Differin Gel

I was first prescribed the Differin .01% Cream about eight months ago, and my acne subtly began to clear. After two months of that, my dermatologist switched me over to the Differin .03% Gel and within a week, I noticed a severe difference. Two months from then, all my acne began to smoothe out and is now easy to hide scars. Now, for the first time in a long while, I am proud of my skin. The only negative I have about this product is it dries out your skin. I used St. Ives Apricot Exfoliating Scrub to wash off the dead skin from my face. It made my skin ultra sensitive to everything; from sun to fabric. But I was happy to pay this small fare as long as I finally got clear skin.

I can recommend a reputable pharmacy (Differin Gel) - http://canadian-medshop.com/item.php?id=709&aid=9210 I received the order and it was on time and the pills work great.

Differin might have cleared some acne but it was horrible for my skin. I rate it 3 stars in the middle because I don't know if it just didn't work for my skin, it does clear some acne though. I had much better success with other products, this one would not be on my list again. Hopefully it works better for others.

I have tried many things to solve my acne problems, and I have found a skin regimen that will completely clear your skin and negate any drug side effects. This also expedites recovery especially if you are just starting to use Differin! From as little of one week to a month you will notice dramatic results!

What you will need:
Differin .3% Gel/Differin .1% Cream (US Rx only)
| This is your retinoid that will increase skin cell turnover, usually over-dries skin, typically increases skin sunlight sensitivity, and because of the rapid skin cell turnover many times clogged oil and bacteria will arise from deep tissue and cause a beginner's breakout.
I prefer the 0.3% gel with for faster results, but the .1% cream may be substituted for those out in the sun more often or for very, very sensitive skin types.
Aloe Vera Gel (The more pure, the better)
| This will rehydrate your skin, reduce redness, prevent skin from over-drying/flaking and prevent minimal sun damage.
Oil Absorbing Sheets (Sold at your local drugstore, i.e. Walgreens)
| For oily skin, I have found that these work wonders to remove excess oil, which in turn has really cleared up my face. Remember, skin oil is made to keep your skin healthy and prevents skin from getting dry. Excess oil will cause breakouts, but not enough oil, (the after-effect from most facial wash) == sensitive, flaky skin, body reaction to produce more oil.
Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream
| A preferred non-fragrant mild soap, such as Dove may be substituted. Avoid anything with benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid!
Drink more water!
| Proper nutrition and hydration tends to prevent oily skin and clearer skin.


1st Day -
1) In the morning, wash your face with Noxema, rinse your face and pat dry.
2) Apply Aloe Vera Gel to your skin.
3) Drink Water!!
4) At night time, rinse your face in lukewarm/hot water to remove excess oil and pat dry.
5) Place about a pea-sized amount of Differin to the tip of your finger and on the same finger place 2x the amount of Aloe Vera Gel and mix into a new gel compound and rub into the affected areas.

2nd Day -
1) Rinse your face in the morning. Allow the lukewarm/hot water to rinse off excess oil, but do not use a facial cleanser.
2) Pat down dry and apply Aloe Vera Gel to your skin.
3) Remember to drink more water!
4) At night time, rinse your face in lukewarm/hot water to remove excess oil and pat dry.
5) Apply Aloe Vera onto your skin.


Then cycle back and forth from 1st and 2nd day. After a week or two, you may begin to apply Differin every night if you have built a tolerance to the drug, but you should still continue to wash your face every other day.


Here's a recap:
1) Rinse your face twice daily with lukewarm/hot water, and to apply Aloe Vera after rinse.
2) I have found that washing your face every other day has produces better results. Try using the oil absorbing sheets if you have really oily skin. These may be useful on days you don't wash your face.
3) Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen if necessary, is recommended.
4) Keep not only your skin hydrated from rising, but your body by drinking plenty of water!


My skin now looks amazing and I am always being flattered by numerous comments of how healthy my skin is!!! (This is a nice alternative from when I was always self-conscious prior to using Differin!)

I am a 25 year old woman who has been dealing with acne since I was about 14 years old.
I've tried practically every over-the-counter acne product with little to no results.
I even tried Proactiv...BAD DECISION. my skin cleared, but dried out so much it resembled snake skin, forcing me to stop, and afterward my acne got WORSE. like from mild/moderate to moderate/severe.
My mom had a prescription for Differin Gel 0.3 and offered a tube for me to try.
After a couple of days I noticed that my oily skin was basically normal and some of the pimples were drying up. It's been about a year of use now and my skin is about 90% better. I've noticed that if I use it every night or every day (my schedule is sort of erratic) my skin dries out a little but only around thin-skinned areas like my nose, under my eyes and around my mouth so I try not to use it around those areas. I've also noticed that if i forget to use it for a few days, i'll break out a little but I can always fix it within a week of use.

I recommend ANYONE with acne issues to at least TRY this product. I honestly owe my relatively clear skin (it's not perfect, but FAR better than how it used to be) to Differin. I used to be so self-conscious about my breakouts, everyone who has them knows how hard it can be...and now i rarely even think about it, and that is an amazing feeling that i can't even describe.

I used Differin for 5 months, and it worked really really well for me. It completely got rid of all my zits and whiteheads. I have stopped using it about four months ago and I haven't seen not one zit so far. The drawbacks of it though is that it is very slow to take effect, and once you stop using it, whitehead and blackhead come back. Also it dries out the skin like crazy, but you can always use lotion.

I have the differin gel 0.1, i have been using it for months now but cant remember the exact time. At first when i started getting spots i was about 12 through my first year of secondary school, i only got them on my forehead and i had a fringe so it looked like i had non atall because i felt selfconciouse about my skin and how people would see it, i would say i have moderate acne i now get the odd breakout on my chin and round my mouth but i tend to cover myself up with makeup. Most of the reviews i have read about this gel have been bad obviously the cream works for some people and not others and maybe people have not moderate acne but most of my skin is smooth now and im really happy with it so im going to continue using it. Sometimes i get really upset when i have a breakout and constantly feel real selfconcious why of my friends hardly have any spots and can wear there hair off there face while i have to cover mine up with a fringe eventhough there not terrible atall im just like that! but i would reccomend people to try this cream because it has been good for me upto now.

I tried to use Differin, but it was just HORRIBLE!

I was able to use it for 3 or 4 days. My dermatologist told me to apply a thin coat of it every night after washing my face. I did just that, washing my face in the morning as well. I didn't apply it in the morning, however. I would say that I have moderate acne.

So what happened to me was that my skin was getting really dry. And I mean parched-on-the-desert dry. My dermatologist said it would dry my skin out. She said that if it was a little itchy and dry, it would be okay, and was to be expected. So I thought that everything was just fine, and that it would have to be endured for a few days. Boy was I wrong.

I went out with friends one day (of course, I hadn't applied Differin, as I was advised only to do so at night), and they noticed my dry skin. (Must've been absolutely BEAUTIFUL. My skin was FLAKING, all right. Unpleasant, yes.) I told them I was using a new product.

We went outside to go across the street and up the road to a restaurant. I was in the sun for... maybe 2 minutes.

Anyways, the next morning I woke up, and my skin was ... well obviously it was dry. And so I put on a bit of moisturizer that always used to work fine on me, and it stung.

I left the house with my face a bit red (or at least I had thought it was only a bit red). While I was out, I saw a woman who works in cosmetics... She said I had an allergic reaction. Quite frankly, I didn't know what to think. She gave me a bunch of creams and sunscreen, then advised me to buy Aloe Vera. I had thought she was exaggerating.

I couldn't find the Aloe Vera, and I didn't think my allergy was really that severe, so I decided to look for the stuff the next day and went home. I looked in the mirror, and my face was RED. It was like there was a big patch of red going across my cheeks and down to my chin. I tell you, I looked like an absolute supermodel.

I put on one of the creams that lady had given me, and it burned SO BAD. I tried to continue applying it, thinking it would eventually soothe, and even used a rather large electric fan on my face so that it would cool the burning effect. Eventually I started to sob because it really did hurt very badly. And I'm no crier, I tell you.

So I washed those creams off, but I was still crying. I have an Aloe Vera plant, so I cut off one of the leaves, cut it open and smeared it all over my face. It was the only thing that soothed. Let me just say, it looked like there was a load of mucous all over my face, but I'd much rather have that than the nasty burning sensation.

I couldn't apply anything on my face except for white soap and medication for a whole week. And that nasty burn-like appearance made me look positively gorgeous for that week, as well.

All in all, I think you should be careful with Differin. I have never had an allergy to anything in all my life, so I was surprised to develop a reaction to this product. I'm sure it must work for some people, but it most definitely did not work for me. You should ask your dermatologist about warning signs in case you have an allergic reaction as I did.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE...WAS TO USE THIS PIECE OF SHIT ON MY FACE..IT TOTALLY FUCKED UP MY SKIN AND NOW I HAVE A HUGE ASS PIGMENTATION ON MY MOUTH...WTF I WOULD TAKE ANY ACNE ANYDAY THAN TO HAVE THIS SHIT ON MY FACE

I am a thirteen year old girl, and I have suffered from Moderate-Severe acne ever since I can remember. (Obviously not long, since i'm only thirteen x) ) Not only was it on my face, but my chest, Shoulders, back, and arms as well. Ewwie! This past year or so, it has gotten progressively worse. I broke out under my chin, down my neck, and HORRIBLY on my chest. I had seen multiple derms, and tried pretty much every over the counter drug, to almost all Oral meds, and Topical ointments. My last chance, ended up being birthcontrol, and differin. I can honestly say, it has been amazing. I've only been on B.C for a month, and Differin for a few weeks, and It's already much better.

I break out on my chin, around my mouth, and up my cheeks. They are very large pustules and nodules, with multiple white heads scattered around. Ever since I started this treatment, I have cleared up so much. It's still not perfect, and it will take a few more months before it really does clear up, but it really is much better. I am pretty oily, and differin did dry my face out, but I used Eucerin for whenever i got dry spots.

Morning routine:
Wake up sunshinee! (:
Wash my face with Neutrogena Morning burst
Moisturize my entire face with( Eucerin SPF 15 for sun protection(: )
Dab on Differin to any spots
Makeuptime!

Nighttime routine:
Good night worldd! (:
Take Birth control
Wash my face with Neutrogena Pink grapefruit foaming scrub (Exfoliates and cleanses)
Moisturize with Eucerin once again
Dab on Differin to any spots.

This routine has been working amazingly and I can't wait until it is completely clear!

For my body acne, I've been using Micro-Benz wash every night when i take a shower.
It's cleared me up almost completely!(:

By the way ladies/gentlemen, Don't ever pick at your acne please. It leaves scars, and no one wants that): I learned the hard way.
(But! I have noticed that rubbing cocoa butter on the scar every night does make it fade a bit (: Then you can easily cover it when a dab of concealer. Yes even you guys(:
If guys can wear skinny jeans and be socially acceptable, you should be able to cover a spot (:

Whenever i get a LARGE Spot now, I put a dab of honey on it, (to suck out impurities and clean the infection quicker) and then a dab of differin once it's been sucked outt.

Good luck to you all!
I hope you have the great results I have!
(((:

No improvement with my face whatsoever....If anything it has made my face redder and worse than usual. I am a 17 yr old male with moderate acne. Acne is very very embarressing for me to go out in public and to go to school. I've tried everything you can think of. I'm a person that is very worried about my appearance and the way that i look AKA the way my acne looks that day determines on how i act and how good my day is. I'm about to go to my school's wellness center to see if they will give me anything else for my acne. I'd really like to find something that works for me and gets rid of it. I've heard about Accutane and how its very powerful, its just the cost. I dont want to spend that much $ on something that may or may not work. Pray for me people, im tired of having acne

I am a female age 30 with dealing with acne. My skin tone is Medium to light brown and oily but very soft. I do not have any dry areas. my different types of acne include white pustule bumps(a pustule is a inflamed pus filled bump that appears usually as a white cap on the top and the inflammation as a red colored base. Another type I sometimes have are the large and deep bumps- nodules(deep and highly inflamed bumps that are hard and typically painful to the touch. Cyst are filled with pus and liquid. I get pimples on my forehead,both cheeks,nose and chin. I currently have more than 10 pimples and a few dark brown spots from popping pimples(we are not suppose to burst our pimples guys this is a no-no) I usually break out once a month around the time of my menstrual cycle for about 1-2 weeks. I have every product you can think of gels,mask, spot treatments etc you name it I have it and have tried it from Clearasil, neutragena,medications etc. My main point is that I plan to be discipline this time around with my new acne treatment becaue in the pass I would take the antibiotics and use topical medication tretinoin for about 3 days to 1 week and after my skin cleared I would stop using the medications and maybe after 2-3 weeks the break outs would occur again and I would just deal with the acne and pile make-up or nothing depending how irritated my skin was at the time. My reason for not being discipline in the pass with the medication was because I just could not understand why it would not cure my acne forever I was afraid of repeatedly putting the medication in my body fearing that later in life I would develop health problems that could have been prevented if I had not been taken the medication. Or if got an infection of some sort that antibiotics are suppose to cure I was thinking they would not work for me because my body was used to them because I had taken them for so long . Recently after talking to my dear Cousin/Sister She is one of the top pharmacist/pharmacologist in the country I now have a better understanding on how antibiotics and topical medication works for us. I now understand that the medication is not a cure but it helps prevent it which means that I will have to continue to take it to prevent future break outs. Also I am not afraid to take the antibiotics repeatedly anymore because I now understand that there are different types of antibiotic medications that treat different problems which means that antibiotics that treat and clear our skin is different from antibiotics that treat and clear other infections in our body:) She also gave me the example of taking birth control pills(she said my way of thinking about the not repeatedly taking the medication for my acne and expecting it to cure it was for example like me taking birth control pills and me expecting just because I had taken them for 1 week and thinking that its okay for me to stop taking them because they were in my system and expecting to not get pregnant which guys we know this is not true and the biggest no no So DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR BIRTH CONTROL PILLS THAT YOUR DR. PRESCRIBED FOR YOU. For me this example really made since and boy do I understand how birth control works and how you must take your birth control pills everyday to prevent an unwanted pregnancy from occurring. So guys I will keep you posted with my results. I am excited and determined. Right now my skin is broke out so bad that it hurt when I gently wash my skin. I am broke out on my chin and both cheeks. I have the big hard pustule bumps that hurt and some small pimples but I am still beautiful and have high self esteem and love me some me and this is why I am writing this review I hope I can help you because I know that acne can have a psychological affect on people in different ways and can be devastating for some people where others accept it as a way of life but I have made a choice to not accept it as a way of life and refusing to let it affect me psychologically. So its up to you how you are going to handle it and dance in the storm of your acne breakout but remember you are special and only you can choose how you will feel while your struggle with acne(if you notice I use struggle not suffer because we will conquer and be victorious. Today is day 1 I am starting my disciplined acne treatment that will include washing my face with Cytephil, taking Doxycycl Hyc 100 MG orally twice per day morning and night, sunscreen during the day along with a Tretinoin 0.05% a topical cream using the cream only at night before bedtime. I will keep you posted with my results I know this will work so stay tuned and be sure to check back frequntly to see my results which will help you or someone you know. Thank you for taking the time out to read and i hope you will be blessed from this review.

I am a 27 year old mother of 2 sons. I started dealing with acne when I was 13 and it was mainly just very bad on my forehead. I would always get breakouts atleast twice a months and they were bad enough to keep me at home on the weekends as a teen. My acne NEVER went totaly away and I have always dealt with very oily skin. About 3 months ago my skin started breaking out pretty bad all over my face and I just couldnt take cakeing on make-up anymore,which usualy just make it look worse! I called my family doctor and told her about my acne and she called me in Differin 0.1% and I went to pick it up right away!

I have been using it daily for about a week now. The first few days of using it my acne got MUCH worse so bad I refused to leave the house. But I remember my doctor telling me it would get worse before it got better which I wasnt to happy with but I have tried EVERYTHING over the counter and NOTHING worked so I stuck it through. I am on day 8 now and I can honestly say my skin is MUCH clearer than it was 8 days ago [before I started]. My acne isnt fully gone but it is getting there and my skin has NEVER been this smooth!

I am a stay at home mom and my kids are at school during the day so I wash my face twice a day with clean & clear and I use the gel in the morning and at night. I know Im only suppose to use it once a day but I figured since I rarely go out in the sun and have VERY oily NON-sensative skin that using it twice would be ok and it has. Im sure once all of my acne is gone I will go down to once a day but as for now this is what is working for me and that's what Im sticking to!

I just started Differin this past week. In the few days I've been using it, my face really has become worse. My Dr. told me to use a "mild soap" to watch my face before. I don't know what a "mild soap" consists of. I was using Neutrogena Stress Acne pads but then I heard you shouldn't use the acid that's in it. Can anyone help me by telling me some mild soaps to use??

Hi there, as a 16 year old teenage lad I hated the acne on my back, the acne tended to only be there for a week (within a monthly cycle) then as it would disappear through benozyl peroxide treatment it would leave horrible red and purple marks! After 4 months of this i concluded that this treatment wasn't right for me and i resolved to go back to my GP/doctor. She referred me onto a prescribed 0.1 % Differin gel treatment. Its been two/three weeks now and the changes have been dramatic. I still have a few red bumsp on the shoulders but the markage left over is fast disappearing and I now have 75% of the skin on my back back to normal clear skin. I highly recommend it especially as it worked fairly rapidly on the skin on my back which is much thicker and pores much larger than that of facial acne. I keep the same washing routine, keep playing football/soccer and my girl friend (who has been very supportive) is understandingly ecstatic!! Keep fighting!

i am 26 years old and i've had severe acne ever since i can remember. i have tried pretty much everything. nothing seemed to help me. differin has changed my life. if you have bad acne you know what i'm talking about. people are so mean and i have cried many many tears. differin didn't work for me overnight. it actually made my acne worse. i was so disappointed but kept using it because i spent $150 for it. but i'm glad i did. i noticed my face started clearing up in different sections. first my forehead, then my cheeks. my major problems was my chin and around my chin line. it took a long time but it finally cleared up. it was so worth going thru the first six months to finally having clear skin. and one tube lasted over eight months and thats with putting it all over my face. it is not a overnight cure, at least it wasn't for me. this is my first review and i'm doing it because if i can help anybody with acne, it is worth my time. oh yea, make sure you don't get in the sun with it. it will burn your face.

My dermatologist gave me Differin today and said to only put "a little" on ONLY THE PIMPLES !.. and from what I've read .. people put it on their whole face! maybe that's why it's not working well for them ... so make sure to Only put it once at night only on the pimples .. =]

Differin is not a non-presciption Gel. It is prescribed by a dermatologists office and is a medical and strong medication that should not be compared to over the counter products. It works for some and not for others. Work with your dermatologist to find the right solution. I have three teenagers with mild to medium acne (no cysts are extreme breakouts) and differin has worked for them at different levels.

I think my skin has cleared up some ive been on it for over 2 months now...but strangely its made me scar much worse when I do get a pimple. But I'm going to stay with it for now because I'm currently in the process of getting new insurance so from there well see. And my pores have gotten larger Im very confused cuz this is the opposite of what I was told would happen its really upsetting because I loved my pores before couldnt see them at all now there huugggeee. My skins much oilier to. Maybe my hormones are just changing though ugh i dont know

My son is only 10 but his skin is already breaking out badly. The doctor told me to get differin 3. He had very bad pimples on his forhead and on his nose. One got very large and broke. He has a scar from that one and he never messed with it at all. After about a month of putting the differin on his forehead and nose every night his skin is almost cleared up. Right now it is Febuary in Florida so the sun isn't bad but during summer the sun is horrid so I don't know what we will do this summer, epecially considering he goes to summer camp all summer and they are in the sun every day all day long.

There is no quick fix nor a miracle remedy. Good clear skin starts from the inside, plenty of water, eat well, vitamins, exercise, etc. We are what we eat/drink. For those of us that suffer from acne, we need more help such as antibiotics and topical medications. Believe me, I know. I had perfectly clear skin until age 20, then it was devastating with the embarassment, sore cysts and pimples and I was scurrying to try every remedy advertised out there to end the pain. Though my doctors kept telling me it was a hormonal imbalance, i was determined to rid of it, and soon!

Over five years, I tried two different antibiotics (e, t) and many topical creams (including Proactive) and nothing seemed to work. I finally tried Accutane at age 28 and this killed the severe acne (the cysts), but I do occasionally get a few outbreaks every now and then but nothing like before with the painful cysts that causes scars. I started Differen gel .1 then .3 a year ago only as a recommendation of a new dermatologist after seeing about removing my old acne scars and he recommended completly clearly the skin with differen to be sure that all impurities were pulled out of my sking before attempting an expense scar-reducing surgery. With DIFFERIN, I noticed the skin flushing out the underground bacteria immediately. My skin is normally dry and I do not experience excessive drying; however, I do apply a light moisterizer before bed. It's very important, please keep in mind, to always moisterize and apply sunscreen every morning as well. There are good-skin habits, and again, PLENTY of water (6-8 glasses per day). You will see immediate effects, that same day, after drinking 8 glasses of water the day prior. Just try it.

I will also share something. Now, in my late 30's, my healthcare company disputes every time I have differen refilled because it is also used as a cosmetic anti-wrinkle remedy! So, the only way I can get it refilled, is to prove from my dr that I have acne. Interesting, huh?

So, stick to your routine, find what works best for you, we're all different. But, remember, eat well, exercise, consume alot of water, take your vitamins, don't scrub your face, treat your face like tissue, be patient, perhaps combine antibiotics with topic solutions and most importantly, don't let your not-so-perfect skin stop you from enjoying your life and missing out on events. Life's too short.

Used Diffrin, before my derm put me on Retin A. Diffrin did not seem to work at all and REtin A made my face very flaky and dry. Finally, my doc put me on Solodyn and a retinoid antibiotic combo gel called Ziana. The combination of the two have really worked for me.

I was on this for about two months and I didn't see any results. Last week I went to the doctor depressed because my acne had not improved at all. He put me on Sulpha (an antibiotic taken orally) and Tretinoin (generic for Retin-A). I can already see results from the combination of these two medications, and I've only been taking them a few days. Tretinoin is topical cream and it actually grows new skin, causing you to shed the layer you already have. It helps with scarring and wrinkles as well. It is God-sent. I feel blessed to find something that is actually working for me, because the Differin made me lose hope for a future with better skin.
You have to try both though. Some people love Differin. Some people are terrified of Tretinoin and I've read many horror stories about it. I didn't go through the massive breakout phase with it because I had already brought up all the dormant pimples with Differin. But there will be a period of time with these medications when you first start using them that you will breakout like mad for a few weeks before you start seeing any results. Don't lose hope though. Tough it out and if the acne doesn't improve at all, just go switch to something else. Different people react differently to meds, and you just have to find the one that's right for you. Good luck!
PS - Taking an antibiotic with a topical is the best way to fight acne. Try to get both.

Hi, well im using the 5% differin gel. its worked really well for 3 months, then i stopped because, there was none or little acne left. But then for about a month or so after acne started appearing again, and got a little strong, went back to the doctor again and he said that it should be used for 9 months non-stop then acne should stop or won;t be as strong as before. im just wondering, if this has happened to more people, or is this situation just happening to me.

This is my 4th weeks on differin. I do not see any improvement. My face is horrible. I am becoming so depressed. I do not want to even go outside. The acne has increased. I want to call my doctor to try something new, but I will try to put in my remaining 8 weeks. I think I will feel better if I can see a slight improvement.

ive been using differin for over six months. first things got worse then they got a little better. now im stuck with a little more than moderatley bad acne on my cheeks and some pimples in other places on my face. i wash my face when i wake up with gentle soap, then again before i go to bed, then i put diffwerin on. can someone tell me what im doing rong and what i shuld do?

thanks  do you think i should use a lower dose? i used to use 1% and dident have any promblems noow my derm put me on 3% and its much worse.

AlexandraRipp, yes continue using it. All the acne you see was hiding under your skin and this medication is purifying your skin. Trust me, KEEP GOING.

Im not sure wat did it but i all of a sudden like overnight really got moderate acne. It was weird over the period of a week i went from no acne at all like perfect skin to moderate acne. I started using a bunch of stuff like proactiv and this natural remedy but nothing until i went on the combo of differin monoxicylin and panoxyl soap so for acne really u need to try all three methods of treatment to get results internal and the two externals of benzoyl peroxide and retin A. I now have light acne that is almsot all gone and now compeltely under control. Differin is known for light side effects so burning only happens with sensitive skin but lower usage until u get used to it. like every other other day for a few days then every other day and so on till its every day. Dont mess around with acne hit it hard from all angles possible when u start getting it and if that doesn't work use the miracle drug accutane for severe acne. its the only thing that works for all my friends who had it way worse than me. it will suck for a month tops then about 1 or 3 months to around 6 months u will have clear skin trust me.

I tried Differin .3 gel for three months with no results. I called back my doctor and he switched me to Retin A Micro. Within two weeks my acne was clearing, and my doctor said because it was in a pump, I wouldnt overuse the product. Hands down, my vote goes to Retina Micro.

Differin may work for some people, but its side effects turn me off. Try something all natural like Vilantae instead.

I'm only 16, but I did have random breakouts like twice a month, and it was getting so annoying and it was just distracting. So I tried ProActive, and it did not work. And It's frusterating having to wait month after month for results. So I tried Acne Control, no luck with that either. So I'd seen a commercial for Differin and thought what the heck, I had a physical comming up anyway. I got Differin, awhile ago but just got around to using it last night, And some of you say how it takes months, and months. Well, My face is practically cleared up. But I also didn't use it the right way xD. I just massaged it on for about 5 minutes last night then washed it off, and I think I'm going to stick to doing that because if I leave anything on my face over night it makes its all dry in the morning. And even not using it the right way, it was AMAZING! I can't wait to use it again tonight.

I was very skeptical when I was prescribed differin gel. My face never got dried out or irritated. My face instead became super greasy everyday and the acne got worse, much worse for months and months! I had it worse than I ever had in my life! I thought it probably wasn't working since my face was so oily instead of overly dry like every one elses experiences, but I kept using it, just in case. The way I used it was, I cleaned my face everynight with a gental facial soap, then applied differin gel before bed. In the morning, I'd wash it all off really well with facial soap and apply clindamycin gel. I NEVER wore differin during the day and would recommend you not to as well. My doctor told me too many horror stories of how differin reacts badly with sunlight.

It's been about 6-7 months now, and this week, for the first time ever, I have stopped getting acne. My blackheads, whitehead and cystic acne are all gone! After suffering with ance from age 13 to now, age 27, I'm still in disbelief that the acne is finally gone! It really was worth the wait. I almost gave up several times but I'm really happy now that I stuck with it. My face is clear and smooth! I do have a lot of very apparent scars still, but I think getting a couple micro dermabrasions will remove the scarring.
I would recommend differin to anyone, but just make sure you stick with it. It may take 6-7 months of torture with worse than ever acne, but it needs months to expose all that built up acne under the skin. But it does finally work!

Basically you have to try it because it works on some people and not others. I tried differin and it cleared my skin immensely at any given time I only had one pimple on my face or none.

Question about Differing and sun exposure(and my review below).

How strong does sunblock have to be when using Differin? I know some people said they got very painful and ugly burns by being exposed to sun while on differin. Is sunblock something that can prevent it? HOw strong does it have to be? I have vacation in Hawaii coming up, so no way I can avoid the sun and I don't want to get painful/ugly burns on my vacation.....Any input appreciated. Thanks.

I've been using Differin for about 7-8 weeks now (the .1%). First time I tried Differin, it was PAINFUL. I know I have very sensitive skin, but the way my skin reacted was NOT expected. After only 3 days of using Differin, my face was peeling really bad (like think sunburn kind of peeling + cracking skin) and my skin constantly felt like it was burning and itching. It actually hurt to talk...any action that cause the skin on my face to move HURT. Not to mention my skin got super dry and red.

I gave my skin about 2 weeks to rest/heal and tried Differin again...but I this time I used it every other day, instead of every day. By skipping a day, my skin wasn't getting as nearly irritated...just felt a little dry, that's it....After about 9 days, I switched to using it every day. I think by first using it every other day, allowed my skin to adjust because now I'm not experiencing any of the side effects as I did with my first attempt (which was very painful and looked HORRIBLE).

Yes, my skin got worse initially, but it's slowly clearing up. I don't get those painful pimples anymore and the pimples I am still getting, go away practically overnight. I know Differin takes time to work, so I expect my skin to keep improving.

BTW, I'm 26 and although I never had acne as a teenager, it all started up around 20 for me and got pretty bad. I'd have to say I had moderate to sever(when close to my period) acne.

For some people....it takes 6 months for it to work. For me, I saw results over night! It works! And don't apply it all over your face...just in the affected area. I use the Differin GEL 0.3%. TRY IT!!!  ?

This gel is genuinly very good but i do not recommend using it if you suffer from severe acne because at first - as it works under the skin - your acne may get worse and the bacteria would be too strong. 1st of all i recommend visiting your doctor and pick up some Doxycycline and Dalacin T. This combination works well on acne prone and acne skin. It also reduces oil and kills bacteria. It additionally helps the pores to let excess sebum flush out as acne is caused by excess sebum and bacteria. After about 3 months of this combined treatment you should allow your doctor to examine your progress. They will either allow you too continue on the combined course or change the course. If your acne has improved and you only have a few blackheads and pimples, now is the time to request Differen gel. 1% for sensitive skin. The gel will remove any leftover active acne and make your face feel smoother. Only use at night. Do not worry about a shiny complexion when you apply the differen and even when its dried. Simply wash your face gently and thoroughly in the morning and do not despair if you see little improvement in the first week or two! Finally, I have a few tips to staying relatively acne free and healthy: 1. Drink 2litres of water each day. Thats about five pint glasses. This will hydrate your skin and make your skin looker fresher even if you do still have acne. 2. Eat chocolate! Yes i know some people say it causes acne but if eaten in sensible quantities its fine! 3. Eat a balanced diet. Not too much dairy produce but enough to stay healthy. 4-5 portions of fruit and veg. Brown bread. 4. Acne is normal! Dont be ashamed! Enjoy life no matter how much acne youve got! People like you for who you are - not your skin! :) 5. Ignore make-up ads, celeb pictures and spot treatment ads - they are all airbrushed!

okay, i HAVE to say this.
i freakin LOVE this stuff.


people whine and say ooh ti makes my skin dry, it made me break out.

it works under the skin, so it's going to get worse before it gets better.

i used it about 3 years ago, but stopped just because my problem went away. well, it came back recently, so i started using it again.

WOW my face looks sooo much better <3

i use the lowest level because i have sensitive skin.

the 3% is for MAJOR breakouts, and yeah, it WILL hurt because it's trying to clear everything out.
but i can't use the 3% because it literally burns my flesh, so yeah xD

it's not the stronger you get it, the better the results.
if you have bigger, harder to deal with breakouts, get the 3%

but if you're like me, with only a few breakouts, and sensitive skin, then 1% is pwn.

differin is a good product that'll get rid of acne. One advice would be to NOT use differin after putting on moisturizers. The moisturizers kind of blocks out the differin and you will break out. ONLY use differin on clean dry faces after washing it with warm water and gentle cleanser.

Ive been on Differin for nearly 6 months now. First of all, let me start off by telling you my background. Im 29 years old and have noticed acne forming around my chin and neckline. The rest of my face is relatively clear. I decided that I needed to go on prescription strength acne medication because my chin and neck seemed to be breaking out a lot more. The more I read about it, the more I learned that this type of acne develops due to a hormonal imbalance. I always seemed to break out about a week or so prior to my menstrual cycle. I would say that I experienced anywhere from mild to moderate acne since I was in high school and I have really oily skin. I never experienced acne like this before though. Before, it was always on my face rather than around my neckline.

I personally didnt have a problem with dry skin, but I always used a moisturizer (Cetaphil). I also used Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser because it had a less drying effect than other cleansers on the market. I used Differin the evening before I went to bed and applied 10% Benzoyl peroxide in the morning along with a moisturizer (although, if I were to do it over again, I would apply 5% directly on active pimples only). Try to resist popping your pimples and clean your face gently by washing your face with your hands. I think that it took longer for my face to clear up because I was using a wash cloth, which was too rough on my skin and possibly spread the bacteria on my face. The tube will last for 4 months if you use a pea size amount. You really dont need any more than that. If you use more, it will only dry out your face.

It took about 3 months for my face to really clear up to the point where I was happy with it. The first 2 months were awful. My face broke out worse than it ever had in my entire life! Lucky for me, it was winter time and I could cover it up by wearing turtleneck sweaters. I would have been mortified if the acne was all over my face rather than just on my neckline. I would not recommend starting Differin if you have any big plans in the next 2 -3 months. Your face WILL get worse before it gets better. So, if you have a big wedding coming up or a graduation ceremony soon, skip the Differin until you have a good solid three months to suffer through the worst part of your acne management. Also, if you have severe acne, you may want to ask your doctor about being put on antibiotics when you start the medication. It will probably take at least 5 or 6 months for your face to clear up if you have severe acne.

My face is perfectly clear now, with no active lesions. I had a few dark, red spots on my face that eventually faded. I am grateful that my acne is now under control. I have to tell you, after 3 months, I was ready to call it quits. It was a rough three months, but Im so happy that I stuck with it! If you have lots of patients, than I say give it a try! If not, skip Differin and stick with on the spot Benzoyl Peroxide to dry up pimples that show their ugly, little heads! But, BP will not do the trick to completely rid your problem skin. I feel, with time, only Differin can do that. Good luck!

do not use differin!!!!!!! At first the medication helped with my acne but then i had a severe allergic reaction to the medication causing my skin to become extremely sensitive. My face is now swollen and i have severe itching due to hyperlysensitive skin which i have been dealing with for the past 7 months because every dermatologist i have been to latley is a complete idiot and has provided no help whatsoever.

do not use differin!!!!!!! At first the medication helped with my acne but then i had a severe allergic reaction to the medication causing my skin to become extremely sensitive. My face is now swollen and i have severe itching due to hyperlysensitive skin which i have been dealing with for the past 7 months because every dermatologist i have been to latley is a complete idiot and has provided no help whatsoever.

I used Differin Gel for approximately 6 mths. It was the worst experience of my acne-saturated life. I broke out with big, juicy, bacon-filled looking pimples that hurt worse than a root canal, minus the anesthesia! It was horrible and very humiliating. I cringed at the thought of facing the public. Fortunately, I was a housewife at the time and could seclude myself to the confines of my home. Perhaps it was an allergic reaction or a warped display of God's humor, but whatever it was, I will not be so asinine as to indulge in its ill-fated effects again! ~Sharika~ from North Carolina

I've been using differin for 2 weeks now. I am 24 years old and I have been struggling with acne for as long as I can remember. About 6 months ago it got even worse, I didnt think that was possible- but it did. I have not been out in public (as in out of my house- not even on the pavement) without makeup since i was old enough to wear make up.

2 weeks ago I visited a dermatologist and she recommended 3 things for me. 1 an antibiotic, 2 benzol peroxide to be used during the day and 3 differin at night only.

All three were by RX only.

within days my skin had begun to look and feel better

the dark marks from the old acne is still there but the peroxide is supposed to help that in time (you can only use it sparingly or it will irritate your skin)

I really think that if you are like how I was and you spent a small fortune in over the counter acne meds and face washes - give differin a try. Talk to a dermatologist, the visit is fairly cheap and let them try it on you.
My skin is steadily getting better and I hope one day soon I can feel comfortable without make up. My skin is also smooth and soft- and that amazes me, I was never that smooth and soft skin type of girl.
It makes me feel better about me and I hope it keeps getting better

Good luck to everyone out there who have had to go through this.

give it a try

I've been using differin gel for just over two months alongside oxytetracycle and my skin has really improved. I'm 19 and have used pretty much everything you can get over the counter and this is the first thing to work. I now use a clean and clear wash and then differin gel at night. The differin gel really dries my skin out so i use bio-oil to moisturise it and help the scarring, plus being in better condition my skin can heal itself quicker. I think it's the oxytetracycline, not the differin gel, that has cleared my skin but it is really good for individual spots as it reduces redness and helps it clearer up quicker... though it needs to be used sparingly so it doesn't dry your skin too much.

Ok, I've been using differin 0.1% for A YEAR now and it did not improve my skin. It made my skin really dry and it didn't get rid of my break outs. Also, it did not prevent me from future breakouts. My blackheads are still there, nothing has been improved.

I've been using differin for about 4 weeks now. it's really working for me, but I'm worried because I have bumps on my cheeks that have been there for years. I mean they're not red or blackheads or whiteheads or anything they're just little bumps all over my cheeks that are they same color as my skin and I'm worried with differin that it won't make those go away. besides that my forehead and chin look the best they've looked in years :)

Probably the best out there! it is effective but not too harsh. I was my face with Neutrogena Deep Clean cream cleanser & use this Differin gel. The gel worked better than the cream.

Cetaphil wash + Differin gel 0.3% + two Bactrim pills a day = my face FINALLY clearing up and starting to be touchably soft.
I've been prescribed EVERY medication there is over the course of 8 years, except I refused to use Accutane for the obvious risk involved. I have never tried hormone pills or any type of birth control-- my mother is against using such things until trying everything else.
I began the combination above about 6 months ago, but a couple of months into it I was so fed up at not seeing results that I quit all of my medication (topical and oral) and tried Clean & Clear's products again. That was a horrible mistake. I switched back after about a month. It's been about 2 and a half weeks since going back to the Differin and Bactrum and I'm seeing results. I was initially worried that my skin would need time to readjust to the medication again, but it seemed to pick up exactly where it left off. So I can honestly say that it does take some time. I wish I had been more patient and not quit right before the medication could work for me inside and out.
Another piece of advice: I was on Proactiv for about two years. It was the first thing that ever worked for me. BUT shortly into the second year, my face became immune to the medicine. Maybe it continues to work for some people, but my face wasn't responding to it after that first wonderfully clear-faced year. Good thing that it was my senior year of high school then.
victoriafirefly below: You sound like you could be me. I'm also 19 and have the same EXACT story. I hope to soon be able to break my make-up conscious habit also!
Good luck, everyone. I hope you all find what works for you.

this prodcut is the worst
it caused me the hair loss for real
i am so scared if my hair will completely grow back like before
piss the hell out of me
dont use this there are some side effects that are not even listed
Just dont use this
if you have acne dont go to dermatologist