Adapalene

Adapalene is a synthetic, third-generation retinoid. Like other retinoids it acts on retinoic acid receptors in the skin and alters how keratinocytes mature and shed — the process that, when it goes wrong, creates the plugs behind blackheads and whiteheads. It is regulated as a medicine, and availability without a prescription varies from market to market.

Compared with older retinoids it is relatively stable in light and next to benzoyl peroxide, which is why the two often appear in the same regimen. A common approach is to apply it a few nights a week on dry skin and increase frequency only as tolerance builds, with a plain moisturiser to buffer.

An adjustment period is normal: dryness, flaking, stinging and an initial flare of spots are frequent in the first weeks. Retinoids increase sun sensitivity, so daily broad-spectrum sunscreen matters. They are generally avoided in pregnancy and when trying to conceive — ask a doctor or pharmacist. Painful, scarring or stubborn acne deserves a dermatologist rather than self-treatment.