My Backstory with Acne
My skin is something I have put a lot of effort into during my late teens and early twenties. In highschool, my skin rarely broke-out. When I went off to college, and decided to go off the birth control pill, my skin was in a frenzy. At 18, a few months after stopping birth control (which I later went back on and take currently), my skin starting breaking out, specifically in the chin area. The pimples were deep, painful and under the skin. They were very red and inflamed. I tried many different treatments to get rid of them.
Between 18 and 23, my skin was a rollercoaster of acne and breakouts. Even though I went back on birth control, my acne didn’t quite go away. I personally didn’t suffer from acne on the forehead or cheeks at this time, but my chin was a struggle area. I paid a few visits to the dermatologist and tried prescription treatments such as clindamycin gel which worked for a few months, but then the acne would came back. I tried numerous drug store treatments such as salicylic acid and low percentage benzoyl peroxide. Again, these would provide temporary relief, but my acne would not completely go away.
In March of 2020, when I was 23, my chin acne was raging and I was feeling frustrated with it. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel beautiful with blemishes, but I was tired of dealing with the constant pain, itchiness and discomfort of my cystic acne. I eat generally healthy, drink lots of water, exercise, take my makeup off before bed, etc… I was starting to question if my acne would ever go away…
Adapalene Gel 0.1% Treatment
In March of 2020, my mom took her usual trip to Harmon Face Values (a popular drug/cosmetic store in NJ), and brought home an acne cream I had never tried before: Adapalene Gel 0.1%. She knew I was frustrated with my acne and wanted to help. When she showed me the Acne Free Adapalene Gel 0.1% (a slightly cheaper dupe for Differin), I was intrigued. I had recently watched a Dr. Dray video on youtube where she discussed adapalene gel, so I was interested in this product.
Adapalene Gel 0.1% is only recently a drugstore, over-the-counter acne treatment. In 2016, the FDA approved the use of Differin gel 0.1% (adapalene gel) as an over-the-counter use to treat acne. This product is a once-daily topical gel to treat acne in people 12 years and older, and is the first retinoid approved for over-the-counter use. Retinoids such as adapalene gel 0.1% are helpful in regulating skin cell turnover. They are commonly used to treat aging skin/wrinkles, acne and more.
My Initial Experience Using Adapalene Gel 0.1%
On March 18, 2020, I began using the Acne Free Adapalene Gel 0.1% to treat my acne. For roughly the first six weeks of me using only adapalene gel to treat my acne, I dealt with dry, itchy, peeling skin that some people classify as the “purge” stage. While this word is very intense, my acne did become quite ruthless in the beginning of my treatment. It actually became worse before it became better. I applied a pea-size amount of the gel to my entire face (except the delicate eye area) once per day only at night. I started to develop acne on my cheeks almost immediately after starting usage of this product, but continued to push through. It can take 2-3 months for skin to start showing improvement, so I knew I needed to stick it out!
I have a video on YouTube that you can check out to get a very specific breakdown of my skincare routine at this time, plus my transformation journey.
A Simple Skincare Routine
It is recommended to not mix adapalene gel with salicylic acid or vitamin-c serums. I realized about a month or so into my usage of adapalene gel that I was using a face wash with salicylic acid in it every morning. So after about a month of using this salicylic acid face wash, I removed it from my skincare routine. I then began to use my nighttime face wash (Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser) in the morning as well. I kept my skincare routine very minimal and realized I didn’t need a different face wash for morning vs. night.
In the morning, I washed my face with the Cetaphil gentle cleanser, applied the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion to my face, and used a facial sunscreen. At night, I washed my face with the same gentle cleanser, applied the same CeraVe moisturizer, and then applied a pea-size drop of the adapalene gel to my face. Applying the gel after moisturizing can help ease the dryness and irritation. I felt it definitely helped, but my skin did still suffer peeling and dryness. For an in-depth look at my current skincare routine, check out this article I posted!
Using Adapalene Gel 0.1% with Benzoyl Peroxide
After about 2-3 months of using only the adapalene gel as my acne treatment, I decided to add Benzoyl Peroxide to the mix. Dr. Dray on YouTube has a video where she recommends using these two products together. These two drugs combined are supposedly like a make-shift Epiduo gel. I purchased the Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10% (10% benzoyl peroxide acne medication). You can also use a lower percentage benzoyl peroxide if you prefer.
So now at night I would do as follows: wash my face with the Cetaphil cleanser, moisturize with the CeraVe PM lotion, apply a pea-size amount of adapalene gel, and then add a pea-size amount of benzoyl peroxide on my problem areas such as my chin and cheeks. My morning routine remained the same: I washed my face with the Cetaphil cleanser, moisturized, and applied sunscreen.
Timeline of my Skin Progress
Start Date: March 18, 2020 – May 2020
My acne became immediately worse within the first week of using adapalene gel. I suffered peeling, dryness, redness, and more acne in my first 2-3 months of treatment.
June 2020
My active acne began to subside and I was dealing with mostly acne scars and intense discoloration. I personally didn’t have scarring or denting in my face, but rather dark red marks of discoloration. Dryness and peeling of skin was still evident, but was gradually becoming less harsh.
End of June 2020 – August 2020
My discoloration and acne marks were subsiding/fading. Around Mid-July I had VERY minimal active acne. By August I had basically no active acne. My skin wasn’t really peeling or super dry and itchy anymore.
August 2020 – Current (October 2021)
Around the end of August 2020, my discoloration and acne marks were mostly gone and far less noticeable. My skin was not peeling, itchy or suffering dryness anymore. This is truly when I felt my skin really started to look clear and smooth. By November 2020, when I posted my How I Cleared My Skin Video, I felt genuinely impressed with my results.
I began incorporating my daily serums into my routine again. I use the Skinceuticals Vitamin CE Ferulic in the morning before applying moisturizer. I use the Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier at night before applying moisturizer. I personally don’t experience any issues with these products while using adapalene gel 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide at night.
CURRENT THOUGHTS
My skin truly looked the best it had in years by November 2020, just 8 months into treatment. In the past year since then, I have continued the same skincare routine despite having minimal acne these days. I believe continuation of using the adapalene gel and BP has helped me maintain clear skin. I am excited to continue my skincare journey, and am so incredibly happy with the results I’ve had in the past 18 months!
[…] If you want to hear more about my acne journey and how I cleared my skin using these products, then check out this article I wrote here. […]