Differin: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What are DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP used for?

• treating acne in patients 12 years of age and older.

How do DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP work?

DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP are believed to work by modifying the action of skin cells to produce fewer pimples.

What are the ingredients in DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP?

Medicinal ingredients: adapalene

Non-medicinal ingredients:

DIFFERIN 0.1% w/w Cream: carbomer 934P, cyclomethicone, edetate disodium, glycerin, methyl gluceth-20 sesquistearate, methyl glucose sesquistearate, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, squalane, trolamine, and purified water.

DIFFERIN 0.1% w/w Gel: carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment, and purified water.

DIFFERIN 0.1% w/w Lotion: carbomer 941, disodium edetate, medium chain triglycerides, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, poloxamer 124, polyoxyl-6-polyoxyl-32 palmitostearate, PPG-12 / SMDI copolymer, propylene glycol, propylparaben, sodium hydroxide, stearyl alcohol, and purified water.

DIFFERIN XP 0.3% w/w Gel: carbomer homopolymer Type C, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 124, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment, and purified water.

DIFFERIN comes in the following dosage forms:

cream, 60 g tube

gel, 60 g tube

lotion, 60 mL and 120 mL bottle with pump*

*DIFFERIN Lotion not currently marketed in Canada.

DIFFERIN XP comes in the following dosage form:

gel, 60 g tube

Do not use DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP if:

• you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

• you are allergic to this drug or to any ingredient in the formulation, including any non-medicinal ingredient, or component of the container (see What are the ingredients in DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP?). Check with your doctor if you know you are allergic to certain ingredients or package components to ensure that you can use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.
• you have eczema or very irritated skin (such as seborrheic dermatitis).

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you use DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. You should discontinue use of DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.
• are a female of childbearing years. You should use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP only after consulting your doctor about contraceptive counselling.
• are breast-feeding or intending to breast feed. It is not known if this drug is passed into breast milk. To avoid contact exposure of the infant, do not apply DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP to the chest when used during breast-feeding.

• are using any other acne medications. DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP should not be used

  • with other acne medications unless your doctor recommends them.
• are using any other prescription or OTC (over the counter) drugs or herbal remedies.

Other warnings you should know about:

Using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP can make it more likely for you to get a sunburn. Do not expose yourself too much to sunlight, including sunlamps while using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP. If you must be out in the sun, use a good sunscreen product (SPF 15 or higher) designed not to clog pores (non-comedogenic). You should also wear protective clothing over the treated areas.

Extreme cold or windy weather can irritate your skin while you are using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.

In the areas where you have applied DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP, do not remove unwanted hair by waxing. Waxing may cause your skin to become more sensitive.

Avoid using oily makeup or creams. Also avoid using products that make your skin dry, peel, or cause irritation. These can include abrasive soaps or cleansers, astringents, alcohol or products containing spices or limes. These may make your acne worse. You should only use water-based make-up while you are using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP. Be sure to properly cleanse your skin and remove all makeup before you use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.

DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP are for external use only. Avoid using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP around your eyes, lips, nose, and mucous membranes. You should also avoid using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP on open wounds.

While you are using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP, you may experience the following side effects:

• redness
• dryness
• scaling
• burning
• itchy skin

These side effects usually occur during the first two to four weeks of treatment. These side effects usually go away on their own as your skin adjusts to DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP. Depending on how severe your side effects are, your healthcare professional may recommend the following:

• Use a moisturizer with DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.
• Use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP less often.
• Stop using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP until side effects get better.

DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP may cause local irritation. Using it with abrasive cleansers, strong drying agents, or irritant products at the same time may make your skin more irritated.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP:

• sulfur
• recorcinol
• salicylic acid

You should be extra careful when using products containing any of the ingredients listed above with DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP. If you have used these products, you should wait until their effects has lessened. Then you can start treatment with DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.

If you are using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP at night, you may use other anti-acne topical treatments in the morning. These can include:

• erythromycin topical solution, topical anti-acne treatments
• clindamycin phosphate topical solution 1%, topical anti-acne treatments
• benzoyl peroxide, topical anti-acne treatments

Check first with your healthcare professional before you start using any other treatments while you are using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.

How to use DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP:

Use only the amount your doctor recommends. Using more DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP will not make it work better or faster.

If you experience any severe side effects where you have applied DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP, stop treatment. Once your side effects have resolved, you can start using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP again. Start by using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP less often. As your skin adjusts to the treatment, you can use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP more often until your skin can tolerate daily use.

Usual dose:

Use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP once a day at night before you go to bed. You should first wash your face with a gentle cleanser and blot it dry with a soft towel -- do not rub your face. Then, apply a thin film of DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP to the areas where you have acne. Usually, four pea-sized amounts of DIFFERIN cream or gel, or DIFFERIN XP should be enough to cover your entire face. For DIFFERIN lotion, dispense a nickel size amount (3 - 4 actuations of the pump) to cover your entire face. DO NOT SPOT APPLY - cover the entire affected area.

Keep DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP away from your eyes, lips, the corners of your nose and mucous membranes. If you get any in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean warm water right away. This medication should not be applied to cuts, abrasions, eczematous (skin with a red, itchy rash) or sunburned skin.

Your acne should improve in 4-8 weeks. You should see more improvement as you continue to use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP.

Overdose:

DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP is meant to be applied in a thin film only on the areas of your skin where you have acne. If too much medication is applied, you will not get faster or better results. Instead, you may see a lot of redness or peeling, and your skin may feel hot or burning.

A 60 gram tube of DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP contains a total of 180 mg of adapalene. Even if someone eats the contents of a full tube of DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP, there is not enough active ingredient to cause serious harm. However, you should still contact your poison control centre. If you are a woman of childbearing age, have a pregnancy test done.

Missed Dose:

If you miss a dose, it is not necessary to make up the missed dose. Just wait until the next evening and use DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP as usual. Apply the same amount as you usually would. Do not apply extra.

What are possible side effects from using DIFFERIN and DIFFERIN XP?

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when using DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Do not be discouraged if DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP causes some redness, skin burning or tingling sensation or peeling when you first start to use it (2-4 weeks). This happens when your skin is adjusting to DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP's action of unplugging clogged pores. If these problems continue to happen or if they are getting worse, talk to your doctor. He/she may suggest that you use a moisturizer, or he/she may recommend a change in your dose, or in how often you use the medication. DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP may also cause the following side effects:

• skin irritation
• scaling
• dry skin
• skin discomfort
• skin pain or skin swelling
• application site burn
• darkening or lightening of skin colour
• itching
• acne
• dermatitis contact (allergic reaction)
• may make you more likely to sunburn

If DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP gets in your eye, rinse it right away with lots of water. Contact with your eye may cause swelling, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and eye irritation. If the irritation persists, talk to your doctor. DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP may cause eyelid irritation, itching, redness or swelling.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

Storage:

DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP should be stored at room temperature (15° to 30°C). Protect from freezing. Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about DIFFERIN or DIFFERIN XP:

• Talk to your healthcare professional
• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; Galderma Canada Inc. website https://www.galderma.com/canada, or by calling 1-800-467-2081.

Last revised: September 28, 2021