 years		7/8/2008
4	Teenage Acne	Inflammation, Flaking, Dryness	Over the last 4 years or so dealing with acne I've tried many prescriptions. Many of which either relieved my acne on a short-term basis or simply none at all. My dermatologist prescribed me differin. As a tip, follow the instructions except for one thing: it is not necessary for you to apply 3-4 pea size drops as it mentions. You only need enough to cover "affected" areas. For me it's one and a half pea size. Combined with a moisturizer such as cetaphil is highly recommended otherwise you can expect excessive dryness and a lot of flaking during the next few days. Dryness and flakes gradually reduce over the course of usage. I apply differin every three days or so ever since I had experiences similar to another user in regards to swollen eyes. Keep it as much as away from the eyes, that includes washing your eyes after applying as you might scratch your eyes or something while sleeping. When my skin started burning I stopped and waited until most of it subsidized and I reapply. Also apply a layer of 30fps sunscreen as any long periods of sun/light source exposure can further make your skin burn. Overall, your skin will get better. I've seen major improvement and there are areas of my skin where it has become smooth. Patience is the key to differin.	M	18	2 months		12/1/2009
4	Pretty Bad Acne	None really. My skin may have been slightly red at first and a bit dry.	But now.. my skin has cleared up.. obviously not 100% yet but i dont get as many pimples.. all i have are scars from before (even those are starting to become less red) and maybe tiny tiny pimples that come up occasinoaly but disappear within like two days! Try it.. i started it once but stopped cuz i dint think it worked.. I TRIED IT AGAIN.. properly.. and it did!	F	18	1.5 months		12/19/2006
5	Severe Teen Acne	Breakouts first few weeks	I used Differin last year and it completely changed me!the first few weeks i had a few white heads popping out here and there but after that it was just getting clearer and clearer week by week. I stopped using it in August(may right now) and my acne slowly came back because I irritated my skin while shaving to much and started takin protein which made my hormones crazy and caused me to break out. Now my acne is SEVERE. I used retin-a for a week n almost cried when i put my face on a pillow because it hurt so bad!The first 3 days of using Differin once again my face felt like a face again and not an open wound. The flaking came n went and now my face is slowly seeing better results.	M	17	1 years 1X D		4/20/2010
3	Teen Acne	Redness, Dryness, Mild Irritation	At first it made my face so dry that my skin cracked and peeled when I smiled. Eventually I couldn't even find a pimple on my face. Just recently I broke out again, but this time the Differin hasn't helped. I'm not sure why it just stopped working. I have been changing up how much I use and how often, and I find that I get the best results putting only a thin layer on and taking a break from the medicine every 6 or 7 days. Hope this helps someone.	M	17	1 years 1X D		4/26/2010
3	acne	pretty oily face in spots where topical applied.	It seemed to really help one or two weeks my face would seem completely cleared and then the next week or three I would break out with nasty mean pimples.	F	17	1 months		6/6/2005
3	FOR SEVERE ACNE!	um well ive only been on it for a week but it seems to feel pretty oily at night time my feace is a tiny bit irritaded (red) but it has seemed to help SLIGHTLY and if i stick to it for longer im hoping it will clear it up completely!	ive only been on it for a week and it has definately helped a bit	F	17	7 days		1/13/2005
2	Acne	worse acne	I was using this at night, while using Duac in the morning. I'm not sure if it was both of these creams that damaged my face, or if it was just one of them. The derm said I would have an initial breakout but then it would get better. I didn't know it was gonna be THIS BAD. You literally could not see my face. I continued to break out severely for a few months after stopping these medicines, and after only 3 months, my entire face is A SCAR, looking like it took years for the scars to build up.	F	17	3 weeks		2/6/2007 Email
5	acne	dry skin, got really bad after about the first couple weeks, but then cleared up really really well after about 8 weeks	It worked great for me, it just takes time, my face now looks great	F	16	10 months		7/14/2005
5	Teenage acne.	At first, my face was drying out. It was peeling and burning. But I used the oil-free lotion my doctor prescribed and that helped. Now, it isn't dry or peeling at all.	I've tried Proactiv, Clearasil, Clean and Clear, everything! Nothing worked. It would dry my face completely out or do nothing at all. But Differin has been working for me. I can definitely see an improvement. My acne is slowly fading away. You have to be patient with Differin. But it does work.	F	16	2 months		6/17/2008
5	genetic acne	if I use the wrong moisturizer or face wash I will get really dry skin, same in the winter or summer if I swim a lot. but generally I LOVE IT I have clear skin AND I work fast food!	LOVE IT!	F	16	3 years		2/3/2009
4	mild breakouts/ mild teen acne	redness for about 1st week	it is the best thing i have ever tried in my life and the only acne medication i can trust with my skin	F	16	2 years 1X D		4/2/2010
4	Mild Acne on face, chest & back	dryness causing itchyness. And a burning sensation when any OTHER product was applyed the following morning, making it really sensitive to touch.	I have only been using it for a week but i can see a big difference already. the first couple of days my acne worsened- just got more red and broke out. But today i can already see a good difference in my skin.	F	16	7 days		8/6/2008
3	Acne	Dryness	EXPENSIVE!	F	16	30 days		4/29/2006
3	teen acne	burning, itchiness, redness	Hoping that the pain is worth it.	F	16	6 days		1/3/2010
2	Mild/Moderate Acne	I have been taking it for several weeks. I noticed a clearing of pimples after a day of use. It did get rid of whiteheads, but I still have all of my blackheads and I have noticed an increase of many small red bumps that don't come to a head. After a few days, I put on Jergen's gradual tanner on my face (after Differin) and I felt the worst pain I have ever felt on my face. I stopped using the product, and several days later my face peeled like crazy and was red and painful. My nose was extremely oily while my cheeks burned and peeled. It still hasn't gone away. I am stopping my treatment with Differin now.		F	16	3 weeks		7/3/2009
1	light acne	redness, dryness, burning sensation, and peeling.	This has been by far the worst acne product avalible. do not use it leaves you worse than when you started. the pimples clear up but i developed side effects that made me want to have the skin i had before.	F	16	2 weeks		8/17/2008
1	Bad acne	Tons more acne than what i started with, first week i got alot alot more, 2nd and 3rd week it started to dissapear almost fully, on the 4th week i gained alot alot more acne, and it just keeps coming in. Very oily, red, very very very bad product, makes you want to hide more than you ever have.	Horrible product, doesn't treat acne at all, just increases! DO NOT USE	M	16	4 weeks		3/18/2007
1	acne	itchiness, burning, skin irritation	very uncomfortable and painful, don't recommend	M	16	14 days		7/13/2004
5	Acne problems.	My face was dry for the first two weeks. I used a prescribed facial lotion on my face morning and night along with only using differin every other night for the first two weeks. My skin is still dry if i forget to apply the lotion, but its not as bad as those beginning days.	It really works! It's not a cure-all though. Nothing is. You just have to be patient and endure the annoyance of applying it on your face EVERY night for 12 weeks to get the full results. But its totally worth it! It doesn't get rid of acne scars majorly, but does help them fade.	F	15	14 weeks		12/3/2007 Email
5	teen acne	if used to much it would leave a residue-not all bout be asorbed. mild dry skin	Personally i had really bad acne but after useing Differin along with Yaz my skin compltely cleared up. i never thought i would have smooth skin but now thanks to Differin i do	F	15	1 years 45 g 1X D		2/8/2010
4	Teenage acne	I know this may sound weird, but hairloss. Other then that it hasn't had any effect. Touch-wood	It is beginning to clear up my skin. Do not use if you plan to get an eyebrow wax, the wax rips off your skin because Differen makes the skin thinner. Ouch.	F	15	14 days		10/29/2008
4	teen almost terrible acne	None	It's worked great for me! My skin's almost clear & i've only used it for a week	F	15	7 days		9/5/2007 Email
3	acne	red marks	well, i started treatment in may 07 and didn't seem to be getting many results until about mid-april. my acne in the area was cleared up by mid-june but i now have some red marks that still havent gone away. they seem to be fading with tanning in the sun and drinking lots of water. once you keep using it your skin grows prone to it and you start seeing results much quicker	M	15	3 months		8/1/2007

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Average rating for drug: 3.3. This page is printer-friendly; use landscape print with background color turned on.

Key to ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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