Adapalene vs. Retinol: Which One Is Right For You?

Adapalene and retinol are sometimes confused with one another. Adapalene (brand name: Differin) is a type of retinoid. While retinol is naturally available, it can also be a type of retinoid when human-made in the lab. Both are used for skin-related purposes.

Retinoids are vitamin A-based medications. In other words, retinoids come from vitamin A and work like vitamin A. They are typically used to help skin conditions.

This article will examine adapalene and retinol in depth, including their differences, how well they work, and how to choose the right one.

Adapalene vs. Retinol: How Are They Different?

Adapalene is a retinoid (vitamin A-based medication) used to treat acne. Adapalene on its own is for use in people 12 years and older.

When available naturally, retinol is a source of vitamin A in the human diet. When retinol is human-made in the lab, it's also a type of retinoid. Retinol is also used for skin care but is typically used for more cosmetic purposes, such as treating hyperpigmentation or signs of aging.

There is no specific age limit for using retinol products, but when you use them may depend on your reasons. You might decide to start using retinol in adulthood to prevent or treat signs of aging.

There are four generations of retinoids, depending on the retinoid's structure and how selectively it attaches to certain binding sites to work. Adapalene is a third-generation retinoid, and retinol is a first-generation retinoid.

Uses of Each

Adapalene is typically used on the skin to treat acne. It's also sometimes used off-label for rosacea to lower inflammation (swelling).

Adapalene also has off-label uses for:

• Pigmentation (color) concerns
• Photoaging (skin damage from the sun)
• Actinic keratosis (a skin condition from too much sun)

Retinol is generally used for cosmetic purposes, such as:

• Addressing wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Dryness
• Skin texture
• Color concerns

Dosage Forms

Both adapalene and retinol are available as topical products that you apply to your skin. Both retinoids may come in various dosage forms.

Combination Products

Both retinoids also come as combination products with other ingredients.

For example, adapalene is available with benzoyl peroxide in the prescription Epiduo and Epiduo Forte combination gels for acne. There is also the Cabtreo prescription, which is another anti-acne combination gel that contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide—in addition to the clindamycin antibiotic.

A dizzying amount of retinol products are available over-the-counter (OTC). These retinol products also contain other ingredients.

Stability

Retinoids are typically unstable, meaning they go bad quickly. In particular, retinol is sensitive to light, heat, oxygen, and heavy metals (e.g., lead). Compared to other topical products, adapalene is less likely to be degraded by light.

However, the stability of any retinoid product may vary depending on its specific formulation (product formula).

How Do They Work?

In general, retinoids work by attaching to two types of binding sites: retinoic acid (RAR-α, -β, -γ) and retinoid-X (RXR-α, -β, -γ) binding sites.

Adapalene tends to attach to the RAR-β and RAR-γ retinoic acid binding sites. Studies have shown that adapalene affects cell differentiation (specialization), keratinization (skin thickening), and inflammation. However, it's unknown how these effects apply to acne treatment.

A first-generation retinoid like retinol is not as selective when it comes to attaching to binding sites.

Your body activates retinol by converting (changing) it into a retinoic acid called tretinoin, which attaches to the RAR-α, RAR-β, and RAR-γ binding sites.

This attachment may affect what parts of your DNA are used and what proteins are made; tretinoin's interaction with these binding sites may also affect skin cell growth and specialization. However, it's unclear how this relates to the clinical effectiveness you see on your skin.

Adapalene vs. Retinol: Which Works Better?

How well adapalene's effectiveness compares with retinol depends on certain factors, such as your tolerability to these retinoid options. For example, a healthcare provider may recommend stopping the product if your skin isn't tolerating the retinoid treatment at low strength.

In addition to tolerability, how well these products will work for you depends on your skin health goals.

For acne, clinical studies have shown improvements with adapalene after 12 weeks. If you don't have noticeable results after 12 weeks, talk with a healthcare provider about the next steps in your treatment plan.

A six-month and nine-month clinical trial concluded that adapalene also improved sun-damaged skin. Still, more high-quality clinical trials on adapalene for cosmetic purposes—like sun-damaged skin—are necessary.

Studies have also been comparing the different strengths of retinol and tretinoin (another vitamin-A-based medication).

In these studies, the results showed that both retinol and tretinoin improved the following:

• Sun damage
• Dull skin tone
• Fine/coarse lines
• Irregular pigmentation (color) spots
• Rough skin
• Wrinkles

Numerous other clinical trials tested varying strengths of retinol for anti-aging effects, but study results were conflicting. There were several limitations, such as strength inconsistency and conflicts of interest.

This may explain why it's still unknown what the "best" retinol strength is that balances optimal effectiveness with limited side effects. Additional high-quality clinical trials on retinol for cosmetic purposes—like anti-aging effects—are also warranted.

Both retinoids are currently available in multiple strengths. Refer to the following table for a summary.

Can I Use Adapalene and Retinol Together?

For acne, experts recommend combining treatments that work differently. What's more, guidelines mention that higher amounts of retinoids have a higher risk of side effects, such as skin irritation.

Differin's package insert also mentions caution when applying other irritating products to the skin. Therefore, retinoids—like adapalene and retinol—aren't typically used together.

What Are the Side Effects of Adapalene and Retinol?

It's not fully understood how retinoid side effects happen. Skin irritation is a common side effect, which may include:

• Burning sensation (feeling)
• Dry skin
• Pain
• Skin peeling
• Skin redness
• Sunburn

This irritation can sometimes contribute to hyperpigmentation in darker skin (despite being effective for addressing pigmentation). For this reason, it's recommended to start slow and use moisturizer.

If used close to your eyes, you may also experience dry eyes and eye discomfort. Side effects are more likely with first-generation retinoids, such as retinol. Compared to other topical retinoids applied to the skin, adapalene has a lower risk of skin irritation.

A severe side effect of any medication includes the potential for a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms may include breathing problems, itchiness, and swelling.

Get medical help immediately if you develop a severe allergic reaction or serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening.

Who Should Not Use Adapalene or Retinol?

You should talk with a healthcare provider before using adapalene or retinol if any of the following applies to you:

• Severe allergic reaction: If you have a severe allergic reaction to retinoids—like adapalene or retinol—or any of their ingredients, these treatment options aren't ideal for you.
• Intolerability: If your skin doesn't tolerate retinoids, even at low strengths, a healthcare provider may suggest stopping treatment.
  
• Pregnancy: When you apply topical retinoids to the skin, only small amounts are absorbed into the bloodstream. However, some studies suggest a link between topical retinoids and fetal harm during the first trimester. There is also concern when topical retinoids are used on a large percentage of your body. Since risks may outweigh the benefits, healthcare providers typically recommend against topical retinoids during pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding: If you're breastfeeding, avoid using topical retinoids on a large percentage of your body. Moreover, ensure the nursing infant doesn't touch the areas where you applied the topical retinoids. You should also wash your hands after using them.
• Children: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved most adapalene products for children 12 years and older. Adapalene in the Epiduo combination gel is also OK for kids at least 9 years old. Information for retinol is less specific, but it's generally advised to keep it out of reach of children.
• Minimal results: If you don't have noticeable results after trying a topical retinoid for more than 12 weeks, talk with a healthcare provider about the next steps in your treatment plan.
• Sunlamps and sunlight: Avoid sunlamp use or sunlight. If this isn't possible, discuss sunscreen options with a healthcare provider.
• Use of other irritating products: Harsh topical products with a drying effect may worsen the skin-related side effects of topical retinoids. Use these irritating products with caution.

Choosing Between Adapalene and Retinol

Choosing between adapalene and retinol depends on several factors. This may include:

• Skin health goals
• Minimal results with the use of one
• Side effects
• Convenience and cost

Skin Health Goals

Adapalene is generally the better option for acne treatment.

If your goal is to address sun-damaged skin and achieve anti-aging effects, there is data for adapalene and retinol for these cosmetic uses. However, more well-designed clinical trials are necessary to assess these retinoids' cosmetic effects.

Minimal Results With the Use of One

Discuss your choices with a healthcare provider if you have applied a topical retinoid for over 12 weeks with minimal results. They might recommend a different product, formulation, or strength.

The effectiveness of a topical retinoid may differ based on the particular strength and formulation (product formula).

Side Effects

If your skin isn't tolerating the retinoid treatment at low strength, a healthcare provider may recommend stopping the product. In general, the tolerability of a topical retinoid may vary depending on the specific strength and product formula.

However, as a third-generation retinoid, adapalene tends to be less irritating. As a first-generation retinoid, retinol tends to have a higher risk of side effects.

Convenience and Cost

Adapalene 0.1% and retinol are available as over-the-counter (OTC) items, which technically don't require a provider visit or a written prescription. However, insurance is unlikely to cover these products compared to topical retinoid prescriptions, such as higher strengths of adapalene or adapalene combos.

In contrast to retinol, adapalene also doesn't degrade as easily from light exposure. So, you don't have to apply adapalene at night. Since topical retinoids can generally make your skin sensitive to the sun, sunscreen is still necessary to lower the risk of sunburn.

Other Similar Skin Care Treatments

There are other skin care treatments similar to adapalene and retinol.

Other topical retinoids for acne treatment include:

• Retin-A (tretinoin)
• Tazorac (tazarotene)
• Aklief (trifarotene)

A 2022 review article also cited cosmetic-related studies with the following topical retinoids:

• Tretinoin
• Tazarotene

Summary

Adapalene and human-made retinol are retinoids, which are vitamin A-based medications. Adapalene is a third-generation retinoid, and retinol is a first-generation retinoid, but both retinoids have skin care uses.

The FDA approved adapalene to treat acne. Depending on the product, kids as young as 9 may use adapalene for acne treatment. Adapalene also has several off-label uses, including cosmetic reasons. Adapalene is available as a prescription and OTC option.

Retinol is available as various OTC items for cosmetic purposes. Compared to first-generation retinoids like retinol, adapelene also has a lower risk of side effects. However, compared to other topical retinoids, adapalene is less likely to be degraded by light.

While adapalene and retinol are often confused with one another, each retinoid has some important differences. As for the better retinoid to choose, this decision will likely depend on multiple factors, such as your skin health goals, use history with each retinoid, side effects, cost, and other preferences.