Acne cream "Adapalene": reviews, instructions for use

What is Adapalene intended for?

The action of this drug is aimed at getting rid of acne, blackheads and blackheads, as well as giving the skin a fresh look. For moderate and mild rashes, the cream is prescribed without additional medications. But in case of severe disease, the appearance of pustules, “Adapalene” is used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of acne.

In this case, the funds are used alternately. For example, in the morning - one drug, in the evening - Adapalene cream. Reviews from those who have used a combination of products for problem skin are mostly positive. The drug works great both alone and in tandem.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that retinol is a vitamin that is so necessary for the health and beauty of the skin, in certain cases it should not be taken. Contraindications include:

• pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• increased sensitivity of the skin;
• liver diseases;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• smoking;
• alcoholism;
• depression.

Under no circumstances should you combine the use of systemic and topical retinoids. A powerful drug can easily lead to an overdose.

Beneficial features

• Skin oiliness decreases. This is due to the fact that as a result of using the product, the molecules of the composition bind to sebum cells and remove them from the pores. Over time, the amount of fat decreases significantly, and its production is also regulated
• Prevents the formation of acne and blackheads. The substances included in the product slightly dilute the sebum and prevent it from thickening. Therefore, sebaceous plugs and, accordingly, comedones and blackheads do not form in the hair follicles.
• Relieving skin inflammation. The remedy "Adapalene" for acne contains medicinal substances that block the growth of bacterial colonies that are responsible for the appearance and spread of acne and various inflammations.
• Prevents the effects of free radicals in skin cells. Adapalene molecules react with free radicals. This avoids excessive dry skin and the appearance of wrinkles.

Principle of action on the skin

Thanks to the effects of retinoids on the skin, you can get rid of many problems because:

• They act as a natural exfoliant, removing dead epidermal cells and clearing clogged pores, after which cell renewal begins. Small scars, wrinkles, pimples are eliminated during the action of the substance. You can choose a cream for scars and scars in this material. Additionally, clogged follicles can lead to keratoses. And the use of retinoids successfully solves this problem;
• Under the influence of retinol, the resulting collagen smoothes out fine wrinkles and removes age spots;
• Retinaldehyde, which is a cosmetic retinoid, has a good effect on acne and the skin regains its smooth structure and matte appearance.

What is Adapalene?

This is an analogue of vitamin A, only not natural, but obtained synthetically. It is much easier to absorb into the skin and eliminates the problem faster. The product in question is widely used in the cosmetic field for the treatment of oily and problematic skin prone to the formation of acne and pustules.

This drug is a retinoic acid analog and has the consistency of a white powder that is practically insoluble in water. Forms of release of the product: “Adapalene-gel” for external use 0.1% in a tube of 15 g and 30 g, as well as solution and cream.

Adapalene - what is this substance?

It is a synthetic analogue of retinoic acid. This is a chemically stable compound. It is produced from naphthoic acid. Preparations with Adapalene carry out keratinization and differentiation of cells involved in the formation of acne. To this day, the exact mechanism of action of the main component is unknown. However, there are speculations about this.

It is believed that when applied topically, preparations containing this active compound normalize the keratinization of the epithelium and prevent the formation of microcomedones. Adapalene interacts with retinoic acid receptors and completely ignores cytosolic proteins. This leads to increased differentiation of epidermal cells: their connections at the mouth of the hair follicles are weakened and the skin exfoliates.

What medications contain Adapalene?

This active substance is present in many medicines. First of all, it is a drug of the same name. Here is a list of additional medications in which Adapalene is present:

1. Adolen
   is a gel-like product in which the concentration of the main active ingredient is 0.1%. This drug effectively fights acne and its consequences. The minimum therapeutic course lasts a month. However, sustained improvement is observed after 3 months from the start of treatment.
2. Klenzit S
   – this cream contains Adapalene 0.1% and the same concentration of Clindamycin. This medicine regulates the production of sebum, therefore it is used for oily epidermis. This cream is recommended for use for pustules and other inflammations. More often it is used during an exacerbation, and after the skin condition improves, therapy with Klenzit, which does not contain Clindamycin, is continued.
3. Adaklin
   - available in the form of gel and cream. The concentration of Adapalene in both the first and second cases is 1 mg/g. Adaklin significantly reduces inflammation and stimulates collagen synthesis.
4. Differin
   – can be used for any skin type. This drug is not addictive, so it can be used for a long time. The concentration of the main active ingredient is 0.1%.

Adapalene - effect on the skin

This synthetic analogue of vitamin A has many beneficial properties. Adapalene is valuable for the skin in the following ways:

1. Prevents the appearance of comedones
   - this happens due to the fact that the active component prevents sebum particles from sticking together and clogging the hair follicles.
2. Relieves inflammation
   - the drug contains components that work on the principle of antibiotics. For this reason, it effectively copes with Propionibacterium acnes - those harmful microorganisms that provoke acne.
3. Reduces oily skin
   - this is achieved by the fact that Adapalene removes excess oily particles from the pores and also regulates the production of sebum.
4. Protects against the effects of free radicals
   - as a result, the skin does not suffer from increased dryness and does not age prematurely.

Adapalene in cosmetology

Initially, this drug was used as an effective remedy for acne and acne. However, a little later, Adapalene began to be used in cosmetics for rapid rejuvenation. This effect is possible thanks to the following actions of this gel:

1. Adapalene face cream perfectly exfoliates, eliminating dead skin cells. As a result, skin tone is evened out.
2. The active component of the drug, after penetration into the epidermis, enhances collagen synthesis. As a result, the skin tightens and wrinkles are smoothed out.

Contraindications to the use of the product

Currently, almost all drugs for the treatment of pimples and acne are not only effective, but also quite safe for health. Adapalene also falls into the category of such products. Reviews after using the gel warn us that there are still some groups of patients to whom it is undesirable to prescribe the cream in question, that is, there are some contraindications for use. These include:

• Severe dryness and sensitivity of facial skin. The action of the drug is based on the dissolution of sebum and its removal from the pores. The skin becomes even drier as a result of using this product.
• Condition of eczema. When Adapalene acts on the epidermis, it covers it with a thin film. For all types of eczema (wet or dry), the presence of such a film delays the healing process of the skin.
• Age. It is not advisable to use the drug for children, since at this age the skin is developing. Only in adolescence (from 13 years old) is it recommended to use Adapalene for acne. Reviews suggest that applying this product at an early age can affect the condition of a child’s developing skin.
• Dry seborrhea. In case of this disease, the substance cannot be applied. The skin will become even drier and the problem will worsen.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. A small amount of the drug, when applied to the skin, is absorbed into the blood. During pregnancy, this can lead to some disturbances in the development of the fetus. During lactation, “Adapalen-gel” enters the child’s body along with mother’s milk.

There are also artificial analogues of vitamin A - adapalene and azarotenic acid.

How do retinoids work?

Dermatological centers are constantly studying the properties of retinoid preparations, providing an assessment of their effectiveness. It was found that topical retinoids (forms for external use) contribute to the regression of inflammatory papules, reduce the external manifestations of acne, and activate local immunity. Systemic retinoids (oral forms) normalize sebum production, facilitate its secretion, eliminate hyperproliferation, and reduce the population of propionobacteria in acne lesions.

All retinoids have the following effects to one degree or another:

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Healing;
• Immunomodulatory;
• Sebostatic.

The use of retinoids for acne is based on their ability to reduce sebum production and speed up the exfoliation of dead skin cells. As a remedy for wrinkles, vitamin A-based products have proven themselves to be excellent thanks to the proven effects of smoothing the skin's microrelief, increasing its elasticity, stimulating its own collagen and lightening age spots. The production of stem keratinocytes increases, and the required level of moisture is maintained in the deep layers of the dermis, as a result of which the skin is rejuvenated “from the inside.”

Features of application

When planning to use this medicine, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances that can worsen the general condition of the body or negate the effect of using Adapalene gel.

The instructions for use warn us that when using we should try to avoid the following actions:

• Before use, do not cleanse the skin with a scrub or peel. The cream has a pronounced effect, and this can cause severe itching, redness and irritation.
• Under no circumstances should you wash or shower after applying the gel, otherwise the effect will be reduced to zero.
• Be careful when using Adapalene gel. Instructions for use, reviews from representatives of the fair sex remind us that under no circumstances should you use decorative cosmetics immediately after applying the product. You need to wait a while. The healing gel can enter into a chemical reaction with substances included in cosmetics.
• During use, you should forget about using such familiar face lotions containing alcohol or acid - when used together, skin irritation is inevitable.
• Also, when getting rid of acne with Adapalene, you need to forget about visiting beaches and solariums. The substances included in the product make the skin very susceptible to ultraviolet radiation.
• Before using the gel, it is enough to rinse your face with warm water for 20 minutes without using soap or other products. They are an additional source of irritation
• Particular attention should be paid to those who use antibiotics together. For example, you cannot use Erythromycin and Adapalene Gel together. Reviews from doctors and cosmetologists unanimously warn that it is advisable to apply medications separately at different times of the day, since the mechanism of interaction of drugs with each other has not been fully studied.
• Having decided to use the gel, you need to follow the precautions specified in the leaflet, and do not forget that this substance reacts with alkalis and alcohol.

How to use?

The drug is quite easy to use. To achieve the best result, you should follow very simple rules. The ideal time is the evening to use Adapalene gel. The instructions in the package recommend removing any remaining makeup with neutral cosmetic milk or cream, washing with slightly warm water and pat your face dry with a towel. Do not use soap or foam.

• When makeup is removed, apply a small amount of product to your finger and distribute it in a dotted manner.
• Spread the gel evenly on the area of ​​acne and acne, do not rub and leave until completely absorbed.
• The product should be applied to the skin approximately an hour before bedtime.
• In this case, other anti-acne drugs should be used in the morning.
• If the product in question gets on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes, rinse them thoroughly with running water. This must be done without delay.
• In normal practice, a dermatologist at the beginning of treatment prescribes the use of the medication 2-3 times a week. After a couple of weeks, you can switch to daily use.
• At the end of the course of treatment, it is also necessary to gradually reduce the frequency of use of the drug, gradually reducing it to nothing.

The effect of using the gel is noticeable after a month of regular application. Lasting results appear in the third month. Many specialists and people who have treated rashes say that the epidermis is leveled out and manifestations of inflammatory processes disappear. But after discontinuation of the drug, acne appears again. This means that the course of treatment will need to be repeated and, possibly, more than once.

Prescription of systemic (oral) retinoids

If there is no improvement in the condition of the skin after treatment with local drugs of this group, then systemic drugs are prescribed. This usually occurs when skin diseases cover a large area. If monotherapy with retinoids is carried out, positive changes can be observed after 2-3 months. Systemic drugs include:

• Roaccutane;
• will erase;
• Aknekuttan;
• Verocutan.

Side effects

When using the drug correctly, side effects and discomfort occur very rarely. Typically, allergic reactions or burning sensations appear if the product is used more than 2 times a day or the skin is additionally wiped with alcohol-containing lotions. As noted above, this is not recommended. When choosing products, you should remember that if you have an oily type of epidermis, you should give preference to a gel texture, and if you have dry skin, you can purchase Adapalene cream.

The instructions included with the package describe possible side effects:

• Burning, itching, redness and discomfort. If the drug is prescribed correctly and matches the skin type, then such manifestations occur extremely rarely. This is usually the result of using soap.
• Soreness and swelling of the skin. They may occur at the very beginning of using Adapalene. Reviews from people applying gel or cream explain this phenomenon by the interaction of the product with particles of sebum and its removal through the pores.
• Swelling of the eyelids, itching and inflammation of the eyes. Such a nuisance can happen when applying the drug to the eyelid area. Do not allow this under any circumstances. In case of contact with eyes, rinse them immediately.
• Sunburn. During treatment with the drug, it is better to completely forget about sunbathing and visiting solariums.
• The appearance of age spots. Patients with freckles or age spots should carefully apply Adapalene to these areas of the face. The use of the product can increase the number of age spots and even change the complexion, since the gel tends to accumulate melanin.
• Rash formation. May occur when applying too thick a layer of cream. In order to avoid this, you should apply the cream in a very thin layer so that the epidermis can completely absorb it.

Based on retinoic acid, there are a number of effective drugs used in the treatment of acne and acne.

Means "Differin"

The preparation contains 0.1% of the substance adapalene. Available in the form of cream or gel. The consistency of the product is quite viscous. For oily skin, you can find a gel on the shelves of pharmacies; for dry skin, you can find Differin Adapalene cream. Reviews from people about this drug indicate that the consistency allows you to save the product during application. In addition, it does not have a medicinal, but a very pleasant aroma. Differin is a fourth generation retinoid. This is a new product in pharmacology.

Synthesis of the active substance is still expensive, so the price for a thirty-gram tube is about $15. At the moment, the drug is produced in Moscow by the pharmacological company Galderma. Differin does not contain substances with antimicrobial activity. Therefore, it is better to use it together with other antimicrobial drugs for acne. As stated above, it is advisable to use the cream in question before bedtime, and the other drug in the morning.

Adaklin product

The drug is available in both cream and gel form. The concentration of the active substance is 1 mg/g. The gel is quickly absorbed and does not leave a greasy film on the skin. The product can be easily purchased at a pharmacy. The medicine is produced in tubes weighing 30 g by an Indian pharmacological company. The price of a tube is about $12. After regular use of the product, patients note not only the disappearance of acne, but also other positive results: the general condition of the skin improves, its color evens out, peeling and redness disappear, scars and wounds heal.

Dermatologists advise avoiding sunbathing during the treatment period. At first, the patient may experience slight redness, itching and burning on the face, and in some cases, an increase in the number of acne may occur. But do not interrupt treatment - after a while these annoying manifestations will disappear. Apply the product to clean skin an hour before bedtime. Treatment begins with small doses, gradually increasing intensity. The duration of use of the product depends on the degree of spread of acne.

About retinoids

Hello again!
So, dear girls, we continue our club meeting.

In my first post, I talked about the main causes of acne. Brief summary: acne is caused by true or false hormonal imbalance. In the comments there was something like: “Well, I don’t know, my friend’s dysbacteriosis was found, treated, everything returned to normal.”

Here I want to talk a little about something painful: the diagnosis of “dysbacteriosis” or “dysbiosis” is a myth of Russian medicine, or more precisely, of its individual representatives. There is no such disease in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10 ICD-10). Moreover, it is not included in the regulatory document of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation “Standards (protocols) for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system.” Therefore, there is no need to treat it and it cannot affect acne. You can drink kefir to calm yourself.

And a little from myself: I have never had any stomach problems in my life, I don’t even have gastritis. And there were acne. C'est la vie.

Let's return to our pimples, that is, sheep. The main areas of systemic therapy are retinoids, antiandrogens and antibiotics. Systemic therapy is an effect on the entire body, in this case in most cases it is taken orally. I will dwell in detail only on systemic retinoids. Your gynecologist can tell you better about antiandrogens (oral contraceptives) than I can, I’ll just say that they work, yes (I hope it’s clear why?). I think taking antibiotics orally is pointless. As an external agent as monotherapy, too. This is my personal opinion. In the next post I will explain why.

However, despite the impressive results of systemic basic therapy, achieving an aesthetic treatment result is impossible without external influence.*

*Protsenko T.V., Kaplan A.V. Innovative approaches to external therapy of ordinary acne //Ukrainian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, Cosmetology. – 2007. – No. 2. – pp. 12-14.

So, the gold standard for acne treatment is retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.

In this post I will talk about retinoids.

Retinoids have been widely used in dermatological practice since 1963, when retinoic acid was proven effective against acne.*

* Protsenko T.V. Local therapy of acne vulgaris using fixed combinations of drugs (literature review) //Ukr. magazine dermatol., venereol., cosmetol. – 2010. – T. 2010. – P. 55t61.

Retinoids are a chemically related class of compounds to retinol, its biological forms, as well as structural synthetic derivatives, which differ significantly from the isoprene structure of natural vitamin A, but act in a similar way: through the activation of nuclear retinoic receptors, they regulate the processes of proliferation, differentiation and intercellular communication.*

*Batkaev E. A., Molodova Yu. S. Acnecutane in the treatment of acne: a new low-dose regimen // Klin. dermatol. and venerol. – 2014. – T. 2014. – P. 84t89.

Simply put, retinoids are structural analogues of vitamin A.

The term "retinoid" is used as a general designation for any substance, both synthetic and natural. The mechanism of action of retinoids is based on reducing sebum secretion, normalizing follicular hyperkeratosis and suppressing bacterial activity. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect*

*Korneva L.V. Treatment of severe forms of acne vulgaris // Almanac of Clinical Medicine. 2007. No. 15. P.194-198

All retinoids can be divided into 3 (some authors divide into 4) generations:

1) derivatives of retinoic acid - retinol (aka vitamin A), retinal (aka retinaldehyde), tretinoin (aka all-trans-retinoic acid, or ATRA), isotretinoin (aka 13-cis-retinoic acid), alitretinoin;

2) etretinate and its metabolite acitretin;

3) adapalene, bexarotene, tazarotene.

Some authors attribute adapalene to the fourth generation.

Retinoids are also divided into natural, which are synthesized in the human body, and synthetic, which are obtained in the laboratory. Natural ones include first-generation retinoids, and synthetic ones include second- and subsequent-generation retinoids.

Some first-generation retinoids are widely used for the treatment of acne, second-generation retinoids are used as systemic drugs for the treatment of psoriasis and dermatoses, tretinoin, isotretinoin, bexarotene and alitretinoin are also used in oncological practice, and adapalene, although not essentially a retinoid, has proven itself An excellent remedy for treating acne.

Since the topic of our meeting is the treatment of acne, I will dwell in detail on those retinoids that are effective in the treatment of acne.

Retinol is a true vitamin A. Fat-soluble vitamin, antioxidant. In its pure form it is unstable and is found in both plant products and animal sources. Participates in redox processes, regulation of protein synthesis, promotes normal metabolism, the function of cellular and subcellular membranes, plays an important role in the formation of bones and teeth, as well as fat deposits; necessary for the growth of new cells, slows down the aging process. Retinaldehyde/retinal is an aldehyde of retinoic acid, which is very actively used in cosmetology. Upon penetration into the dermis, it is easily converted into retinoic acid with subsequent beneficial and side effects.

Isotretinoin is 13-cis-retinoic acid. Biologically active form of retinoic acid, synthesized naturally in small quantities in the human body; has a positive effect on the differentiation of keratinocytes and suppresses the production of sebaceous glands. In many cases, it allows you to completely inhibit excess sebum production and normalize the regenerative functions of the skin. The form is unstable and, when interacting with the internal microflora of the body, it turns into tretinoin (trans-retinoic acid), therefore it is less active compared to tretinoin.

Tretinoin is trans-retinoic acid. The carboxylic acid form of vitamin A is a natural metabolite of retinol. When applied externally, it increases cell proliferation in the papillary layer of the skin, reduces the adhesion of cells involved in the formation of acne vulgaris. When treating open acne, it helps smooth the skin surface without signs of inflammation. When treating closed blackheads, it promotes their transition to open blackheads or papules, which then heal without scarring after removal of the keratin plug. Prevents the formation of new acne. In addition to its therapeutic effect on acne, retinoic acid has a stimulating effect on fibroblasts, which synthesize the extracellular matrix, including collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin.

Adapalene is a derivative of naphthoic acid with a retinoid-like effect. Adapalene molecules are resistant to sunlight and oxygen, and due to their lipophilicity, they quickly penetrate the upper layers of the skin. It is believed that it does not penetrate well into the deep layers of the skin, which ensures its high concentration in the upper layers, therefore it is more suitable for acne therapy.

Retinoids are either topical (for external use) or systemic (for oral use). When used externally and systemically, retinoids have anticomedogenic, sebostatic, anti-inflammatory, kerato- and immunomodulatory effects, activate regeneration processes in the skin, stimulate collagen synthesis, increase the production of mucopolysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans.

All drugs in this group have these effects to one degree or another, but they are most pronounced in retinoic acid. Retinoic acid exists as two isomers: all-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin) and 13-cis retinoic acid (isotretinoin). Both isomers are used in dermatology to treat acne. 13-cis-retinoic acid has better bioavailability.*

*Albanova V.I., Sazykina L.N. TREATMENT OF ACNE //NEW DOMESTIC MEDICINE FOR SCABIES. – T. 13.

Topical retinoids use retinol, retinal, tretinoin, isotretinoin, and adapalene as the active ingredient. Existing in different forms of release (ointments, creams, gels) and under different brands. Let's look at some of them.

Retinol is widely used in cosmetics. It has a similar effect on the skin as tretinoin, although higher concentrations are needed. It has proven effective in thickening the epidermis, improving skin texture and lightening pigmentation. There are plenty of funds on the market, there is plenty to choose from. I can’t recommend anything, since retinol has never been interesting to me.

Adapalene was developed by the French company Galderma Laboratories. Available in the form of cream and gel in various concentrations, in Russia and some other countries it is registered under the name “Differin”. There is a generic from the Israeli company Teva, but it is not available in Russia.

Tretinoin is available in cream, gel, liquid and solid form. The most famous brand names: Retin-A (Silag, Switzerland, a division of Johnson and Johnson), Retin-A micro (patent of Valent Pharmaceuticals, Canada), Airol (Roche, Switzerland), Lokacid (Pierre Fabre, France), Renova (Valent Pharmaceuticals, Canada). Not registered in Russia and a number of other countries. In the USA it is available by prescription.

Isotretinoin is a topical and systemic retinoid. Registered in Russia. As a means for external use, it is available in the form of ointments. The most famous brand in Russia is Retinoic ointment (FNPP “Retinoids”), also produced under the name Isotrex (Glaxosmithkline, UK), in combination with erythromycin - under the name Izotrexin (Glaxosmithkline, UK).

As a systemic retinoid it is known under the brands Roaccutane (Roche, Switzerland), Acnecutane (Jadran, Croatia), Curacne (Pierre Fabre, France). Prescribed by a doctor and issued strictly according to prescription.

Important note: all retinoids (including seemingly harmless vitamin A in large dosages) cause side effects and are teratogens, that is, they can cause irreversible defects in the fetus. A reservation, perhaps, can only be made for Adapalene, whose teratogenic effect has not been proven. This is most likely due to the fact that not enough research has been conducted. Therefore, we will conditionally classify it as a teratogen. In this regard, women of childbearing age are prescribed systemic retinoids with reliable contraception and a negative pregnancy test. In the medical history, a note is usually made about the woman's awareness of possible side effects. Retinoids do not have a negative effect on the reproductive function of men. *

* Albanova V.I., Sazykina L.N. TREATMENT OF ACNE //NEW DOMESTIC MEDICINE FOR SCABIES. – T. 13.

Retinoids also cause the following side effects: dry skin, mucous membranes, including lips (cheilitis), nasal cavity (bleeding), laryngopharynx (hoarseness), eyes (conjunctivitis, contact lens intolerance). An exacerbation reaction may occur, expressed in redness, moderate itching of the skin, and the appearance of additional rashes. Side effects usually disappear or are minimized after some time. *

* Safonova T. G. et al. Systemic retinoids in the treatment of severe and resistant forms of acne // Clinical dermatology and venereology. – 2013. – T. 11. – No. 3. – pp. 60-62.

All retinoids increase photosensitivity, so during treatment it is necessary to protect yourself from the sun and avoid direct sunlight (and it is better to do this for the rest of your life).

Many people are afraid of systemic retinoids, especially when they open the instructions from the box. Where complications and side effects are written in bold red font. And not all doctors have complete information.

But in some cases, systemic retinoids are practically the only remedy that can lead to stable remission. Now microdoses are used to achieve the effect and side effects occur much less frequently. There is a misconception that isotretinoin has a long half-life and that you cannot become pregnant for another 2 years, but this is not true. “The half-life of isotretinoin is only 19 hours, but protection from pregnancy is necessary for the entire period of therapy and 1 month. after its completion. Side effects can indeed accompany the course of treatment, but in most cases we are talking about cheilitis and dry skin. Other side effects, such as transient changes in transaminases, headache, myalgia, deterioration of night vision, described in the instructions for use of the drug, are much less common and, as a rule, do not require cessation of treatment. In order to minimize the risk of developing side effects from the liver and pancreas during treatment with isotretinoin, manufacturers recommend constant monitoring of biochemical blood parameters.”*

*Olisova O.Yu. Efficacy of systemic retinoids for acne // Breast Cancer. Dermatology. 2021. No. 10. pp. 602–606.

Therefore, if you have severe acne with cysts and a lot of inflammatory elements, and the doctor mentioned systemic retinoids, do not rush to run away with your heels sparkling, but think it over carefully. Prescribing retinoids for related indications is a clear sign that the doctor is up to date with the latest trends. But if in the same case the doctor continues to talk about cleansing, feel free to send him somewhere far away. The twenty-first century is just around the corner. If the treatment does not work, change your doctor!

At the moment, moderate and even mild acne is treated with systemic retinoids, prescribing microdoses, but I did without this. The doctor prescribed me adapalene, and subsequently I switched to tretinoin. There was a slight discomfort during the first time of use: the skin was dry, the eyes were dry (well, there is an aggravating circumstance - I had laser correction), my whole face seemed to hurt a little, it was unpleasant to touch. But soon the unpleasant sensations passed. I didn't have any peeling as such.

After a month, I switched to 0.25% tretinoin under the brand name Retin-A. I still use it at a concentration of 0.5%. About 3 years have passed. The skin has objectively become better: cleaner, healthier, denser. Tretinoin has also been proven to slow down the aging process* and lighten pigmentation, so I plan to use it for the rest of my life, with a break for pregnancy and breastfeeding if I decide to. I always use reliable mineral sunscreen - even in winter in Moscow.

*Berardesca E. et al. In vivo tretinoin-induced changes in skin mechanical properties //British Journal of Dermatology. – 1990. – T. 122. – No. 4. – pp. 525-529.

In addition, I use other acne products, which I will talk about next time.

PS I ask everyone to use their heads. All information presented in this post is not a treatment recommendation, it is just an overview and a bit of personal experience. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor.

PPS I accidentally discovered the name of my doctor among the authors of the articles)

Beauty to all!

Product "Klenzit S"

The drug is available in the form of a gel and contains 0.1% of the active substance adapalene. This is a combination medicine. The composition also contains the substance clindamycin, which reduces the presence of pathogenic organisms. The gel quickly gets rid of acne, eliminating the need to simultaneously use other antibiotic-based drugs. Thanks to its viscous consistency, the gel is absorbed very quickly without spreading. It does not leave a film on the skin after use.

The cost of a 15 g tube is about $20. Dermatologists often praise the drug Klenzit Adapalene. Reviews from those who have already used this gel indicate that the product has an effect on both open and closed comedones. Thanks to this, a good and lasting result is achieved. The high cost of the drug is also due to the fact that it is produced in India. However, by choosing the drug in question, you can save money by eliminating the need to purchase additional medications.

Means "Adalen"

This medicine is produced by Russian pharmaceutical companies in the form of a gel in aluminum tubes weighing 5, 10, 15 and 30 grams. The approximate cost of a 15 g package is about $5. Since the drug is available only in gel form, it is intended for the treatment of oily epidermis. During the first stage of treatment, minor short-term skin irritations may occur.

In this case, treatment is suspended until side effects disappear completely, and then resumed with caution. It is necessary to exclude alcohol-containing cosmetics. Since the drug does not contain antibiotics, it can be used in combination with other antimicrobial agents.