DIFFERIN

openFDA label record#

This page contains supplementary openFDA label data. For the canonical label presentation, use the corresponding DailyMed Structured Product Label.

Verified complete openFDA source JSON (canonical bytes are SHA-256 checked before publication)

Brand name
DIFFERIN
Generic name
ADAPALENE
Manufacturer
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Product type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
SPL set ID
a0031324-92a6-4c11-90e2-c2818f7278ec
SPL ID
cc125ed9-1ac8-491e-8eba-bd55426fc825
Version
12
Effective date
2023-12-27
Source export date
2026-09-28
Source partition
3
Source file
https://download.open.fda.gov/drug/label/drug-label-0003-of-0014.json.zip
Source object key
raw/openfda/drug-label/2026-09-28/fd09911bd1bc81f7f2faeb048e63855fe224e494376ae919a0035190e315c050/drug-label-0003-of-0014.json.zip
Source manifest SHA-256
cd2e66336a5cd2223fa3995098fdbdb84c6a7ee5c0a4addb236ccb22dd1e6887
Import run
20260929T050834Z
Imported at
2026-09-29 05:17:46
Harmonized routes table
Harmonized routes
TOPICAL

Warnings cross-check#

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warnings and cautions

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Allergic/ Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergy/hypersensitivity reactions include anaphylaxis angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritis. Discontinue DIFFERIN Gel in the event of an allergic/hypersensitivity reaction.( 5.1 ) Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure: Avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear sunscreen when sun exposure cannot be avoided ( 5.2 ). Local Cutaneous Reactions: Erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of DIFFERIN Gel. Concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution. ( 5.3 ). 5.1 Allergic/ Hypersensitivity Reactions Adverse reactions including anaphylaxis angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritus that sometimes required medical treatment have been reported during postmarketing use of adapalene. Advise a patient to stop using DIFFERIN Gel and seek medical attention if experiencing allergic or anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reactions during treatment. 5.2 Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure Exposure to sunlight, including sunlamps, should be minimized during use of DIFFERIN Gel. Patients who normally experience high levels of sun exposure, and those with inherent sensitivity to sun, should be warned to exercise caution. Use of sunscreen products and protective clothing over treated areas is recommended when exposure cannot be avoided. Weather extremes, such as wind or cold, also may be irritating to patients under treatment with DIFFERIN Gel. 5.3 Local Cutaneous Reactions Cutaneous signs and symptoms such as erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of DIFFERIN Gel. These were most likely to occur during the first four weeks of treatment, were mostly mild to moderate in intensity, and usually lessened with continued use of the medication. Depending upon the severity of these side effects, patients should be instructed to either use a moisturizer, reduce the frequency of application of DIFFERIN Gel or discontinue use. Avoid application to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin. As with other retinoids, use of “waxing” as a depilatory method should be avoided on skin treated with adapalene. As DIFFERIN Gel has the potential to induce local irritation in some patients, concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution.

Adverse reactions cross-check#

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adverse reactions

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most frequently reported (≥ 1%) adverse reactions were erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Galderma Laboratories, L.P. at 1-866-735-4137 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the multi-center, controlled clinical trial, signs and symptoms of local cutaneous irritation were monitored in 258 acne subjects who used DIFFERIN Gel once daily for 12 weeks. Of the subjects who experienced cutaneous irritation (erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging), the majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity, occurred early in treatment and decreased thereafter. The incidence of local cutaneous irritation with DIFFERIN Gel from the controlled clinical trial is provided in the following table: Table 1: Physician assessed local cutaneous irritation with DIFFERIN Gel Incidence of Local Cutaneous Irritation with DIFFERIN Gel (N = 253*) Maximum Severity Scores Higher Than Baseline Mild Moderate Severe Erythema 66 (26.1%) 33 (13.0%) 1 (0.4%) Scaling 110 (43.5%) 47 (18.6%) 3 (1.2%) Dryness 113 (44.7%) 43 (17.0%) 2 (0.8%) Burning/Stinging 72 (28.5%) 36 (14.2%) 9 (3.6%) * Total number of subjects with local cutaneous data for at least one post-Baseline evaluation Table 2: Patient reported local cutaneous reactions with DIFFERIN Gel DIFFERIN (adapalene) Gel Vehicle Gel N = 258 N = 134 Related* Adverse Reactions Dry Skin Skin Discomfort Desquamation 57 (22.1%) 36 (14%) 15 (5.8%) 4 (1.6%) 6 (4.5%) 2 (1.5%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) * Selected adverse reactions defined by investigator as Possibly, Probably or Definitely Related The following adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of subjects: acne flare, contact dermatitis, eyelid edema, conjunctivitis, erythema, pruritus, skin discoloration, rash, and eczema. In a one-year, open-label safety trial of 551 subjects with acne who received DIFFERIN Gel, the pattern of adverse reactions was similar to the 12-week controlled study. 6.2 Post-Marketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of adapalene: Immune system disorders: angioedema, face edema, lip swelling Skin disorders: application site pain Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

adverse reactions table

<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><caption>Table 1: Physician assessed local cutaneous irritation with DIFFERIN Gel</caption><colgroup><col/><col/><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="4" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Incidence of Local Cutaneous Irritation with DIFFERIN Gel (N = 253*) Maximum Severity Scores Higher Than Baseline </content></td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"/><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Mild</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Moderate</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Severe</content></td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Erythema</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">66 (26.1%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">33 (13.0%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">1 (0.4%)</td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Scaling</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">110 (43.5%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">47 (18.6%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">3 (1.2%)</td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Dryness</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">113 (44.7%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">43 (17.0%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">2 (0.8%)</td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Burning/Stinging</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">72 (28.5%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">36 (14.2%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">9 (3.6%)</td></tr></tbody></table>

adverse reactions table

<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><caption>Table 2: Patient reported local cutaneous reactions with DIFFERIN Gel</caption><colgroup><col/><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"/><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">DIFFERIN (adapalene) Gel</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">Vehicle Gel</content></td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"/><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">N = 258</content></td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule"><content styleCode="bold">N = 134</content></td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">Related* Adverse Reactions Dry Skin Skin Discomfort Desquamation</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">57 (22.1%) 36 (14%) 15 (5.8%) 4 (1.6%)</td><td align="center" styleCode="Botrule Lrule Rrule Toprule">6 (4.5%) 2 (1.5%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Reported adverse events (FAERS/openFDA)#

Adverse event summaries are temporarily unavailable. Other product information remains available.