Is differin retinol?

Author: Junius Mante  |  Last update: Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Skin care products with retinol are found everywhere, but Differin is the lone retinoid available without a prescription. Compared to retinols, retinoids are the stronger, fast-acting sister product, explained Dr.

Is Differin a retinol or retinoid?

Retin-A (tretinoin) Cream and Gel and Differin (adapalene) are retinoids (a form of vitamin A) used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Is Differin stronger than retinol?

Differin 0.1% Adapalene Gel, for example, can help treat acne. Studies have found evidence to suggest adapalene is just as effective as stronger retinoids, but the skin tends to tolerate it better.

Does Differin gel contain retinol?

What is the percentage of retinoid ingredient found in Differin Gel? Differin Gel is the only OTC acne treatment to contain a prescription-strength retinoid. This powerful medication contains 0.1% adapalene to clear acne.

Does Differin acne treatment have retinol?

Take a different approach to clearing—and preventing—your acne. Differin Gel contains the retinoid adapalene, the first new over-the-counter active ingredient for acne in more than 30 years.

The Truth About Differin

How much retinol does Differin have?

The gel contains . 1 percent adapalene, a third-generation retinoid, meaning it's a derivative of the first retinoid used as topical medication (sold as Retin-A). Differin Gel is the first acne treatment the FDA approved in more than 30 years.

What's the difference between adapalene and retinol?

Did you know? Both retinol and adapalene are retinoids, but only adapalene is FDA-approved to treat acne. Gel) regulate skin cell turnover to keep pores from clogging and to control inflammation.

Is adapalene better than tretinoin?

Conclusions: Adapalene offers comparable efficacy to tretinoin, but is less irritating. It represents a good alternative for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in Chinese patients.

Does adapalene lighten skin?

Adapalene gel is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of acne and has demonstrated clinical lightening of solar lentigines with twice daily application.

Can I use niacinamide with Differin?

Studies have also shown that niacinamide reduces the irritation of retinoids, (7) so it's a good companion to have should you decide to try differin.

Does adapalene build collagen?

In conclusion, tretinoin and adapalene contributed to the wound healing process resulting in an enhancement of collagen production, angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation.

Can I use Differin for wrinkles?

Differin is available OTC, classified as a retinoid and is FDA approved for the treatment of acne. In addition to treating acne, retinoids increase collagen production, which reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Does adapalene remove acne scars?

The active ingredient is adapalene, which helps decrease swelling and inflammation, prevent breakouts, and treat scarring. According to Garshick, “it can help discoloration and textural changes that go along with acne scars by evening out the skin tone and boosting collagen production.”

Is 0.1 retinol effective?

It may seem surprising, but even small percentages of retinol can benefit your skin. Percentages of 0.01% retinol or greater are proven to be effective at improving multiple signs of ageing, reducing pore size and improving the overall health of your skin.

What does Differin do to your face?

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.

Are retinoids as good as retinol?

In general, retinoids are stronger than retinol. They contain a higher concentration of the product, and the molecular structure of vitamin A in this form allows it to turn over skin cells at a faster rate than retinol.

Does Differin help hyperpigmentation?

Bottom line - it's highly effective in the treatment of acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, even in sensitive skin.

Can adapalene be used for anti-aging?

Adapalene, on the other hand, is not as well-studied as an anti-aging treatment and is usually not prescribed frequently as tretinoin to treat the signs of aging. Because of this, it may not be recommended first if your goal is to reduce the visibility of wrinkles, creases or pigmented spots.

Why do my wrinkles look worse after retinol?

First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.

Does adapalene help with scarring?

As both photodamaged skin and atrophic acne scars share the feature of dermal matrix loss, adapalene 0.3% may potentially exert a beneficial effect in the treatment of atrophic acne scars, similar to its effect on photoaging.

Can I use adapalene in the morning and retinol at night?

Just take care to avoid using both ingredients at the same time of day, as this can easily lead to irritation. Instead, if your skin can handle both ingredients on the same day, you can try using an AHA in the morning and retinol at night, or vice versa.

Can you use adapalene long term?

Adapalene 0.3% gel was safe and effective in the long-term (up to 1 year) treatment of subjects with acne vulgaris.

Can I exfoliate while on Differin?

So if you're currently battling a bad breakout and have already applied some of your trusty benzoyl peroxide, it's best to hold off starting your Differin treatment. Other products to avoid would be chemical exfoliants or drying agents like toners. After all, Differin is a retinoid that increases cell turnover.

How long can you use Differin for?

The affected areas should be dry before application. Clinical improvement is expected to be evident in 4 to 8 weeks of treatment, with further improvement to be expected with continued use. Cutaneous safety of Differin topical cream has been demonstrated in 311 patients for up to 12 weeks of treatment.

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