Final Up to date on October 4, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Your zits has lastly cleared up. Yay! Besides these pesky breakouts have left behind a bit of memento: darkish spots, pink marks, or zits scars that simply gained’t budge. Enter adapalene (a.okay.a. Differin). It’s a form of vitamin A (a retinoid) that’s commonly used for the treatment of acne. It helps keep pores clear, speeds up skin cell turnover, and stops pimples in their tracks. Good for acne-prone pores and skin. However can it do something concerning the scars you’ve already obtained?
Sure, adapalene might help enhance SOME zits scars, notably shallow, indented ones. It could actually additionally assist fade these cussed darkish marks pimples depart behind. However earlier than you rush to purchase a tube, right here’s what adapalene can and may’t do for zits scars and find out how to deal with frequent aspect results, like pores and skin irritation:
What Form Of Zits Scars Can Adapalene Assist With?
The Web has an annoying behavior of calling all the pieces a pimple leaves behind an zits scar. However there’s a BIG distinction between a darkish spot and an precise scar. These pesky darkish spots? They’re simply additional pigment your pores and skin produces in response to irritation. Your pores and skin continues to be easy, it’s only a totally different color. Precise scars are one other story. When a pimple damages your pores and skin, your physique produces collagen to restore it. If it makes too little, you’re left with dents (a.okay.a. atrophic scars). If it makes an excessive amount of, you get raised bumps. And right here’s why this issues: fading a darkish spot is rather a lot simpler than fixing a dent in your pores and skin. Right here’s what adapalene can (and may’t) do:
| What you’re seeing | Can adapalene assist? |
|---|---|
| Brown or darkish spots: Flat marks left behind by pimples (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). | Sure. Prescription retinoids like adapalene assist fade pigmentation and even out pores and skin tone. |
| Purple or pink marks: Flat patches of lingering redness. | Perhaps, not directly. Adapalene treats zits, however there’s little proof it instantly fades persistent redness. |
| Shallow, indented scars (atrophic scarring): Small depressions in your pores and skin. | Probably. Research using 0.3% adapalene has proven enhancements within the look of depressed zits scars. |
| Deep ice-pick, boxcar, or rolling scars: Noticeable pits and dents in your pores and skin. | Don’t anticipate miracles. Adapalene could enhance look of zits scars, however it gained’t utterly fill in deep scars. |
| Raised scars or keloids: Agency, elevated bumps brought on by extra collagen. | No. Adapalene isn’t an efficient remedy for these scars. |
Undecided which sort you’ve obtained? The American Academy of Dermatology’s guide to acne scar types has photos that may assist you inform the distinction.
Does Adapalene Actually Work For Zits Scars? What The Research Say
You already know adapalene can do away with pimples. However can it truly do one thing concerning the scars they’ve left behind? Let’s see. In a 2018 study on the treatment of atrophic acne scars, 20 folks with depressed zits scars used adapalene 0.3% for twenty-four weeks. The outcomes? After six months of remedy, 50% of individuals confirmed enhancements in pores and skin texture and scarring. Not dangerous for a topical remedy! However earlier than you get too excited, this was a small research with no management group. Promising? Sure. Definitive proof that adapalene eliminates all zits scars? Not fairly.
One other 2018 study examined adapalene 0.3% mixed with benzoyl peroxide 2.5% (a common acne treatment ) on 67 folks with zits scars. After six months, depressed scars had decreased by 15.5% on the handled aspect of the face and elevated by 14.4% on the placebo-treated aspect. The catch? These research used adapalene AND benzoyl peroxide collectively, so we are able to’t give adapalene all of the credit score. Plus, among the enchancment got here from stopping new scars.
However What About Differin 0.1%?
Right here’s the place issues get tough. All of the research I’ve simply talked about used adapalene 0.3%, not the 0.1% energy generally bought as Differin. Does the decrease focus work on zits scars, too? We don’t know but. My recommendation? For those who’re already utilizing Differin gel to deal with zits, keep it up. With constant use, it’s an efficient possibility for lowering zits lesions (a elaborate time period for pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads). And the less pimples you get, the less new scars you’ll must cope with.
However if you happen to’re pondering of shopping for Differin particularly to do away with outdated, pitted zits scars, I’d save my cash. There’s not sufficient proof that the 0.1% focus can do the job. And utilizing extra of it gained’t make it as sturdy as 0.3%. It’ll simply irritate your pores and skin. And albeit, if you happen to’ve obtained deep pits and dents, no retinoid alone goes to make them disappear.
How To Use Adapalene For Greatest Outcomes
Need to give adapalene a strive? Right here’s find out how to get essentially the most out of it with out turning your face right into a dry, flaky mess:
- Begin slowly: For those who’ve obtained delicate pores and skin otherwise you’re new to retinoids, don’t bounce straight into utilizing adapalene each evening. Begin one or two nights per week and steadily improve the frequency as your pores and skin will get used to it. How rapidly you’ll be able to improve the frequency relies on your pores and skin sort and the way nicely your pores and skin tolerates it. There’s no prize for reaching every day use first.
- Much less is extra: Wash your face with a mild cleanser, let your pores and skin dry, and apply a skinny layer of adapalene to wash, dry pores and skin, often at evening, following your product’s directions. Differin is designed to be used on acne-prone areas, not simply particular person pimples or scars. Don’t pile additional gel onto particular person scars, pondering it’ll make them disappear sooner. It gained’t. You’ll simply irritate your pores and skin.
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise: Adapalene may cause dryness, peeling, and irritation, particularly whenever you’re beginning out. A moisturiser with hyaluronic acid might help maintain your pores and skin hydrated, make dryness simpler to cope with, and assist your pores and skin barrier.
- Don’t skip sunscreen: UV publicity makes each pores and skin situation worse. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater each morning. Sure, even when it’s cloudy.
- Go simple on exfoliation: Your pores and skin doesn’t want adapalene, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and a scrub all in the identical night. Extra isn’t higher. In case your pores and skin is already irritated, piling on extra lively substances will solely make issues worse. The truth is, cease exfoliating utterly. Don’t even use a benzoyl peroxide gel, until your physician tells you in any other case. You don’t need to repair zits by destroying your pores and skin within the course of.
One essential warning: Don’t use adapalene if you happen to’re pregnant or planning to develop into pregnant. Retinoids may cause beginning defects in rats, so dermatologists don’t advocate utilizing them throughout this valuable time of your life.
What Works Higher Than Adapalene For Deep Zits Scars?
Obtained deep zits scars that refuse to budge? I hate to interrupt it to you, however there’s solely a lot topical remedies like adapalene can do for deep zits scarring. It might assist your pores and skin make extra collagen, however it could’t bodily carry a scar that’s caught to the tissue beneath. Fortunately, an excellent board-certified dermatologist has entry to different choices. Right here’s what might be included in your remedy plan:
1. Microneedling: Ever puzzled why anybody would willingly stick a whole lot of tiny needles into their face? As a result of these tiny accidents trick your pores and skin into repairing itself. Because it heals, it makes new collagen that helps fill in a few of these pesky dents. In contrast to adapalene, microneedling reaches deeper into the pores and skin, the place the harm is. Research shows it can improve depressed acne scars, notably shallower ones. I’ve written a good about microneedling for acne scars here.
2. Laser resurfacing: In case your pores and skin appears just like the floor of the moon, laser resurfacing could assist easy issues out. It makes use of laser power to take away or warmth broken pores and skin, stimulating collagen manufacturing as your pores and skin heals. It’s a more intensive treatment than adapalene or topical retinoids and can improve deeper scars, too. The catch? Some lasers require appreciable downtime and may trigger darkish spots, particularly on darker pores and skin tones.
3. Subcision: Some scars aren’t simply lacking collagen. They’re truly being pulled down by bands of scar tissue beneath your pores and skin. No quantity of adapalene goes to interrupt these bands! However a dermatologist can insert a needle beneath the scar and minimize them, permitting the pores and skin to rise. That’s why subcision is particularly effective for rolling acne scars, those that give your pores and skin that wavy look.
4. TCA CROSS: Obtained these tiny, deep holes known as ice-pick scars? They’re notoriously troublesome to deal with as a result of the harm goes so deep. With TCA CROSS, a dermatologist applies Trichloroacetic acid instantly inside every scar. This creates a managed harm that encourages your pores and skin to make new collagen, steadily making the outlet shallower. Studies show it can improve ice-pick scars, one thing adapalene alone struggles to do. And no, your bottle of glycolic acid isn’t a DIY substitute. Please depart this one to the professionals.
So, which remedy must you select? It relies on your scars. Microneedling may match nicely for shallow dents, whereas rolling scars typically want subcision to launch the pores and skin beneath. Ice-pick scars? TCA CROSS could also be a greater guess. And if you happen to’ve obtained a number of varieties of scars, chances are you’ll want a mix of remedies. Your pores and skin tone issues, too. Some procedures can set off hyperpigmentation, so discover a dermatologist that is aware of what he’s doing.
FAQs
Does Adapalene Assist With Previous Zits Scars?
Sure, it could! Even when these pesky scars have been hanging round for years. In one study, adapalene 0.3% improved the looks of zits scars that have been, on common, 19 years outdated! The catch? It really works greatest on shallow, depressed scars. For those who’ve obtained deep pits and dents, adapalene could make them much less noticeable, however it gained’t erase them utterly.
Can Adapalene Make Zits Scars Worse?
Adapalene gained’t usually make present pitted scars deeper, however it CAN make those pesky dark acne marks worse if it irritates your skin. Why? As a result of irritation causes irritation, which may set off your pores and skin to supply much more pigment, particularly in darker pores and skin tones. Yep, the very factor you’re making an attempt to do away with! The answer? Begin slowly, maintain your pores and skin moisturised, and don’t pile on extra adapalene pondering it’ll work sooner. Extra irritation doesn’t imply higher outcomes.
What Are The Indicators Of An Allergic Response To Adapalene?
Just a little dryness, peeling, and redness whenever you first begin utilizing adapalene? Fairly frequent. However swelling, hives, or extreme irritation? That’s one other story. These could possibly be indicators of an allergic response, NOT simply your pores and skin getting used to retinoids. Cease utilizing adapalene and search medical recommendation. And in case your face, lips, or throat out of the blue swell, or you have got bother respiration, get emergency medical consideration instantly. Don’t wait to your pores and skin to settle down by itself.
The Backside Line
Can adapalene assist with zits scars? Sure, however it relies on what sort of scars you’ve obtained. For those who’re nonetheless battling pimples and the darkish spots they depart behind, adapalene might help with each. It might even make shallow scars much less noticeable, though the strongest analysis is on the 0.3% focus, not your standard Differin 0.1%. However if you happen to’ve obtained deep holes and dents in your pores and skin, don’t waste your time anticipating a cream to fill them in. You’re higher off seeing a dermatologist about skilled remedies that may truly sort out the harm.
