Differin Gel

Promoted as a blackhead treatment, Differin gel is meant to clear acne and then prevent it from happening again. It uses 0.1% or 0.3% of their active ingredient, depending on which formulation you choose.

It is supposed to be easier to tolerate for some patients, and it is largely sold through doctors. They even offer a free trial offer through the Differin website. It contains an ingredient known as adaptalene, and it is generally used as a treatment for acne vuglaris.

However, ingredients like benzoyl peroxide require around 5%, and so logic would follow that adaptalene has some of the same standards.

According to sources, adaptalene works by increasing skin cell turnover. So in the long run, it may eventually reduce acne. But it does not specifically target blackheads.

It does not necessarily decrease dead skin cells resting on the surface, it does not clear pores of bacteria, and it does not actually shrink the pores over time.

Differin Gel Ingredients

Active Ingredients:Adaptalene

Inactive Ingredients:carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 124, propylene glycol, purified water, and sodium hydroxide

Side-Effects

Possible side effects of Differin include dryness, itchiness, redness, burning, and peeling. They also note that your acne could actually get worse in the first few days. In addition, erythema or pruritus could occur with Differin gel.

Animal studies have also shown birth defects in connection with Differin. You should not use Differin if you suffer from allergies, are over the age of 65, are pregnant, and are taking certain medications or eating certain types of food such as alcohol or tobacco.

If you suffer from eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, you should also refrain from using this product. It should also not be combined with other acne treatments due to increased risk of skin irritation.

Conclusion

Differin is a prescription acne treatment for a reason. It comes with some relatively severe and studied side effects, and unlike benzoyl peroxide, it is only used in extremely small concentrations, and cannot be found anywhere on the over the counter market.

It can actually increase acne problems, and it has not been shown to have real effect against blackheads. We would not suggest Differin for all these reasons, especially if you would like to get rid of blackheads.