Hello. I've been using adapalene (Differin) for 12 weeks now for my mild but persistent acne. My skin is still breaking out. Actually, it might be worse than when I started. I have flaking, redness, and new pimples. Everyone said 'it gets worse before it gets better,' but 12 weeks feels like a long time. Should I quit? Is this a purge or a reaction?

I used adapalene for 5 months. Month 3 was my worst month. I wanted to throw the tube in the trash. I had peeling like a lizard and pimples on top of pimples. I almost quit. But I saw a post online saying 'trust the process.' I dropped down to every third night, slathered on a thick ceramide moisturizer, and used a gentle oil cleanser. By month 4, the peeling stopped. By month 5, my skin was clear. Now I use it every night with no irritation. The purge is real. But if you have hormonal acne (jawline), adapalene alone might not be enough. You might need a combo. I eventually added a prescription for azelaic acid in the morning. That was the magic bullet. For professional dermatological acne treatment, patience is key. You can see the typical timeline on a clinic's site here: https://bellasanamedspa.com/treatment/acne-treatment. Don't quit at week 12. Give it 4 more weeks.