Mistakes: 1. Using it as a spot treatment 2. Stopping once your acne is clear 3. Expecting results overnight 4. Using more than necessary 5. Putting it on your eyelids 6. Using it with retinols 7. Not using moisturizer 8. Washing your face too often 9. Stopping for vacation 10. Waxing
@@stev2170 you’re supposed to not apply to the areas of your eyes and mouth, so if you’re still doing that do yourself a favor and stop before you experience anymore issues and discomfort. It even says to avoid those areas on the directions and Dr. Dray shows it in other videos on it
@@Aj33_ "Satisfying" yes, absolutely: 🤔 And her entire 'approach' is authentic w/a brilliant, subtle humor woven throughout- -a rarity in skincare vids. I recommend her quite often. 🙂🙃😉👍
I have mild, mostly hormonal acne and stared using differen about 2 weeks ago. I use a pea sized amount every other day sandwiched between two layers of lotion. Obviously it hasn't affected my acne yet, but my skin texture looks so nice lately! I was almost late to work this morning because I was so distracted by my face in the mirror 😂
i started differin when i was 14 for acne, i’m 22 now and i still remember how awful the first stages of using differin were. My whole face felt tight and dehydrated for a few months. Felt like hell, but eventually got much better. I hardly ever get pimples now! :)
@@theHoax100 wow! so differin is safe to use for a VERY LONG time! do you still get pimples? when did your purging lasted and how long did you see noticable results? i’m currently at my second week and purging. ☹️
@@thisismjbatara6891 i usually only get pimples these days if i touch my face a lot esp along my chin and jaw area, but hardly happens these days! hmm i cant really rmb how long the purging was, perhaps 2-3 months? maybe longer? i do wish i moisturized better back then tho, bc i had super flaky and dehydrated skin :/ after the purging phase you’ll see results gradually, i was never 100% pimple free thru out high school (which was when i started differin) but i did stop having those pimple clusters around my cheeks :D i think it was only when i hit 18/19 that i realised ‘wow i hardly get pimples now’
@@theHoax100 happy for you! i’m 21 now and have mild - moderate acne, but i used to have severe acne when i was 17-18 yrs old. i hope my purging would subside early cos i think 2-3 months is too long... btw, i use differin along benzoyl peroxide and so far, there are no irritations. i hope this will help.
I’ve been using Adapalene gel for around 2 months now and I’m so happy I stuck with it through the purge phase. It was frustrating and made me want to quit it a few times. I followed all of your tips and they helped so much! I still apply over moisturizer and use every 3 nights.
I started using Adapalene for around 2 months too and I'm still purging a lot on my chest. I never had that much pimples it was really impressive at the beginning. Face is looking better though, and younger
@@DrDrayzday hey Dr.Dray a big fan of yours so I really can't use retinol and adapalene gel together? I mean I noticed some irritating and a while back I have peeling and eczema but it's gone away now and whenever I use the two together I don't notice that much of an irritation but I really didn't know. So I cant use it together? 🤣
It changed my skin completely, I introduced it slowly and always wearing on top of the moisturiser, thanks to your tips. My skin completely acclimatised to it and I know use it every other night with no irritation. Skin is incredibly smooth and bright.
I really wish the fda would finally approve tretonin for over the counter use. It is safer than tylenol. By far. There is no reason this should not be over the counter. There are instructions for this and you need to follow it, but if you do, this is a well tested and very safe and effective drug.
I also don't understand why Tret isn't over the counter. Lol. I personally think there are other skincare products that are more harmful than tret and they're somehow OTC
Im guilty of washing my face too much. Im living in Malaysia where it is hot&humid and most of the time Im outdoors. I usually take a bath like 3 times daily 😂
Just use water because when you are using cleansers you are also washing off all the peptides and ceramides from your face.washing too many times can be harmful. Just avoid using cleansers more than twice a day
Mayam , I am your neighbor, Singapore. You should follow the regular routine but with very mild cleanser. See your dermatologist there. They always says wash in Morning and at night cause of our location, humid, culture, cleanliness which no one understands. It is very rare any of us has dry skin or faces winter. Just used mild cleaners , moisturizers than at night use differen or Retinol. Kita bukan Orang Puteh. Tidak boleh mandi satu kali hari. Selamat !! ❤️💕🌸
My daughter has really bad acne. I can’t believe I didn’t buy her differin gel before!!! She has been using it for about a week and her skin has cleared up drastically, she uses it at night and waits 10 minutes before applying CareVe healing ointment. It works!! Just trust the process!! I am so happy for her specially now that she has started high school!!!! Thank you for your videos!!! 🙏
Differin gel was ROUGH for me but I stuck it out. The first six months my face was falling off. I couldnt smile without skin cells falling everywhere. It was so itchy and painful and red. My derm kept telling me it was normal and to keep it up. I ended up at a cosmetic surgeon for a different reason and she told me to reduce it to 2 times a week and my skin finally improved. Definitely do not recommend daily use if this is youe first retinoid!
Did you start off by applying it every day? I started with few times per week over a moisturiser and never had issues. Just a bit of dryness but very manageable :)
Yes. My derm had me start daily and advised to go under moisturizer. I think every derm has a different method. My face looked like hell and was really painful. 4 years later, I use it 2-3 times a week on top of moisturizer.
I didn't know it dries out the skin so much and makes it flake off so I started applying it every day - that was a big mistake haha. It's like leaving a trail of flakes behind me everywhere
I recently just started using differin gel and before I used some prior moisturizers or serums that contained retinol, I haven’t found the differin gel irritating for the period I’ve been using it so far, will likely comment in this same thread for an update
Thank you, Dr. Dray. I've been using WAYYYYYY too much of it. You should see the huge glob I've been applying every night; now I feel foolish. Thank you for addressing this mistake in the video.
Some years ago my dermatologist gave me differin to use it as a SPOT treatment for acne! Of course it didn't help me at all and then he put me on accutane 😈 Thank God I found Dray last year and i finally got my acne under control!
My doctor also told me that i should use it as a spot treatment otherwise over time i will develop melasma because i have fritzpatrick skin type 3 and i live in South Asia. Idk if it's true.
You're like my skin fairy god mother. I started breaking out really bad at 24 (I'm 38 now) and thought I was going to have crap skin for the rest of my life. I've learned so much from you. Thank you so much!
I m 2 days in week 5.. Week 1: no difference Week 2:peeling a lit bit moisturized a lot Week 3:started purging Week 4 :purging increased skin at its worse Week 5 : the purging phase pimple slightly drying out and the post inflammatory erythrema Hope it goes well I am 2 days in Week 5 Started on 15 December 2022 Today is 17 January 2023 wish me luck I m in so much pain
How long did it take for your skin to cure? I'm on week 7 or 8 of it and it finally looks like things are clearing up. The purge was super bad, so it's hard to say if my skin is really clearing up or just not purging anymore. 🤷♀️
How quickly did you realize you didn’t tolerate it? I’m trying to figure out whether to try differen or cerave resurfacing serum . I have never used any products such as these, only BHA and AHAs
My skin was SOOOOOOOOOO sensitive to the sun within the first few months of using Differin. I felt like I was getting a severe sunburn within 5 minutes of being out in the sun even with quality sunscreen on. I’ve been using differin for years now and it doesn’t do that anymore. But at least in my experience it made me extremely sensitive to the sun while I was first adjusting to it.
I am guilty of making these mistakes! :(( My derm recommended it daily and my skin started to burn after a week of using it. My moisturizer burned so much when I applied it. Then I started using it only 3 times a week and I only use water to clean my face in the morning. I cleanse only at night. The improvement on my skin was GIANT after one month once I started limited my differin use. Safe to say Differin is my go to acne treatment. Thanks Dr Dray!
@@mehejabinshuma3991 reddit has a very good skincare subreddit where you can get advice regarding this. However, I would suggest using it less (every third day) or not at all until your skin heals, then start using it again (also every third day as most people's skin can't handle daily applications)
Idk if this has been answered, apologies. Does this help with hormonal and stress acne? I did not have acne as a teenager until now, after turning 30. Thank you for any advice.
Same I have hormonal acne and my doctor put me on epiduo forte which is adapalene and benzoyl peroxide . Also lots of spearmint teas, and skin detox teas help. I also take fish oil and collagen for my hormonal acne . First week of doing all that and I saw a difference . I’m on away on vacation and I haven’t had my teas or collagen and my face shows it . Consistency is key
I've used Tretinoin in my adult years, but lately I've found it too drying no matter what I do and I still have breakouts and clogged pores. I also don't want to spend $80 just to walk into the dermatologist's office. I may pick up Differin.
i got tretinoin prescribed to my through curology. it works really well for me and i highly recommend that! i’m using differin and notice that it’s a lot more irritating than when i use curology.
Can Differin just not work for some people? I've been using it for 5 months now and my skin hasn't cleared up much at all; maybe there's a tiny change, but it's not very noticeable. I follow the instructions and haven't made any of these mistakes. So disheartening.
At 6:00 how come u didn’t say to apply it on the nose? The main reason I’m using differing is to minimise the appearance of my pores as well as control my acne
Since using Differin, I noticed my dry eyes started getting worse to a point I can't wear contacts for too long. I read an optometry article which explains that if retinoids come in contact with eyelids and are absorbed, they can damage epithelial cells in the meibomian glands and cause significant dry eyes. I always try to avoid the eye area when applying Differin and wash my fingertips afterwards. Even though I was so careful, it ended up in my eyes. Maybe because it entered the eyes when I applied eye cream with Differin residue still on my fingers. Benzoyl peroxide and salicyclic acid can cause dry eyes too.
If you are new to retinol or retinoid. Make sure to start once a week and apply at night. And GRADUALLY increase to 2, 3, 4 times a week and after you skin get little used to differ in and you are ok with it. Increase to every night. USE MOISTURIZER and SUNSCREEN EVERY SINGLE DAY EVEN IF IT CLOUDY OUTSIDE.
I’ve seen some videos on doing a moisturizer “sandwich” with it to try to avoid some purging. Do you recommend? If so, may you please demonstrate? Thank you!
She actually has a video on that like 3 years ago. Based from the video she first washed her face with a mild cleanser then rinsed it WHILE her face is still wet (yep she didn't wipe it off) she then put the moisturizer then put vaseline around the side of the nose around the side of the eyes (not on the lid) and around the mouth area. Then she used the differin gel and avoiding the areas where you put the vaseline then she finished it off with a moisturizer. You can always recheck the video and watch it for yourself🤗🤗.
@@mahmudahoque5543 hi! Well I think it's okay because even if you purge with many acne, you still have to continue it. But me personally the side of my nose aka "ala" is quite sensitive as why I don't put any harsh products on it, WITH OR WITHOUT acne. Hope this helps😊
Your past guidance on this product has helped me tremendously! I went though a period of bad purging with Differin but I stuck with it and I’m finally seeing great results
@@katiejon17 no it means breaking out really bad because all the stuff has to come out. When that is over the acne won’t come back. But it’s just another word for breaking out because of a product
Most likely! My son died suddenly last April; if it weren’t for his children, i don’t think I could get out of bed. But I think I’ve aged 10 years in less than one, from the shock and the grieving, as well as the whole process of funeral arrangements in a pandemic, paying for a gravesite, tombstone, etc....
I'm so sorry. Grief takes a huge toll in every way. When my mom passed suddenly I aged in a way that was hard to pinpoint but generally I look sad and won't even realize it until I look in a mirror. Stress, grief, pain, all these things play a role. Try to take care of yourself. ❤😔
@@The_Rolling_Dough see a derm and ask if Tretinoin is right for you (Retin-A). Otherwise for retinol, the Neutrogena wrinkle rapid wrinkle repair cream is recommended by Dr Dray
I believe it can. I know there's not a lot of studies yet done on it for that specific purpose, but from what I've read, some in the medical field said it can . Users have blogged that have been using it for acne claim it has helped also with their fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
I've read an article where they measured they thickness of the skin before and after using Differin. They found it actually worked for anti-aging! The skin thickened up, suggesting differin stimulates collagen synthesis.
@@kitdwyer6757 Im that friend. Let me tell you, I'm in my 30s and I've been using differin for 6 years. I have almost no lines and no visible sun damage because of it. I do put it under my eyes however.
Used Differin for the first time today. Vanicream cleanser as always, moisturizer, differin, moisturizer. Now 2 hours later my skin is super oily.. why is that?
From personal experience: resist the temptation to use other actives (AHA, BHA, vitamin C), these will only increase skin irritation. Took me a year to realize that I was over exfoliating my face. Now I just stick to Differin 0.3% every third night, used over moisturizer and then 20 min later sealed with another layer of moisturizer. All benefits, no side effects!
It took me a bit to find and order Differin, but it is on its way! I am taking your advice to try Differin Gel for anti-aging, after a lot of research. I am starting late at 48 but hoping it is never too late to start. I will also be revisiting your how-to videos on Differin. This video was perfect timing and so helpful, thank you!
@@JimmyVu415Yeah, can’t use both, but if you’ve used lower percentages of retinoids regularly you’re less likely to be super irritated because your skin is acclimatized to retinoids in general, even though differen is much stronger.
Yup I can totally vouch for the eyelid one. I used it on my eyelids without knowing what would happen and my eyelids and area around got very inflamed, dry, red, and swelled up some. I had to use aquaphor on my eyelids because even my usual CeraVe moisturizer hurt to apply. It’s gotten better but it’s been like 3 months and they are still a bit red :(
Same happened to me! I knew not to do it but one night I wasn’t paying and I got it on one of my eyelids and now it’s inflamed and idk what to use to get it to go away, it’s been two weeks now. Besides that the Differin routine has worked amazingly for me.
@@dawn6018 ofc! The Hydrocortisone cream (I just got mine from Walgreens but I’m sure any with like 1% hydrocortisone would work) really made a big difference so hopefully it works for you!
I’ve been using this for a year and totally forgot what were the “rules” I’ve been doing all of these! Going to revise my routine and use it properly. Thanks for another helpful video 👌🏽
Oh man I got my eyebrows waxed when starting my diffrin journey and wow it was horrible, Definitely peeled off a layer of skin, ended have light scaring but it went away.
Always stop using any topical retinol at least 5 days prior to any facial waxing. This should alleviate this problem. Also, tell your skin care specialist you are using it prior to waxing.
You poor thing! It's sounds like you have little feet running around up stairs. It reminds me of apartment living downstairs & hearing every step coming from the upstairs.
I’m a little confuse? Does that mean I can apply differing and then apply Moisturiser or should I just apply the differing go to bed and wake up and apply moisturiser after wash my face?
After wash your face apply moisturizer on damp skin, then when the moisturizer is dry , the last step is to apply differin gel. for PM, Cleanse-moisturizer-differin. The next moring just wash your face with water only . for AM Cleanse with water-moisturizer-sunscreen spf 30 or spf 50
Would these same rules apply to the cerave resurfacing retinol? Also would you recommend differin or the cerave retinol for mostly hyperpigmention? Can I use a chemical sunscreen with retinol?
In one of Dr. Dray's videos, she says Differin is the best over-the-counter retinoid and that there is evidence Differin fades hyperpigmentation. She recommended using Differin to get rid of sunspots on hands. But multiple dermatologists, like Dr. Dray and Dr. Idriss, say that hydroquinone is the best ingredient to fade hyperpigmentation. You can use hydroquinone and retinoids together. Hydroquinone can be drying though, and you need to take breaks when using it.
I have been using different for anti aging purposes for about a year. I use it about 3 to 4 times a week. My skin seems bouncier and the texture of my skin is more even. I stopped washing in the morning also and my skin seems less irritated.
My face is very oily when I wake up. I apply makeup every day so I would feel really weird just applying makeup without cleansing. Do you recommend just rinsing the face with water and applying face spf moisturizer before applying makeup?
Right I struggle with this too. It feels weird putting on spf and makeup on uncleansed skin with a film on it from overnight, even if I rinse with water. But my skin is dehydrated and I keep hearing cleanse once only. So confusing
There is a common skin reaction that happens on the neck in a lot of users of differin or adapalene. Can you address what that is from? I got what looks like eczema or contact dermatitis on my neck specifically and on my eyelids. The differin cleared my acne so it worked but when I use it I get a break out like eczema on my neck. Vaseline helps but I was curious if this was just apart of the process of getting adjusted to the product.
When I was using differin before I got the same thing, on my neck and top of chest . And it started peeling and was raw . I’m hoping it doesn’t happen again.
I believe she said on another video that she doesn’t recommend differin on the neck and chest because there are fewer oil producing glands and so it’s more irritating for the skin there. I think it’s better to use something more gentle.
Keep us updated because I’m finally gonna bite the bullet and try it. I’ve been wanting to for so long and I’m really just tired of my skin looking dull dehydrated and congested
My dermatologist was disappointed that I was applying my Tretinoin Micro over a moisturizer. He insisted I try to apply it to bare skin, and only apply a moisturizer after, if I needed it. My face is...... red.
My tretinoin comes in a lotion vehicle. It’s not like you’re applying pure tretinoin on your skin. And I’ve been using tretinoin over a moisturizer for a year and had amazing results, so I don’t think it actually matters as far as effectiveness.
Love your videos SO much! I know I'm not alone when I say that we (your viewers) truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us (so we won't do anything stupid! haha!)
Assalaam Alaikum my lovely Dr. Dray. Have a great day everyone and remember you’re all special and beautiful no matter what others say about you, lol. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Can you do a small business skincare video? I love the bigger brands but it would be awesome to know if there are any small brands to check out! Also a video on advanced clinicals brand!
This stuff really helped reduce my breakouts. But it took many weeks for my skin to adjust to it. Probably 6 weeks to 2 months to start seeing results.
@@annp.2746 I wouldn't really describe it as a purge. But I was still breaking out and had several weeks of really flakey skin. But then after that settled down, so did my breakouts. And then I just sorta noticed "oh, I'm not breaking out like I used to". So it was very gradual. For the record, I'm in my mid 30s and have oily skin. I wouldn't say that I have ever had severe acne, but I have always had frequent breakouts. It's kind of like my skin would be clear except for always having a bad pimple or two that I was dealing with. I still get some pimples here and there, but it's not constant anymore. I have many more days now where my skin is clear. And I don't feel like I have to use the differin every day now. I use it every other day and also the Tula clear it up gel. Those two things have given me the best results I've ever had. Good luck!
@@Vivian_85 I use it after I wash my face morning and night except for the nights I use the differin. It has salicylic acid so I just avoid using it together with differin to avoid any dry, flakey patches. But honestly dry skin is really not a problem now that my skin is well adjusted to the differin, but you definitely have to be careful in the beginning.
Hey right I have used something called epiduo, got rid off all the blackheads in 1 or 2 days and it's the only thing that's EVER worked, all other products left my blackheads chilling just as before, but epiduo is some serious magic. I've even started tretinoin 0.025 and my blackheads are coming back in force it's like the tretinoin doesnt even attempt to fight them off, so I'm gonna slap some epiduo on tonight and them blackheads will be gone tomorrow! Is also galderma like differin
@@watsappenin2865 i used epiduo too and it sure helps with blackhead. But i still have acne and its been nearly 3 months 😖😖. Gotta continue to use it and be patient
@@smellycandy8054 I only suffer from large pores and blackheads when the pores get filled, I can get rid of blackheads but more remain :( :( theres nothing that can get rid of more, they're for life. I heard something called accutane that's apparently a miracle for acne sufferers but you must be prescribed it by doctors. It's worth looking into maybe
I've been using differin for three months and gradually want to move on to using Skinceuticals retinol 0.5% once I use up this differin tube. I want to know if I'd be graduating to something stronger than differin or is the effectiveness same as the differin?
Just took my son to the dermatologist for acne advice. Because of your videos, I was able to ask intelligent questions. She recommended washing twice a day, using Differin every night and gave us samples of a foaming facial cleanser. Needless to say, I am not following her guidelines. I want my son to stick with this routine and know that he will not if his skin is peeling and uncomfortable. We will be following a "Dr. Dray" routine of washing once a day with a gentle hydrating cleanser and using Differin twice a week. Sure wish my local derm was Dr. Dray educated.
I have been using differin for about a month now and my face is always so dry I'm so happy I switched to the hydrating cleanser I feel a difference already. Thank you!!
