Differin Is Now The Worst Thing That Ever Happened To My Skin
I have been using it for nearly 3 months now. In the first few weeks I underwent purging, which I expected. The problem is that the cystic pimples that pop up always dry up very slowly and leave behind indented scars . I would accidentally rub my face against the pillow at night and the cystics would pop, leaving a hole behind. Ive been warned not to pop my pimples, since the scarring heals very slowly when using Differin. Problem is that Ive not been popping my pimples, they just rub off when Im sleeping and leave behind scars, and that these scars arent healing slowly, they arent healing at all. Should I quit Differin, or keep at it for another month or two? Also how can I deal with my atrophic scars? Is dermarolling/laser treatment the only options? I wish I hadnt started using Differin, its causing a lot more problems than it had fixed.
Here is my routine, if needed:
AM:Wipe face with micellar water/OCM with Kose SpeedyMelano CCHatomugi Skin Conditioner, applied with 7 skins techniqueClinique Moisturizing GelBiores Aqua Rich Watery Essence
Best Cleansers To Use With Differin Gel
Differin gel carries the day as the only over-the-counter retinoid acne treatment available in the market today. This gel contains .1 percent adapalene that helps clear acne by preventing the growth of acne-causing cells and decreasing inflammation and swelling.
Approved by FDA in 2016 for over-the-counter use, Differin gel helps clear breakouts deep in the pores and prevent acne before it starts. This gel is highly recommended for treating mild and moderate acne. Before applying this gel to your face, you must first cleanse it using a mild, non-drying, and non-irritating cleanser.
Washing your face with a cleanser helps get rid of all the makeup dirt, excess oils, and debris hence creating a clean surface for the gel to penetrate and heal your skin faster. But what is the best cleanser to use with Differin Gel? Read on to find out.
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What Should You Not Use With Differin
Think of what you dont use with retinolyes, you should not use the same ingredients with adapalene. Before using differin gel, you should not exfoliate your skin or use products that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid.
These ingredients tend to dry out your skin just like retinoids do. Layering them will be exposing your skin to irritations and excessive dryness. Moreover, they all trigger cell turnover they could cause your skin to break out with acne.
In addition, when using differin gel, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, tanning beds, and even using hair removal waxes. Exposure to sunlight and hair removal waxes reveal a sensitive layer of your skin and expose it to irritations and inflammation.
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What Differin Is Used For
DIFFERIN contains the active substance adapalene that belongs to a group of medicines called retinoids.
DIFFERIN is used for the treatment of acne of the face, chest or back. The product acts against the abnormal skin processes associated with acne.
Your doctor, however may prescribe it for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why DIFFERIN has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctors prescription.
DIFFERIN is not addictive.
Which Retinol Is Best For Acne
Experts agree that prescription-grade retinoid creams and gels are the most effective when it comes to treating acne. But if you dont want to make a trip to the derm/deal with insuranceOR if your skin is just hella sensitivedont stress youve still got options. Adapalene is now available over-the-counter, so you can buy it at virtually every drugstore. Or, you can check out Curology, a skincare company that matches you with a medical provider who can virtually prescribe you prescription-strength tretinoin .
Though OTC adapalene works for acne, other drugstore retinoids likeretinol, retinol esters, and retinaldehyde wont actually be that effective when it comes to treating acne . Though they still have excellent skin benefitslike line-smoothing and spot-brighteningthey arent strong enough to effectively treat acne, says Dr. Marchbein. Which is why youll see most drugstore retinoid products advertised as anti-agers instead of acne-fixersthey just arent potent enough to have a major impact on breakouts.
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Additional Tips For Dealing With Acne Scars
Better Acne Products Than Differin
Instead of working to mitigate the many side effects associated with retinoid-based products like Differin, someone trying to reduce their acne could first try a gentler skincare regimen that is still effective against acne like the kits offered at Exposed.
Exposed uses benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to reduce acne plus natural extracts like sage and passion flower to soothe redness.
The skin turnover associated with retinoids can also be achieved by ingredients like the azelaic acid found in the Exposed Clearing Tonic without the side effects like photosensitivity and dryness or peeling.
The Exposed method to heal acne combines the best of science and nature to reduce acne-causing bacteria, soothe inflammation, and clear skin during present breakouts while preventing future ones.
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Mistake #: Putting It On Your Eyelids
This mistake is putting it around your eyes or to the thin skin of your eyelids.
If youve ever used differin or any other type of retinoid or retinol, you know it can cause some peeling and some dryness. That is to be expected.
Fortunately differin overall is not as drying or irritating as other retinoids. But it can cause some peeling, especially in the first two weeks of using it.
The last thing you want to do is get this around the thin skin of the eyelids. The skin there is very thin, its going to be more vulnerable to dryness and irritation.
One tip when using differin is before you apply it to the skin, take some vaseline, which is petroleum jelly, you dont have to use the name brand, you can use generic, and just put a little bit on your eyelids.
This will prevent the differin from getting onto the thin skin of the eyelids and reduce the risk that youre going to develop, dryness and irritation around your eyes.
Can You Use Differin Gel For Your Undereye Wrinkles
Yes, you can. Differin gel works well for undereye wrinkles. After cleansing your face, apply a thin film of differin gel to your undereye and allow the gel to dry. Afterward, layer eye cream over the gel.
Eye cream is necessary because of the thin nature of the skin around your eye. Also, differin gel can cause a stinging sensation on that part of your skin. So, eye cream is the moisturizer that soothes your skin.
SEE: Best Eye Cream
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Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Differin if you are allergic to adapalene.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have other medical conditions.
It is not known whether adapalene passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
It is not known whether Differin will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant.
Differin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old.
Adapalene May Cause Side Effects The Following Symptoms Are Likely To Affect Your Skin During The First 2
- redness
- burning or stinging
- itching
Medications that are similar to adapalene have caused tumors in laboratory animals who were given the medications and exposed to real or artificial sunlight. It is not known whether adapalene increases the risk of tumors in humans. Protect yourself from sunlight and sunlamps while taking adapalene, and talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.
Adapalene may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
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Give Your Skin A Deep Exfoliating Clean With Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is lipophilic, which means it likes to mingle with oils. This property allows it to penetrate deep into pores and clean them out. Alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic and lactic acids, are hydrophilic, so they dont penetrate pores as well, but they are effective at exfoliating dead skin and preventing pores from clogging. Camp suggests cleansing with this gentle face cleanser by CeraVe, which contains salicylic acid and can be used to treat acne on the face, shoulders, and back.
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture . If you are using a bottle of adapalene solution, be sure to store it upright.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
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Hit Pause On Your Other Actives
That includes any cleansers, serums, or moisturizers that contain AHAs, BHAs, and/or benzoyl peroxide. Too many active ingredients + retinol = a recipe for redness and inflammation. So cut this stuff out a week before starting retinol, says dermatologist Uchenna Okereke, MD. Once your skin starts to adjust, you can add actives back in one at a time, with at least a week in between.
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Mistake #: Washing Your Face Too Often
If you are washing your face twice a day, youre going to be losing more water out of the skin. The last thing that you want is to be cleansing too frequently. That removes some of your natural lipid barrier and creates more dryness and irritation.
Consider dialing back to washing your face just once a day, in the evening to remove dirt, cosmetics, pollution, etc. You do want to wash your face before you apply differin.
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Adapalene Gel For Acne Scars: The Research
Recent research has demonstrated that 0.3% adapalene gel can improve pitted acne scars after 24-weeks of use. In this study, adapalene was applied once a day for the first 4 weeks, then twice a day for the following 20 weeks, which differs to the usual recommended use of once-daily use.
Another clinical study investigated a combination of 0.3% adapalene gel and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne scars. After the 24-week study period, patients experienced a 30% reduction in the number of pitted acne scars.
Lower concentrations of adapalene gel are effective at preventing further acne scarring but do not appear to have much effect over existing acne scars after 24 weeks of use. However, lower concentrations tend to take longer to work and it is unclear whether any benefit would have been seen with a longer study period.
With all of these studies, adapalene gel was well-tolerated with patients experiencing little irritation throughout the study period.
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What Are Causes And Risk Factors For Cystic Acne
There is a trend that if a parent or older sibling had significant scarring acne, you are more likely to develop it yourself. However, a family history of cystic acne is not universal, even in the most severe cases. Elevations in testosterone, either intrinsic to the body or extrinsic through the intake of anabolic steroids, may precipitate or worsen cystic acne. While most combination contraceptive pills will have a therapeutic benefit in acne, the progesterone-predominant contraceptive types such as progesterone-only mini-pills, progesterone implants, and progesterone-eluting intrauterine devices may worsen acne, although these may serve as effective contraception when isotretinoin use for acne is considered.
A variety of home remedies such as baking soda, various masks, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil have been recommended for cystic acne, and often one may find testimonials for these remedies online, especially on the web sites selling these supplements or alternative therapies. When put to scientific challenge, they are usually found to be ineffective and may only delay diagnosis and effective treatment.
Although the mechanism is not clear, smoking may worsen acne of all types and is, in fact, one of the three primary risk factors for hidradenitis suppurativa. Most studies have examined cigarettesmoking with the effect of cigars, smokeless tobacco, nicotine patches, and vapednicotine not being as well-defined.
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When Should You Use Differin Gel For Facial Wrinkles
The best time to use differin gel for wrinkles is at night.At this time of the day, youre not exposed to sun rays that may cause skin sensitivities.
Adapalene is a retinoid and may make your skin photosensitive. Also, try to apply differin at the same time each day for better results and to become prompt with the application.
What Should I Avoid While Using Differin
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Differin can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when you are outdoors.
Avoid using other skin medications that contain sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid .
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime.
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How To Use Differin Gel To Treat Your Acne & Improve Texture
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This post will share how to use Differin Gel to treat your acne.
I recently introduced Differin Gel to my dry acne-prone skincare routine because I was tired of not getting any permanent solution to my recurring acne. It felt like I was battling my breakouts, and the typical over-the-counter products werent doing much for me anymore. This included Salicylic Acid and a brief stint with Benzoyl Peroxide. When you have to keep contending with breakouts that eventually become dark spots, it also means that youll continue to struggle with hyperpigmentation.
I got the Differin Gel for months but couldnt use it because I used other Retinal serums like the Geek And Gorgeous Retinal 0.1% and Avene Triacneal Expert Emulsion. So, I had to wait until I was done with these to prevent interference. Its not wise to use two different Retinoids at the same time. Using one at a time will help you decide how effectively it treats your skin concerns.
So, if youre still struggling with acne and no longer seeing results with your staple products, this post is for you.
Mistake #: Expecting Results Overnight
People start using differin and expect results overnight and they get very frustrated when they dont see results and they abandon it too quickly.
You want to keep using differin gel at least for 90 days, takes about 12 weeks to start seeing results. If you just use it for a week and expect to see a difference, youre going to be let down. It takes time. Anything in the skin takes time.
Nothing really yields results overnight!
Youve got to stay consistent, youve got to keep using it in order to see results. My tip is take a photograph of your skin before you start using it and take a picture of your skin every month while youre using it and then compare the photographs.
Always take the photograph in similar lighting, with a similar setup, ideally in front of a window, so you have natural lighting in your favor, so you can really see your progress.
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