Adapalene and dryness

[pawpawpawpaw]

I've started using adapalene (Differin) for sebaceous hyperplasia and so far it's fine except for dryness and peeling. I've started alternating days and I don't use any under my mouth where the peeling was. I cleanse with a squalane cleanser at night and plain water on a flannel in the morning but this isn't enough, the skin around my nose and chin is sandpapery and it really shows up with sunscreen.
How can I exfoliate gently enough not to irritate but thoroughly enough to remove this dry skin?

Do you moisturise after using it? That definitely helped me. In the end though, I reduced my use to just once a week as the flaking was awful. In terms of cleansing, I found the Nip and Fab pads good for exfoliating gently.

This is a normal part of the process unfortunately when starting a retinol product- I think it’s known as retinization. It shouldn’t last more than 4 weeks, then it’ll settle down. I’ve been using differin cream for about 5 months now and don’t really get any peeling. Are you using the cream or the gel? I found the gel more drying.

Reduce your usage to every other night for a while then build back up to nightly. For the dryness, I find cerave PM moisturiser excellent and non-irritating. For an extra boost on the peeling areas, la roche possay cicaplast baume is a miracle worker xx

Ps- it’s one of those things where you just have to push through it (unless you have intolerable irritation) as otherwise you’ll never get to experience the benefits.

Don’t use any other actives until your skin adapts- no salicylic, glycolic etc xx

Just keep going, it doesn't last. And no exfoliating.

I used exactly what @RD15 used when I used tretinoin, similar to Adapalene - Cerave PM morning and evening and Cicaplast Baume on the really bad bits. Worked a treat.

Thanks, really helpful. I’ll have a look for the products mentioned. I’ve used prescription retinol in the past but I was younger and maybe more cautious, I think I used to use tiny amounts of it. I’m not at all sure yet if this will be effective for the hyperplasia (I found niacinide worked like a charm so I may end up going back to that, but it was more irritating). It’s brightening my skin already so will persevere. Not using any other acids or treatments, just cleanser, adapalene, a swipe of moisturiser.
Thanks again 🙂

RD it’s gel actually, I’ll see if I can find the cream. I’m in the US at the moment so I can get it otc, maybe I need to see what else is available.
It seems like the little patch of what I assume is rosacea on my cheek looks better than it has in years which I wasn’t expecting. Peeling seems better under my mouth since I’ve been more careful about where I put it.
Going to the dermatologist on Thurs, I guess I should have a think about anything else I want to ask about.

Would you consider cryotherapy on the hyperplasia? It’ll give you a quicker resolution that differin xx

I absolutely would! Just to be clear, you mean liquid nitrogen? My derm told me it wouldn’t help, or he may have said it would scar. I’ll do anything really, I hate them so much and after a lifetime of frankly really nice skin suddenly these bumps are popping up like mushrooms.
I may have to find someone else, derm froze a keratosis and some skin tags and similar and most of it didn’t budge, which is why I’m going back. Seeing someone different this time but same surgery.
I appreciate the replies btw, I’ve never taken much of an interest in skincare beyond the basics but now trying to catch up and there’s so much to learn.

Yes, liquid nitrogen. That’s interesting that the keratosis didn’t budge 🤔. I’ve got a small seborrheic keratosis that I’ll be getting frozen soon. The derm initially gave me some cream because he wasn’t sure if it was a actinic keratosis or seborrheic keratosis but the cream didn’t work so he said to come in for some light cryotherapy. It’s very small but it bugs me xx

I've had a couple of them on my trunk and they were very easy to freeze off but this one is by my eye. First derm refused because of proximity to my eye, second derm froze it and when the scab fell off it was still there.
God I hate them, they make me feel ancient.
Good luck, I hope yours is zapped into oblivion

Thanks! I’ll keep you updated 😊 xx