Anti-wrinkle cream "Differin": effectiveness of the drug and how to use it correctly + reviews from cosmetologists and women

• the most effective retinoids for acne,
• list of drugs,
• retinoids for the face against wrinkles.

Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are structural analogues of vitamin A, exhibiting similar biological activity to it. This is exactly the definition of retinoids given by Dr. Michael Sporn and his colleagues in 1976, when scientists knew only a few naturally occurring retinoids. At the moment this definition is outdated, because a large number of synthetic molecules are now known that are not structurally similar to vitamin A, but at the same time have a retinoid-like effect.

At the moment, retinoids are any chemical compounds of natural or artificial origin that are capable, independently or through metabolic transformation, of binding to retinoid receptors and activating them. We are talking about retinoic acid receptors (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR). The first retinoid to be marketed was trans-retinoic acid, also called tretinoin. And the first commercial preparation for external use based on tretinoin is the drug “Retin-A”.

What kind of drug is this?

The product is available in the form of a cream or gel. The gel is absorbed into the skin faster and is therefore considered lighter and is better used for oily skin. The cream is more suitable for dry skin.

Despite the fact that the drug is sold in pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription, consultation with a specialist is necessary before using it..

Gel and cream, which is intended to treat acne, is often used to combat wrinkles and other age-related changes.

Since the drug contains not retinoic acid itself, but its analogue, an increase in photosensitivity is excluded, so Differin can be used at any time of the day.

Differin can also be used as a peeling . It contains non-toxic alkali, therefore, with the help of the drug you can get rid of dead epithelial cells.

Differin has approximately the same effect as an anti-aging serum, and with regular use, even deep skin lesions are reduced, the complexion is refreshed, the tone is evened out, and age spots are lightened.

Classification of retinoids:

• The first generation of retinoids are tretinoin (trans-retinoic acid), isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid), alitretinoin (9-cis-retinoic acid). This also includes retinol and retinal, which are synthetic structural analogues of vitamin A. In addition to alitretinoin, which is an antitumor drug, other retinoids are used to treat acne, as well as to increase skin elasticity, reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• The second generation of retinoids includes etretinate, as well as its metabolite, acitretin. They are of little interest to us, because... are used only for severe forms of psoriasis (in some countries etretinate is prohibited due to its teratogenic effect).

• Third generation of retinoids - includes adapalene, tazarotene and bexarotene. These are synthetic retinoids, which in their structure are not at all similar to vitamin A, but have a retinoid-like effect. We are primarily interested in adapalene, which is an extremely effective remedy for the treatment of acne (blackheads and pimples). Tazarotene is used to treat acne and psoriasis, but drugs containing it are not registered in Russia, and bexarotene is an antitumor drug.

Clinically significant retinoids for us are:

• adapalene,
• trans-retinoic acid (Tretinoin),
• 13-cis-retinoic acid (Isotretinoin),
• retinal (retinaldehyde),
• pure retinol.

Retinoids for acne are adapalene, tretinoin and isotretinoin.
The first two are topical retinoids (i.e., intended exclusively for external use). An example of a systemic retinoid is isotretinoin, which is given orally for severe acne or pimples. But as for facial skin rejuvenation, in this case the most effective forms of retinoids will be pure retinol, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin. We did not include here the so-called retinol esters (for example, retinol acetate or retinyl palmitate), which are usually included in “economy class” anti-wrinkle cosmetics. Retinol esters are the weakest and most ineffective of all retinoids. Very often, on the packaging of an anti-wrinkle product, it is highlighted in large font, although the composition written in small font may no longer contain retinol, but only one of the retinol esters. And this is a huge difference (like a Mercedes and a Zaporozhets).

Important: however, the retinoids listed in this section can be used not only for acne or for facial skin rejuvenation. Retinoids can be effective for both correcting recent stretch marks and treating skin pigmentation disorders (such as melasma). In the next two sections we will tell you - 1) what retinoids we will use for acne, 2) the best retinoids for facial wrinkles.

Is it effective in treating wrinkles?

The effectiveness of Differin against wrinkles is due to the following pharmacological properties of the drug:

1. Exfoliating effect - dead skin cells are eliminated, resulting in an even and brighter overall skin tone.
2. Penetrating into the epidermis, the active substance of the drug stimulates its own collagen production, which leads to increased skin elasticity and smooth out wrinkles.

Expert opinion

Shustova Olga Leonidovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category

Currently, interest in various anti-aging injections has subsided, this is due to the fact that these procedures are quite expensive, can lead to various complications, and also give the face a mask-like appearance. More and more women are trying to combat age-related changes using affordable and relatively safe means. One of these is Differin. This acne remedy also has a beneficial effect on aging skin, it effectively smoothes out wrinkles and restores lost tone to the skin. However, despite a lot of positive reviews, and the manufacturers’ assurances that the drug can be used for any skin type, a consultation with a cosmetologist would not hurt.

How does the product work?

Active ingredient - Adapalene, penetrating into the skin, binds to retinoid receptors and has a positive effect on the development of cells according to the correct genetic scenario, eliminating the prerequisites for the formation of sebaceous plugs in the pores and excessive keratinization of skin areas at the mouth of the pores. This normalization of natural processes in the upper layers of the skin creates conditions for the impossibility of the formation of pathological foci of inflammation.

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Gel consistency on hand

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Differin are:

• availability;
• Possibility of use at home at any convenient time;
• lasting results in eliminating small and medium wrinkles;
• significant reduction in the depth of deep wrinkles;
• prevention of wrinkles;
• smoothing scars;
• acne treatment;
• skin lightening.

The disadvantages of the drug are:

• insufficient clinical trial base;
• possible drying of the skin;
• frequent occurrence of allergic reactions;
• itching and redness of the skin.

If any undesirable effects occur, use of Differin should be stopped immediately and, if necessary, consult a doctor..

Side effects

Among the common side effects, patients most often note dryness and irritation at the application site. This is due to the effect of Adapalene itself on the cells. In this case, it is recommended to suspend treatment until symptoms disappear completely. After resuming therapy, the vast majority of patients do not have repeated complaints about this.

If a person has dry and thin skin, it is recommended to give preference not to gel, but to cream, since it contains more nutritional and moisturizing components, as well as substances that restore the lipid barrier, such as Squalane. The second recommendation is to use a non-greasy moisturizer.

If acne occurs after using Differin

Cases of acne and inflammation after using an anti-acne product are rare, and this usually happens when the product itself and skin care are not used correctly, which is described in more detail below.

Operating principle

The main effect of Differin cream or gel is the reduction of skin rashes, and smoothing wrinkles and reducing negative recurrent skin changes is a pleasant bonus.

The action of Differin is as follows:

• sebostatic;
• comedolytic;
• anti-comedogenic;
• anti-inflammatory.

Differin slows down the process of sebum production and unclogs pores . This improves the supply of oxygen to the skin and significantly facilitates the removal of toxic substances from the deep layers of the dermis.

NOTE!

In addition, Differin inhibits the action of enzymes that are involved in the production of components that contribute to inflammatory processes.

And also adapalene, which is part of the product, pushes the body to produce collagen, the deficiency of which manifests itself in sagging skin and wrinkles.

Differin: instructions for use

The pharmacological effect of Differin gel and cream is due to the presence of the active component in the composition - adapalene 0.1%. The latter is a 3rd generation topical retinoid, which means better tolerability and less risk of skin irritation - compared to previous generations of topical retinoids. The drug Differin has the following effects:

• Suppressing hypersecretion of the sebaceous glands – overactivity of the sebaceous glands is one of the main causes of the formation of acne and pimples. The use of topical retinoids (adapalene) suppresses the production of fatty secretions by the sebaceous glands. Within 1-2 days from the start of use, you will immediately notice that your skin has become much less oily, throughout the day. This effect is much more pronounced in preparations with adapalene than in preparations with azelaic acid.

• Reduction of follicular hyperkeratosis – hyperkeratosis of the epithelium of hair follicles is the second most important mechanism that leads to the formation of acne and pimples.
  Follicular hyperkeratosis consists of thickening of the layers of keratinocytes of the follicle epithelium and disruption of their desquamation. Together with increased secretion of sebum (secretion of the sebaceous glands), this leads to clogging of the follicles with fatty plugs, i.e. comedones/blackheads form. The use of adapalene helps to neutralize the phenomena of follicular hyperkeratosis, which occurs by enhancing the differentiation of keratinocytes of hair follicles, as well as facilitating their desquamation into the lumen of the follicle. Next, the exfoliated cells are brought to the surface of the skin along with sebum. Also, topical retinoids reduce the phenomenon of hyperkeratosis in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, facilitating the exfoliation of dead skin cells.

• Comedolytic effect - this means that the drug causes a slow dissolution of the fatty substrate that makes up comedones (acne). This releases hair follicles clogged with comedones and normalizes the unhindered removal of sebum to the surface of the skin (24stoma.ru).

• Anti-inflammatory effect – adapalene also has anti-inflammatory activity.
  Against the background of hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands and the colonization of the sebaceous gland ducts with P. acnes bacteria, a large amount of free fatty acids (monoglycerides) can be found in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. Normally, they should not be present, but with acne and pimples, their number often increases to 20% of all lipids secreted by the sebaceous glands onto the surface of the skin. This occurs because enzymes in the bacteria P.acnes break down triglycerides into free fatty acids. The latter not only have increased comedogenicity, stimulating the formation of comedones in the follicles, but also have chemotaxis (i.e., they stimulate the migration of neutrophils to the follicles). The migration of neutrophils, in turn, leads to the formation of papules and pustules, i.e. acne. So, adapalene inhibits chemotaxis and migration of neutrophils, which provides anti-inflammatory activity.

Important: thus, the drug Differin has a complex effect - on the most important mechanisms (links of pathogenesis) leading to the formation of acne and pimples. But we once again draw your attention to the fact that this drug as monotherapy will be effective only in the presence of non-inflammatory elements - comedones (acne). For acne, you will need to combine it with benzoyl peroxide-based products and/or an antibiotic.

Differin: composition and release forms

The main active ingredient of the drug is the substance “Adapalene”. Adapalene belongs to a new generation of synthetic retinoids (retinoids also include tretinoin and tazarotene). Differin is available in two forms - as a cream or gel for external use:

Gel composition (in terms of 1 g):

* The gel is available in 30 g tubes, has a white color and is slightly translucent.

Cream composition (in terms of 1 g):

* The cream is available in 30 g tubes and has a bright white color.

→ Differin gel official instructions (PDF) → Differin cream official instructions (PDF)

How to choose the right form of the drug (gel or cream) –

This question is very simple. The gel form is more effective and, of course, it is preferable to use it. Differin cream was created exclusively for patients with dry and/or sensitive skin to prevent and reduce possible side effects of the drug. Therefore, if you have normal or oily skin, feel free to use Differin gel, and you will also very quickly notice a decrease in skin oiliness.

Contraindications for use –

• allergy to one of the components of the drug,
• pregnancy and breastfeeding,
• children up to 12 years old,
• dermatitis and eczema (are relative contraindications).

How to apply the drug correctly. What course of treatment?

The drug is used only externally, 1 time per day (before bedtime). Before applying the drug, the skin should be washed with a mild detergent and dried thoroughly. Using light massaging movements, the drug is applied in a thin layer to areas of the facial skin affected by acne and pimples. Under no circumstances apply the drug to the mucous membranes, red border of the lips, and avoid getting it in the eyes. The full course of treatment is at least 3 months.

When you see the result - if you have oily skin, then the first thing you will notice is that your skin almost immediately becomes much less oily. And not only immediately after use, but practically the entire next day. As for acne and pimples, if we talk about monotherapy with Differin, then you will notice the first visible effect no earlier than 4 weeks from the start of therapy. A satisfactory result occurs approximately 8 weeks from the start of treatment.

You will see a clearly visible result only if you complete the full course of treatment, which is at least 3 months. All these periods are typical for monotherapy with Differin, and as we said above, monotherapy is used only for the treatment of acne. For acne, we should already combine Differin with antimicrobial agents, for example, benzoyl peroxide-based drugs and/or antibiotics. Moreover, the effect, if combination therapy is used to treat acne, occurs much faster.

Combined treatment regimens for acne -

Treatment regimens for papulopustular acne (pimples) are well described in the most authoritative textbook on dermatology, Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, which is used by doctors all over the world. Acne treatment regimens will depend on the severity of the disease, as well as on the prevailing type of inflammatory elements (this could be, for example, papules, pustules or nodules).

• Mild to moderate severity - if the patient has mostly papules on the skin (without pus inside), then we should combine topical retinoids with benzoyl peroxide, which is an antimicrobial agent.
  Thus, in the morning we will prescribe the drug Baziron AS + Differin in the evening before bed. Typically, visible improvement occurs within 1 week from the date of such therapy. But if the patient has pustules with pus, then we must definitely prescribe an antibiotic - in combination with topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide. In this case, in the morning we prescribe the drug Indoxyl (contains benzoyl peroxide 5% and the antibiotic clindamycin 1%) + Differin in the evening.

• Severe forms of acne - in this case, the combination of “retinoid + benzoyl peroxide” is still used externally, but the use of antibiotics should be systemic (orally). Thus, we prescribe the patient Baziron AS in the morning + Differin in the evening before bedtime, and in parallel with such external therapy, we also prescribe antibiotic tablets. You can read more about international protocols for the treatment of acne and pimples using the links below.

→ Acne treatment protocols → Acne treatment protocols

Composition of the drug and release form, should I choose a cream or ointment?

The main active ingredient is a synthetically produced retinoid - adapalene. It is a derivative of vitamin A, from which it gets its name.

In addition to adapalene, Differin contains excipients, and the set of these substances varies depending on the form of the drug:

1. The gel, in addition to the main substance, contains propylene glycol, carbomer, sodium hydroxide and water.
2. In addition to all the mentioned substances, glycerol, cyclomethicone and other auxiliary components are added to the cream.

As already mentioned, when choosing the form of the drug, you should take into account your skin type - cream is better for dry skin, and gel for oily skin.

Contraindications

There are absolute and relative contraindications for the drug based on Adapalene.

The absolute ones include:

• period of pregnancy planning and preceding it;
• pregnancy at any stage;
• lactation period;
• allergy to one of the components of the drug.

Relative contraindications include dermatitis and eczema.

I would like to include various skin diseases of unknown etiology and potentially fungal nature in this group. In such cases, the remedy will not be effective and may worsen the course of the disease.

When shown and photos of results before and after use

Differin is indicated in the following cases::

• acne;
• moderate and severe acne;
• poor complexion;
• frequent skin inflammations;
• age-related changes;
• dark spots;
• expression and age wrinkles.

Reviews

We invite you to read the reviews of ordinary people about the use of Differin for acne, and if you still have any questions, you can always ask them to a cosmetologist or pharmacist on our forum.

Once upon a time, three years ago, I was looking for a universal remedy for acne and subcutaneous inflammation. The pharmacist at the pharmacy advised me to pay attention to Differin. At first, I was skeptical, but after reading the reviews on the Internet, I decided to try it. And that’s it, now this is my favorite remedy that saves me from this problem. It helps perfectly both against a pimple that has already appeared, and against one that is just starting to break out and is present on the skin in the form of a painful tubercle.

Tatyana, 22 years old, Lytkarino

A dermatologist prescribed Differin to me. The course of treatment took me several packages and three months. At first it seemed to me that the product was not working, but the first effect began to appear after two weeks. Acne was localized mainly on pimples and temples. Now my skin is clear and if new rashes appear, it is only before my period and there are not as many of them as there were before.

Oksana, 28 years old, Yaroslavl

Basic rules of application

Before using the drug, you must carefully read the instructions and make sure there are no contraindications. The loan needs to be tested for individual sensitivity to the components of the product.

To do this, apply a small amount of the drug to the back of the wrist or to the inner bend of the elbow . Leave the product to knock.

If after this period of time no negative reactions appear on the skin, then it can be safely applied to the face.

CAREFULLY!

When treating the skin, do not allow the drug to come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes or mouth.

If this does happen, you should immediately rinse the mucous membranes with plenty of running water.

Despite the fact that the increase in sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation when using Differin is minimal, experts still advise not to spend a lot of time in the sun while using the drug.

For the treatment of wrinkles, Differin is not recommended for use on an ongoing basis, as this can lead to excessive drying of the skin. It is better to use the drug in short courses with breaks.

How to use Differin for wrinkles

Since Differin is an aggressive anti-wrinkle preparation for the skin, it should be used especially carefully for thin and aging skin that suffers from dryness and sensitivity.

Important! Before using the drug Differin for wrinkles, it is recommended to read the instructions and study the list of contraindications and side effects.

In order for the cream to have the desired effect, you should adhere to some rules for applying the product:

1. Initially, the face must be prepared: cleanse of makeup and other contaminants using a mild cosmetic cleanser that does not contain alcohol.
2. Then squeeze out a small amount of the product and apply it with gentle massage movements onto the wrinkles.
3. If the skin under the eyes is particularly sensitive, you should try not to overdo it in that area.
4. The procedure is especially effective if you apply the cream before bed, since all recovery processes occur during sleep.
5. To avoid consequences, the application procedure should be performed no more than once a week.
6. Moisturizing creams and masks can be used simultaneously with Differin anti-wrinkle cream.
7. To avoid drying out your skin, you should stop using any cosmetics containing alcohol, otherwise there is a risk of causing even more wrinkles.

At the beginning of using the anti-wrinkle drug, a sudden appearance of acne and skin irritation may occur, which disappears during the treatment process. The effect of the procedures begins to appear 8-10 weeks after the start of treatment.

What is better Differin or age-related cosmetics?

There can be no definite answer to this question; it all depends on the type and condition of the skin.

It must be said that Differin is best used for the initial signs of skin aging; this drug does not cope well enough with old wrinkles.

As for anti-aging cosmetics, they cost much more than Differin, however, they do not always live up to expectations. In any case, it is better to entrust the choice of a product for the treatment of wrinkles and age-related skin changes to a professional.

Does Differin help?

The benefits of Adapalene itself and this drug containing this component are undeniable and proven by numerous clinical data, including studies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Which is, at the moment, the most authoritative quality control body in the World, not to mention the research of Galderma itself.

To be fair, it's worth noting that not all FDA studies of Adapalene's effects use the drug, which goes by the trade name Differin.

From blackheads and comedones

Adapalene promotes “loosening” and the normal position and growth of cells at the mouth of the pores and hair follicles; it also normalizes the composition of the skin secretion, which thanks to all this finds a normal outflow without clogging the pores.

For pigmentation and post-acne

Pigmentation is not a permanent phenomenon, as many people think, but quite long-lasting. And long-term, because damaged cells that are in the upper layers of the skin serve as a prerequisite for the formation of unhealthy cells.

Therefore, drugs aimed at stimulating the processes of normal cell development contribute to the rapid renewal of old cells into new, healthier ones, with normal pigmentation.

For acne and pimples

To summarize what was written above, we can say that thanks to the normalization of processes in the skin and timely cell renewal, an environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms is not created. Not only Cutibacterium acnes, but also Staphylococcus ssp., and Streptococcus ssp. Moreover, during the treatment of inflammation of acne and pimples, the prerequisites are already created for the growth of healthy cells, which will soon replace those damaged at the source of inflammation.