What is the same as Differin?

Did you know? Both retinol and adapalene are retinoids, but only adapalene is FDA-approved to treat acne.

Topical retinoids play a crucial role in the treatment of acne. Retinoids like adapalene (the active ingredient in Differin®
Gel) regulate skin cell turnover to keep pores from clogging and to control inflammation.

Retinoid [ret-n-oid] n.

A generic word describing a variety of products that
have a form of vitamin A activity.

Adapalene

Advanced retinoid specifically designed for acne

Retinol

Simple vitamin A

Retinol

Not approved by the FDA to treat acne or any
skin condition

Adapalene

Powerful, acne-fighting active ingredient in Differin® Gel, previously available only by prescription

Retinol

Not approved by the FDA to treat acne or any skin condition

Retinol

Common ingredient found in food like meat and
poultry, and in certain skin-care products

Adapalene

Far more potent than retinol— the only FDA-approved, prescription-strength retinoid
acne treatment available over the counter (OTC)

Retinol

Common ingredient found in food like meat and poultry, and in certain skin-care products

Retinol

Vitamin A must be broken down by the body
into an active form to become useful

Adapalene

Active from the get-go; starts working once
you put it on your skin

Retinol

Vitamin A must be broken down by the body into an active form to become useful

Adapalene

Treats

acne deep in
the pores

Prevents

new acne
from forming

Restores

skin’s natural
tone and texture
as a result of
reduced acne

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Clear90 is a free app that helps you keep track of your progress
with Differin–all the way to clear skin–in just 90 days

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What’s adapalene and how does it work?

Adapalene is the active ingredient in Differin® Gel. It’s a multi-benefit, dermatologist-recommended retinoid specifically used for clearing acne. Adapalene treats acne deep in the pores at the source, prevents new acne from forming and, as a result of reduced acne, restores your skin’s natural texture and tone. Adapalene has been prescribed to more than 40 million people over the last 20 years. With Differin Gel, acne sufferers now have access to this effective treatment without a prescription.

What’s a retinoid?

Topical retinoids play a crucial role in the treatment of acne. When you have acne, your skin cell turnover is in overdrive — as new cells are being produced, old cells aren’t being discarded as they should. These old cells, along with sebum and bacteria, clog the pores. Adapalene adjusts the speed of skin cell turnover to make sure your skin goes through the right process, creating a healthier environment for skin. Regulating skin cell turnover to a normal rate helps to keep the pores from clogging and target acne before it even starts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) therapeutic treatment guidelines, topical retinoids are recommended as a primary therapy for initial treatment of mild, moderate and severe acne.

There are other topical retinoids — tretinoin and tazarotene — used to treat acne, but adapalene is the only one available over the counter. In clinical studies, adapalene has shown superior tolerability to other topical prescription retinoids, meaning Differin is gentler on your skin, while still effective.

• Adapalene is more stable to light and oxygen, compared to tretinoin
  • Stability to light means that it won’t lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight
• Adapalene rapidly penetrates the follicles
  • Works deep in the pores where acne begins
• Adapalene remains high in concentration, deep in the pores, to help clear and prevent acne

Adapalene through the years

• 

  1925

  Studies linked abnormal cell turnover to vitamin A deficiency.

• 

  1950

  Different types of retinoic acids
  identified.

• 

  1971

  First topical retinoid launched for acne.

• 

  1985

  Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide become available in OTC acne products, a dated standard is born

• 

  1996

  Adapalene FDA-approved as
  prescription retinoid acne treatment.

• 

  2016

  Differin Gel receives FDA approval for use without a prescription.

• 

  2017

  Differin Gel launched. Happy,
  clear-faced selfies increase.*

  *Probably

A dermatologist’s perspective

How is adapalene different from other retinoids?

Retinoids, such as adapalene…are ready to go once you put them on the skin.

Dr. Adam Friedman

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What is A substitute for Differin?

Is there anything better than Differin?

Is Differin and retinol the same?

Is Differin and tretinoin the same?