differin
Differin (Adapalene) is a retinoid used to treat Acne Vulgaris.
Adapalene · by Galderma Labs LP
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Adapalene
- Drug class
- Retinoid
- Form
- Topical
- Strength
- Adapalene 0.3%
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- acne vulgaris
- Manufacturer
- Galderma Labs LP
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$0.51 per gm — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA021753
What is Differin?
From the FDA label:Adapalene Gel contains adapalene 0.3% (3 mg/g) in a topical aqueous gel for use in the treatment of acne vulgaris, consisting of carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 124, propylene glycol, purified water, and sodium hydroxide. May contain hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment. The chemical name of adapalene is 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid. It is a white to off-white powder, which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran, very slightly soluble in ethanol, and practically insoluble in water. The molecular formula is C 28 H 28 0 3 and molecular weight is 412.53. Adapalene is represented by the following structural formula. adap-gel-chem-struct
How to use
Wash affected areas gently with a non-medicated soap. Apply a thin film of Adapalene Gel to the entire face and any other affected areas of the skin once daily in the evening. Avoid application to the areas of skin around eyes, lips, and mucous membranes. A mild transitory sensation of warmth or slight stinging may occur shortly after the application of Adapalene Gel. Instruct patients to minimize sun exposure and to use moisturizers for relief of dry skin or irritation. If therapeutic results are not noticed after 12 weeks of treatment, therapy should be re-evaluated. For topical use only. Not for ophthalmic, oral or intravaginal use. Wash affected areas gently with a non-medicated soap. (2) Apply a thin film of Adapalene Gel, to the entire face and other affected areas of the skin once daily in the evening. (2) For topical use only. Not for ophthalmic, oral or intravaginal use. (2)
Side effects
The most frequently reported ( > 1%) adverse reactions were erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mayne Pharma at 1-844-825-8500 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the multi-center, controlled clinical trial, signs and symptoms of local cutaneous irritation were monitored in 258 acne subjects who used Adapalene Gel once daily for 12 weeks. Of the subjects who experienced cutaneous irritation (erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging), the majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity, occurred early in treatment and decreased thereafter. The incidence of local cutaneous irritation with Adapalene Gel from the controlled clinical trial is provided in the following table: Table 1: Physician assessed local cutaneous irritation with Adapalene Gel * Total number of subjects with local cutaneous data for at least one post-Baseline evaluation. Incidence of Local Cutaneous Irritation with Adapalene Gel (N = 253*) Maximum Severity Scores Higher Than Baseline Mild Moderate Severe Erythema 66…
Warnings
Important safety information
Allergic/Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergy/hypersensitivity reactions include anaphylaxis angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritis. Discontinue Adapalene Gel in the event of an allergic/hypersensitivity reaction. (5.1) Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure: Avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear sunscreen when sun exposure cannot be avoided (5.2). Local Cutaneous Reactions : Erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of Adapalene Gel. Concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution. (5.3). 5.1 Allergic/ Hypersensitivity Reactions Adverse reactions including anaphylaxis angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritus that sometimes required medical treatment have been reported during postmarketing use of adapalene. Advise a patient to stop using Adapalene Gel and seek medical attention if experiencing allergic or anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reactions during treatment.. 5.2 Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure Exposure to sunlight, including sunlamps, should be minimized during use of Adapalene Gel. Patients who normally experience high levels of sun exposure, and those with inherent sensitivity to sun, should be warned to exercise caution. Use of sunscreen products and protective clothing over treated areas is recommended when exposure cannot be avoided. Weather extremes, such as wind or cold, also may be irritating to patients under treatment with Adapalene Gel. 5.3 Local Cutaneous Reactions Cutaneous signs and symptoms such as erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of Adapalene Gel. These were most likely to occur during the first four weeks of treatment, were mostly mild to moderate in intensity, and usually lessened with continued use of the medication. Depending upon the severity of these side effects, patients should be instructed to either use a moisturizer, reduce the frequency of application of Adapalene Gel or discontinue use. Avoid application to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin. As with other retinoids, use of "waxing" as a depilatory method should be avoided on skin treated with adapalene. As Adapalene Gel has the potential to induce local irritation in some patients, concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution.
Who should not take Differin
Adapalene Gel is contraindicated in patients who have known hypersensitivity to adapalene or any excipient of Adapalene Gel [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1)]. Contraindicated in patients who have known hypersensitivity to adapalene or any excipient of Adapalene Gel. ( 4 )
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Chronic ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of vitamin A.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Storing Differin, and how long it keeps
Quoted from this product’s own FDA label. Storage belongs to the product and its device, not to the drug in general — a pen and a tablet of the same medicine are kept completely differently.
- “How should I store this product? • Differin Gel should be stored at room temperature [68° - 77°].”
Drug class
How this class works, per Tretinoin - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Differin ranks — best-rated retinoid for:
Dosage forms
Topical
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Differin treat?
- Differin (Adapalene) may be used to treat acne vulgaris, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Differin work?
- Differin is a retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that enter skin cells and switch on retinoic acid receptors in the nucleus, which changes how genes are read. This normalizes how skin cells grow and shed, unclogs pores, calms inflammation, and over time boosts collagen production.
- How much does Differin cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.51 per gm, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Differin?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Differin. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Differin?
- Differin is marketed by Galderma Labs LP. You can see Galderma Labs LP's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Differin a brand-name or generic drug?
- Differin is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Adapalene.
- Is Differin available over the counter?
- No. Differin is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Differin come in?
- Differin is currently marketed as topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Differin?
- Differin is classified as retinoid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Differin FDA-registered?
- Differin is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021753. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Differin safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Differin. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Differin?
- Differin's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The most frequently reported ( > 1%) adverse reactions were erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mayne Pharma at 1-844-825-8500 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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