Differin/Adaferin gel 0.1% is used to treat acne vulgaris of the face, chest or back, including pimples, whiteheads and blackheads (comedones) and can also be used to treat acne cysts, which can be deep, painful and inflamed. Differin/Adaferin gel 0.1% gel helps combats the processes in the skin that cause clogged pores and lead to pimples and spots associated with acne, helping to clear up these skin blemishes as well as preventing the outbreak of new acne.
How does Differin/Adaferin work?
Differin/Adaferin gel 0.1% contains adapalene, which is a retinoid-like compound and a keratolytic medication that binds to specific retinoic acid receptors in the nucleus of skin cells and changes the way they behave. Acne is often associated with puberty which is when a surge of androgen hormones can over stimulate the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands in hair follicles). Skin cells that are shed from the lining of the hair follicle become trapped in sebum forming a plug below the surface of the skin, clogging the pores, which then attracts bacteria, so that the clogged pores become infected and inflamed, causing an acne outbreak. Differin/Adaferin gel 0.1% penetrates deep inside your pores to control the buildup of dead skin and sebum that leads to acne and also blocks the hardening processes of the outer skin layer (keratinisation and cornification) promoting the shedding of old hardened skin cells, while at the same time promoting growth of new skin cells. Differin/Adaferin gel 0.1% also blocks immune cells getting to the site of acne formation which inhibits the inflammatory reaction. This stops pores becoming clogged, infected and inflamed, reducing the outbreak of new pimples, whitehead and blackheads (comedones) as well as clearing up existing blemishes.