Differin

Molluscum Contagiosum, Cellulitis, Furunculosis + 47 more

Treatment

12 FDA approvals

20 Active Studies for Differin

Treatment for

Molluscum Contagiosum

What is Differin

Salicylic acid

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Adapalene is a medication used to treat acne vulgaris, a common skin condition characterized by increased sebum production, inflammation, and hyperproliferation of the follicular infundibulum. It is also associated with the bacteria _Cutibacterium acnes_ (formerly known as _Propionibacterium acnes_). Adapalene is a third-generation topical retinoid that is more effective and safer than tretinoin, another acne medication. It is available as a 0.1% topical solution, gel, cream, or lotion, or as a 0.3% gel product

Scot-Tussin Original SF Multi-Symptom

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Differin Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Scot-Tussin Original SF Multi-Symptom

Salicylic acid

1956

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Salicylic acid, also known as Scot-Tussin Original SF Multi-Symptom, is approved by the FDA for 12 uses including Dermatitis, Seborrheic and Acne .

Dermatitis, Seborrheic

Acne

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Actinic Keratosis (AK)

Used to treat Actinic Keratosis (AK) in combination with Fluorouracil

Molluscum Contagiosum

Used to treat Molluscum Contagiosum in combination with Cantharidin

Plantar Warts

Molluscum Contagiosum

Used to treat Molluscum Contagiosum in combination with Cantharidin

Callosities

Psoriasis

Hyperkeratosis

Used to treat Hyperkeratosis in combination with Difluocortolone

Acne Vulgaris

Actinic Keratosis

Used to treat Actinic Keratosis (AK) in combination with Fluorouracil

Effectiveness

How Differin Affects Patients

Adapalene works to prevent the formation of acne and reduce inflammation in the skin. It is similar to other retinoid compounds, but needs to be used with sunscreen as it is photosensitive. Some common side effects include redness, scaling, dryness, and stinging or burning sensations.

How Differin works in the body

Adapalene is used to treat mild to severe acne. It works by reducing the inflammation caused by acne, and by preventing the formation of new comedones (acne bumps). Adapalene binds to receptors in the skin, modulating genetic activity and limiting the production of cells in the skin. This reduces the number of bumps, as well as the inflammation caused by acne. When used in combination with benzoyl peroxide, these two drugs can work together to reduce comedones and inflammation even more.

When to interrupt dosage

The prescribed measure of Differin is contingent upon the determined disorder. The amount of dosage also relies on the procedure of delivery (e.g. Topical or Gel) indicated in the chart beneath.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Acne Vulgaris

20.0 mg/mL, , 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 0.0284 mg/mg, 0.005 mg/mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 0.04 mg/mg, 0.02 mg/mg, 4.42 mg, 17.67 mg, 0.17 mg/mg, 4.0 mg, 0.02 mg/mL, 170.0 mg/mL, 0.0198 mg/mg, 0.02 mL/mL, 0.03 mL/mL, 0.05 mL/mL, 0.03 mg/mg, 0.0472 mL/mL, 0.06 mL/mL, 0.075 mL/mL, 0.036 mg/mg, 0.0375 mL/mL, 0.0075 mL/mL, 0.1 mL/mL, 0.022 mL/mL, 0.15 mL/mL, 0.0425 mL/mL, 100.0 mg, 45.6 mg/mL, 0.025 mg/mg, 20.0 mg, 0.55 mg/mg, 0.001 mg/mg, 21.0 mg, 0.0055 mg/mg, 30.0 mg/mL, 0.06 mg/mg, 600.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 0.015 mg/mg, 0.00001 mg/mg, 0.01 mg/mg, 0.01 mg/mL, 0.005 mg/mL, 0.053 mg/mL, 0.091 mg/mL, 210.0 mg/mL, 0.01 mL/mL, 15.0 mg/mL, 780.0 mg, 0.251 mL/mL, 2.0 mg/mL, 0.12 mg/mg, 0.15 mg/mg, 60.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mL, 0.005 mL/mL, 29.2 mg, 25.0 mg, 0.0194 mg/mg, 18.0 mg/mL, 0.14 mg/mg, 0.024 mg/mg, 0.0189 mg/mg, 0.17 mg/mL, 17.64 mg/mL, 8.776 mg/mL, 0.06 mg/mL, 27.24 mg/mg, 275.0 mg/mL, 0.001 mg/mL, 0.3 mL/mL, 150.0 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mg, 0.4 mg/mg, 170.0 mL/mL, 40.0 mg, 0.2158 mg/mL, 0.015 mL/mL, 0.4 mg, 5000.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 0.29 mL/mL, 0.024 mL/mL, 0.02835 mg/mg, 0.1184 mL/mL, 0.25 mg/mg, 0.02 mL, 0.003 mL/mL, 0.0375 mg/mg, 0.0225 mg/mg, 0.048 mL/mL, 156.0 mg, 0.48 mg/mg, 0.0075 mg/mL, 0.0065 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mg, 0.018 mg/mg, 0.048 mg/mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 400.0 mg, 0.0038 mg/mL, 5.0 mg/mg, 5.87 mg/mL, 53.0 mg/mL, 0.028 mg/mg, 6.91 mg/mL, 6.23 mg/mL, 156.0 mg/mL, 0.07 mg/mg, 0.05 mg/mg, 0.015 mg/mL, 1.0 mg/mL, 0.0024 mg/mL, 15.4 mg/mL, 0.2484 mg/mL, 0.24 mg/mg, 0.018 mg/mL, 0.09506 mg/mL, 0.02 mCi/mL, 0.0017 mg/mL, 0.21 mg/mg, 20.5 mg/mL, 2000.0 mg/mL, 0.0216 mg/mL, 40000.0 mg, 0.003 mg/mg, 1.7 mL/mL, 0.0354 mL/mL, 0.0236 mL/mL, 0.0708 mL/mL, 30.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 15.0 mg, 0.017 mg/mL, 0.0226 mg/mg, 0.212 mg/mL, 0.04 mL/mL, 0.1152 mL/mL, 0.0005 mg/mg, 0.00625 mL/mL, 0.02016 mg/mg, 0.045 mL/mL, 0.3 mg/mL, 0.000005 mg/mg, 0.03 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, 0.19 mg, 45.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mg, 100.0 mg/mg, 50.0 mg/mg, 200.0 mg/mg, 250.0 mg/mg, 0.0001 mg/mL, 0.7 %, 1.4 %, 0.0025 mg/mL, 0.006 mL/mL, 0.0115 mL/mL, 0.11 mg/mg, 0.0047 mL/mL, 0.0048 mL/mL, 0.03 mg, 1.19 mg, 2.0 %, 3.0 %, 40.0 %, 11.0 %, 6.0 %, 17.0 %, 30.0 %, 0.5 %, 1.8 %, 1.0 %, 0.75 %, 0.44 %, 1.5 %, 0.4503 %, 2000.0 mg, 15.0 %, 20.0 %, 12.0 %, 12.64 %, 3.5 %, 2.2 %, 0.6 %, 2.25 mg/mL, 1.7 mg/mL, 20.6 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL, 2.1 %, 325.0 mg, 0.2 %, 21.0 mg/mL, 6.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 6.0 mg, 0.0075 mg/mg, 4.0 %, 10.0 %, 162.5 mg, 0.0254 mg/mg, 150.28 mg/mL, 0.388 mg/mg, 285.0 mg/mL, 48.0 mg/mL, 0.0127 mg/mg, 0.00017 mg/mg, 0.014 mg/mg, 0.000027 mg/mg, 12.0 mg/mL, 20000.0 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 4.0 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, 0.002 mg/mg, 500.0 mg/mL, 3.57 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 18.4 mg/mL, 0.013 mg/mg, 0.027 mg/mg, 15.105 mg/mL, 0.6 mg/mL, 1.5 mg/mL, 50.5 mg/mL, 2.0 mg/mg, 0.004 mg/mg, 5.05 mg/mL, 14.25 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 0.00009 mg/mg, 0.0135 mg/mg, 21.5 mg/mL, 0.16 mg/mg, 43.0 mg/mL, 0.0025 mg/mg, 5.51 mg, 3.175 mg, 2.068 mg, 0.05 mg/mL, 0.056 mg, 3.0 mg/mL, 260.0 mg/mL, 12.5 mg/mL, 18.5 mg/mL, 176.0 mg/mL, 167.0 mg/mL, 580.0 mg, 126.0 mg/mL, 0.0125 mg/mg, 122.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg/mL, 0.025 mg/mL, 0.013 mg/mL, 0.28 mg/mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 1.4 mg/mL, 177.0 mg/mL, 0.08 mg/mg, 0.035 mg/mg, 0.022 mg/mg, 0.7 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL, 28.8 mg/mL, 0.18 mg/mg, 4.7 mg/mL, 4.8 mg/mL, 11.0 mg/mL, 0.006 mg/mg, 0.0005 mg/mL, 202.0 mg/mL, 0.0142 mg/mg, 83.0 mg/mL, 158.4 mg/mL, 5.4 mg/mL, 21.8 mg/mL, 14.13 mg, 19.6 mg/mL, 0.193 mL/mL, 1.2 mg/mg, 17.4 mg/mL, 19.0 mg/mL, 18.6 mg/mL, 2232.0 mg/mL, 2014.0 mg/mL, 29.0 mg/mL, 0.116 mg/mL, 1.0 mg/mg, 0.00008 mg/mg, 32.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 5.5 mg/mL, 0.000001 mg/mg, 0.00012 mg/mg, 24.0 mg/mL, 0.0001 mg/mg, 7.2 mg/mg, 0.00015 mg/mg, 1.767 mg/mg, 11.04 mg, 0.3 mg/mg, 9.0 mg/mL, 7.5 mg/mL, 0.0044 mg/mg, 16.0 mg/mL, 14.4 mg/mL, 29.5 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4386 %, 5.88 mg/mL, 10.15 mg/mL, 0.034 mg/mg, 1.66 mg/mg, 176.0 mg, 0.012 mg/mg, 250.0 mg, 0.4 mg/mL, 2.4 mg/mL, 7.2 mg/mL, 20.02 mg/mL, 5000.0 mg, 7.8 mg/mL, 2.45 mg/mL, 4.5 mg/mL, 24.0 mg, 5.01 mg/mL, 10.4 mg/mL, 4.95 mg/mL, 0.0018 mg/mg, 0.09 mg/mg, 9.8 mg/mL, 12.2 mg/mL, 0.065 mg/mg, 14.0 mg/mL, 0.025 %, 0.0000572 mg/mg, 0.13 mg/mg, 4.6 mg, 570.0 mg/mL, 56.0 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 1500.0 mg, 0.0056 mg/mg, 0.002 mg/mL, 17.575 mg/mL, 17.0 mg/mL, 18.13 mg/mL, 9.72 mg/mL, 10000.0 mg/mL

, Liquid, Liquid - Topical, Topical, Cloth, Cloth - Topical, Lotion - Topical, Lotion, Spray - Topical, Cream - Topical, Spray, Cream, Solution, Solution - Topical, Disc - Topical, Strip - Topical, Disc, Strip, Gel - Topical, Stick - Topical, Gel, Paste, Paste - Topical, Ointment - Topical, Swab - Topical, Swab, Shampoo - Topical, Soap, Soap - Topical, Lotion / shampoo, Lotion / shampoo - Topical, Plaster, Plaster - Topical, Ointment, Shampoo, Emulsion - Topical, Emulsion, Aerosol, foam, Aerosol, foam - Topical, Kit, Powder, Patch - Topical, Patch, Cutaneous, Liquid - Cutaneous, Stick, Suspension - Topical, Suspension, Powder - Topical, Kit - Topical, Cream - Cutaneous, Solution, gel forming / drops, Rinse - Topical, Rinse, Topical; Transdermal, Oil, Oil - Topical, Liquid; Swab - Topical, Liquid; Swab, Kit; Lotion; Solution - Topical, Kit; Lotion; Solution, Solution, gel forming / drops - Topical, Plaster - Topical; Transdermal, Jelly, Jelly - Topical, Cream; Suspension - Topical, Cream; Suspension, Liquid - Intravenous, Intravenous, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Liquid; Shampoo - Topical, Dental, Liquid - Oral, Concentrate, Concentrate - Topical, Kit; Liquid; Lotion, Kit; Liquid; Lotion - Topical, Liquid, extended release, Salve, Salve - Topical, Liquid, extended release - Topical, Liquid; Shampoo, Liquid - Dental, Solution - Auricular (otic), Auricular (otic), Cloth - Cutaneous, Transdermal, Tape, Tape - Topical, Liquid - Transdermal, Gel - Cutaneous, Cream - Respiratory (inhalation), Respiratory (inhalation), Cream, augmented - Topical, Cream, augmented, Patch - Transdermal, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit; Oil, Kit; Oil - Topical, Liquid - Ophthalmic, Cutaneous; Topical, Gel - Cutaneous; Topical, Tablet - Topical, Ophthalmic, Soap - Cutaneous

Foot

scaling

Itching

Palmoplantar Pustulosis (PPP)

Callosities

Communicable Diseases

Actinic Keratosis

Warts

Communicable Diseases

Psoriasis

Communicable Diseases

Tinea Pedis

calluses

Blackheads

Intertrigo

Dermatitis

Tinea

Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid

Neurodermatitis

Warnings

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Differin.

Common Differin Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Macimorelin

Major

The therapeutic efficacy of Macimorelin can be decreased when used in combination with Salicylic acid.

Methotrexate

Major

The serum concentration of Methotrexate can be increased when it is combined with Salicylic acid.

Mifamurtide

Major

The therapeutic efficacy of Mifamurtide can be decreased when used in combination with Salicylic acid.

Neomycin

Major

The risk or severity of nephrotoxicity can be increased when Salicylic acid is combined with Neomycin.

Omacetaxine mepesuccinate

Major

The risk or severity of bleeding can be increased when Salicylic acid is combined with Omacetaxine mepesuccinate.

Differin Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Taking too much adapalene can cause redness, scaling, and skin irritation. Tests on rats and mice have shown that the toxic dose of adapalene is very high, with no signs of systemic or local toxicity in rats treated with 6mg/kg/day. If an overdose occurs, symptomatic and supportive measures should be taken.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Differin Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Differin?

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Keratoderma, Palmoplantar

2 Actively Recruiting

Phase 1, Phase 2

Dermatitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Warts

0 Actively Recruiting

Alopecia Areata

1 Actively Recruiting

Phase 1

Rheumatism

0 Actively Recruiting

Eczema

0 Actively Recruiting

Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid

0 Actively Recruiting

Communicable Diseases

0 Actively Recruiting

Neurodermatitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Itching

3 Actively Recruiting

Phase 3, Not Applicable

Lichen Planus

0 Actively Recruiting

Eczema

0 Actively Recruiting

Tinea

0 Actively Recruiting

Cellulitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Callosities

0 Actively Recruiting

Lichen

0 Actively Recruiting

Skin

0 Actively Recruiting

Communicable Diseases

0 Actively Recruiting

Neurodermatitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Keratolysis

0 Actively Recruiting

Differin Reviews: What are patients saying about Differin?

Patient Review

4/4/2016

Differin for Acne

I started using Differin when I was 15. I prefer the cream over the gel. I am now 30 and it remains the only acne medication that works for me. Yes, in the beginning you may experience dryness and/or redness, but it does subside. When I switched insurance companies it was no longer covered so I went about a few months without being to use the medicine everyday. It was noticeable. It is worth paying $200 plus for the Differin, but I have to use it sparingly.

Patient Review

7/9/2017

Differin for Acne

After years of battling acne and trying a litany of different treatments, I decided to give Differin a go. Within weeks, I started noticing results; my skin was clearing up! Needless to say, I just bought another tube.

2.3

Patient Review

1/3/2018

Differin for Acne

I have seen no benefits to my skin after using this product for five months. If anything, it has made my acne worse.

Patient Review

7/30/2022

Differin for Acne

I'm 21 years old and my skin started burning and peeling after using this treatment for just four days. I don't know what to do now. Should I stop using it?

Patient Review

9/12/2017

Differin for Acne

I've tried everything under the sun for my acne, and this was unfortunately no different. If anything, it made my skin worse by making it oilier.

Patient Review

4/26/2019

Differin for Acne

I have used this for three months now, and it has done terrible things to my skin. It is still bright red and peeling, and I have lumps and bumps all over. Do not recommend.

image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about differin

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Is Differin the same as retinol?

"Adapalene is not a retinol, but it is a retinoid. While there are many over-the-counter retinol creams on the market, Differin is not one."

Answered by AI

What does Differin do for your skin?

"The active ingredient in Differin Gel is adapalene, a retinoid that is recommended by dermatologists for clearing acne. Adapalene penetrates deep into the pores to treat acne at its source, prevents new acne from forming, and restores the skin's natural texture and tone as a result of reduced acne."

Answered by AI

Is Differin good for your face?

"The speaker explains that Differin is a great anti-aging product because it helps to produce more collagen in the deep layers of the skin. This collagen production is what leads to fewer fine lines and a thicker overall skin texture."

Answered by AI

What Differin is used for?

"This acne medication works by reducing the number and severity of pimples, as well as promoting the healing of existing pimples. It belongs to a class of medications called retinoids, which work by affecting cell growth and decreasing inflammation."

Answered by AI