Adapalene

Adapalene is a topical retinoid primarily used in the treatment of acne and is also used (off-label) to treat keratosis pilaris as well as other skin conditions. It is currently marketed by Galderma under the trade names Differin® in some countries, and Adaferin® in India.

Indications
Adapalene is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Adapalene has been shown to enhance the efficacity of topical clindamycin. Application of Adapalene gel to the skin 2-5 minutes before application of clindamycin enhances the overall efficacity of the treatment as compared to clindamycin alone

History
Adapalene was approved in 1996 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of acne.

Dosage
Adapalene is applied once daily, after washing and before retiring. In some circumstances, when a patient complains of skin irritation, this may be decreased to once every other day until the irritation ceases.

Available Forms
Differin is available in two forms, 0.1% adapalene and now the newer 0.3% adapalene (as of July 07)

Pharmacodynamics
Adapalene in small concentrations is a moderator of cellular differentiation, keratinization, and inflammatory processes. The exact mode of action of adapalene is unknown.

Pharmacokinetics
Adapalene is applied topically to the skin, and its absorption into the blood through this medium is very low. Only trace amounts of adapalene have been found in the plasma of chronically treated patients.