Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories – A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.
Differin falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans, though. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.
- Store at room temperature between 59° and 86°F (15° – 30°C). Do not freeze or refrigerate.
- Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
- Use Differin as directed by your doctor.
- Differin comes in the form of a cream, a gel, and a lotion – for external use only.
- Differin should be applied to affected areas of the skin, once daily at nighttime. A thin film of the medication should be applied to the skin areas where acne lesions appear, after washing with a non-medicated soap.
- A mild, temporary sensation of warmth or slight stinging may occur shortly after you apply Differin.
- Use only enough to cover the entire affected areas lightly.
- Do not use more than the recommended amount and do not apply more than once daily as this will not produce faster results, but may increase irritation.
- Avoid contact with the eyes, lips, angles of the nose, and mucous membranes.
- This medication should not be applied to cuts, abrasions, eczematous, or sunburned skin.
- Moisturizers may be used if necessary; however, products containing alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids should be avoided.
- Minimize exposure to sunlight including sunlamps. Use sunscreen products and protective clothing and hats when exposure cannot be avoided.
- During the early weeks of therapy, your acne may seem to worsen. This may be due to the action of the medication on previously unseen lesions and should not be considered a reason to discontinue therapy.
Differin is a prescription medication used to treat acne.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Apply Differin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
Differin is available in 2 different strengths and 3 different forms: a cream, a gel, and a lotion. The Differin dose your doctor recommends will be based on the severity of your acne as well as your preference for one form over the other.
Apply a thin film of Differin to the entire face and other affected areas of the skin once daily, after washing gently with a mild soapless cleanser or non-medicated soap.
Differin Cream (0.1%)
- Active ingredient: adapalene
- Inactive ingredients: edetate disodium, glycerin, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, water, squalane, trolamine
Differin Gel (0.1%)
- Active ingredient: adapalene
- Inactive ingredients: carbomer homopolymer type C, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, water, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid
Differin Gel (0.3%)
- Active ingredient: adapalene
- Inactive ingredients: carbomer homopolymer type C, edetate disodium, methylparaben, propylene glycol, water, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, poloxamer 124
Differin Lotion (0.1%)
- Active ingredient: adapalene
- Inactive ingredients: carbomer homopolymer type A, edetate disodium, medium-chain triglycerides, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, poloxamer 124, polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 1500, propylene glycol, propylparaben, sodium hydroxide, stearyl alcohol, water
Before receiving Differin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:
- are allergic to any ingredient in Differin
- have any other skin problem, especially eczema
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell your doctor about all of the medications you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Differin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.
Differin (generic: adapalene) is a prescription medication used to treat acne. Differin, a form of vitamin A, is thought to work by reducing inflammation and slowing the growth of keratin surface skin cells. This helps to unblock pores and decreases the formation of blackheads and pimples.
This medication comes in the form of a cream, a gel, and a lotion to be applied to the affected skin. It is usually applied once daily, at nighttime, after gently washing with a mild cleanser.
Common side effects include skin irritation, redness, peeling, and dryness.
If you apply too much Differin, or apply it too often, you may experience skin redness, peeling, or discomfort. Call your doctor if these symptoms occur.
This medication is for external use only. If Differin is taken by mouth, contact your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
It is not known if Differin crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Differin.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- other medications that cause skin irritation (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, drying soaps or cosmetics, and products with a high concentration of alcohol, astringents, spices or lime rind)
- topical (applied to the skin) medications containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid
This is not a complete list of Differin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Serious side effects have been reported with Differin including:
- causing skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than usual. Avoid strong sunlight and tanning beds. Wear protective clothing, and use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (an SPF of at least 15).
- severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. Stop using Differin and contact your doctor if you experience symptoms of allergic reaction including:
- rash
- itching
- hives
- chest pain
- swelling
- shortness of breath
Do not use Differin if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Serious side effects have been reported. See “Drug Precautions” section.
Common side effects include:
- redness
- scaling or peeling
- dryness
- persistent itching
- persistent burning or stinging
This is not a complete list of Differin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.