Can you use adapalene in the morning?

How to apply adapalene in the morning

The morning routine needs cleanser, treatment, moisturizer and sunscreen, not an opening credits sequence.3

1. 1Wash gently with a mild cleanser, then pat dry. Apply adapalene to clean, dry skin rather than scrubbing first.
2. 2For Differin 0.1% gel, spread a pea sized amount in a thin layer over the full face. Treat the acne prone area, not just individual pimples. Avoid the eyes, eyelids, lips and inside the nose or mouth. Wash your hands afterwards.
3. 3Let adapalene absorb, then apply moisturizer. Differin's usual routine puts moisturizer after treatment.
4. 4Apply sunscreen after the gel has dried. Choose broad spectrum, water resistant SPF 30 or higher, and follow the sunscreen's application and reapplication directions.

Does morning use mean more sun precautions?

Adapalene can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Sun protection matters whether you apply the medicine in the morning or at night. Seek shade, wear protective clothing and avoid tanning beds. The Dorset NHS instructions use a higher sunscreen threshold: SPF 50, including on cloudy days. If those are your treatment instructions, follow them.245

When should you keep adapalene at night?

Keep bedtime application if your prescription or package specifies it. Dermatologists often recommend evening use for topical retinoids, the vitamin A related medicines that help clear pores. If Differin's directions allow either time, choose one routine and apply it at the same time each day. Applying extra gel or adding an evening dose will not give faster results.35

What can you use alongside adapalene?

Avoid adding other retinoids, abrasive cleansers or exfoliating products containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These can add to dryness and irritation. The basic supporting products are a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, which is refreshingly little casting for a skincare routine.34

When separate benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin or erythromycin treatments are part of your prescribed plan, they can be used at a different time of day from adapalene. Morning adapalene and evening treatment, or the reverse, are possible schedules. Combination medicines such as Epiduo already contain adapalene and benzoyl peroxide; follow that medicine's directions rather than treating its ingredients as separate products.24

What should you expect after starting?

Acne can look worse during the first few weeks as previously unseen pimples reach the surface. Full benefit can take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. Dryness, redness, scaling and burning or stinging are common early effects, especially during the first 2 to 4 weeks. Do not judge treatment by the first few applications.23

Who should be careful, and when should you stop?

For sensitive skin or previous retinoid irritation, ask your dermatologist about less frequent application or moisturizer before treatment. Do not apply adapalene to broken, sunburned or eczema affected skin. Stop and contact your doctor if irritation is severe or persists. Breathing difficulty or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat requires immediate medical help.245

Stop adapalene if you think you are pregnant, and contact your doctor. Discuss planned pregnancy or breastfeeding before use.24

See a doctor for moderate or severe acne, nodules or cysts, or acne that remains uncontrolled with pharmacy treatment. These situations need a treatment review, not simply a different application time.6