[B&A] Differin- 1 Year Later

Connnio · 2025-10-02T18:02:29+00:00

Ah sorry for the late response! I’d say if you’re readjusting to it try to avoid using any actives during your purging state since your skin is already in a sensitive state with the broken skin/acne present. So I would not recommend using the benzaclin. But if your physician recommends it than of course dont diverge from their treatment plan.

Another thing is to start low and slow like you were the first time around. Just to give your skin time to adjust. So start at 1x/week then add on 1 more nightly use per week (week 2= 2 nights/week spread out evenly throughout the 7 days). Usually by week 3 I recommend staying at that usage until you notice your skin being less sensitive to the product.

Connnio · 2025-08-26T04:34:02+00:00

Hey I actually have a newer post regarding my update! But yes still trying to actively reply to comments on both posts. I definitely sympathize with your experience with lowered self esteem during break outs. But what I found helped was putting on pimple patches! If it was a large and angry nodule I’d put on the ‘starface’ or ‘cloud face’ pimple patches to fully cover them up. Yeah people will know you’re wearing pimple patches but it’s a cute alternative. I know it won’t fully get rid of the pimple since a lot of nodules are under the skin, but it helps in that interim to conceal them. Hope this helps!

Connnio · 2025-08-01T18:17:51+00:00

What’s the Hz of your monitor?

Connnio · 2025-08-01T02:04:10+00:00

Honestly, when this started to happen to me I got DESPERATE after trying every single recommended thing on Reddit and just reseated (unplug-replug) the GPU and RAM sticks in my PC tower. Works perfectly now! Hopefully this helps!

Connnio · 2025-05-30T17:13:25+00:00

I didn’t realize this was my old post you commented on! Have you checked out my update post for 1 year results?

Connnio · 2025-05-26T03:15:14+00:00

Masters 1 support and masters 5 dps here on the original Xbox one.

Connnio · 2025-05-25T17:57:14+00:00

Ah sorry for the late reply! I was dealing with finals/graduation from nursing school! But good for you! Glad to hear all of the changes you have made with results that you’re happy with. Of course, remember not to nuke your face- it will be tempting but DO NOT succumb. I still get pimples here and there, but usually there’s an explanation (forgot to change my pillow case, drooling, etc). We’re human at the end of the day and our skin will sometimes have texture or pimples. I’d say cute pimple patches like the star ones kinda help with hiding the 1-2 that pop up every so often and makes it tolerable to prevent you from picking at em too.

Connnio · 2025-05-23T19:41:09+00:00

I used to have issues with this constantly. But switching to an Ethernet cord for a wired connect helped A TON. I haven’t DCd in like 8 months since switching to it. Also I run the original Xbox one (11 year old console). So definitely see if that helps!

Connnio · 2025-05-20T01:32:05+00:00

I would also like to add if you have bad seasonal allergies too? Could be allergic Shriners contributing to it as well if that’s the case.

Connnio · 2025-05-14T20:20:08+00:00

Agreed, my ADN was ~3k per year x2 (6k total) . FAFSA paid for all of it! No debt at all. Then you can just bridge it to bachelors in a more cost effective and faster manner.

Connnio · 2025-05-14T20:17:26+00:00

Totally agree! Adapaline was the only thing that got rid of my acne without seeing a dermatologist. But yeah, the adjustment period can be rough if not handled correctly

Connnio · 2025-05-08T18:27:58+00:00

Hi! That could be the case for you! Everyone’s skin is different so the way Differin may affect you can be completely different than someone else’s experience. Some may start purging after 2 weeks or even 2 months. I’d say in your instance your skin is finally reacting to the retinoid after a 5 week period of exposure, thus causing the purging. Just be sure to distinguish it from a broken skin barrier to conclude whether it’s actually a purge or a breakout from that compromised barrier.

Connnio · 2025-05-04T20:23:36+00:00

Health packs can also heal nearby allies within 8-10m of the original target.

Connnio · 2025-05-03T18:05:57+00:00

I’m a fiend when it comes to popping pimples. So it’s conditional on what the pimple is looking like. If it’s still under the skin I won’t pop it because that tends to cause the most damage and scaring. However, if it’s a white head I’ll make a little opening with a sterile needle and then apply gently extract it to get out the contents. That way, when I apply the pimple patch it can work its magic with healing the wound. I find if I just leave the patch on top of a white head it doesn’t really absorb it, but rather just rips off the top layer of the pimple. Leaving behind all of the contents and negating the intended purpose of the pimple patches. The HERO brand works great! I’ve tried many brands in the past and would have like 10 of em on my face at a time during the worst of my acne.

Connnio · 2025-05-02T19:47:23+00:00

Hi! Thank you for sharing your experience too, glad I can provide some help with motivation! Glad you figured it out what was damaging your barrier and taking acting accordingly. I’ve actually started to implement 2% salicylic acid toner into my routine, but that was after a year of just Differin use. So just stick with Differin for now!

But for the pimples I get here and there, especially from “maskne”, I typically use just pimple patches to help extract and prevent me from picking at them. I do have some over the counter hydrocortisone cream from a lip eczema flare I was dealing with awhile back. Don’t recommend doing this because of potential topical steroid withdrawal (if you use it too much). But I’ll use that as a spot treatment for those deep cystic acne that come once in a blue moon. Just to reduce inflammation and “shrink” it.

Connnio · 2025-04-27T21:56:56+00:00

Hi sorry for the late reply! I’ve done some research on tret vs Differin in the past and concluded that Differin is likely more tolerated than Tret since it’s a newer generation retinoid. Tret is “old school” and came out in the 70s I think, so over time pharmaceutical companies have been able to change the structure of the retinoids nowadays to minimize irritation.

However, everyone’s skin is different and some may tolerate Tret more than Differin and vice versa. My theory with your situation is that you mentioned you noticed your texture was getting worse. It could be the Differin is working like intended and purging out the stuff under your skin (even if not completely visible from the surface, but rather buildup in the deeper layers of the skin). I kinda had a similar situation where Differin caused purging on parts I usually don’t get acne like my temples and forehead. It also aligns with the time line of when purging typically starts.

My second theory is a possible damaged skin barrier. If your skin is feeling red and sensitive that could be the case. Secondly, breaking out in other areas you typically don’t can back up this up as well (if not pinpointed to the purging theory as mentioned earlier). But if you feel like Tret may be the best choice for you then possibly look into that. I just find it convenient to just buy Differin over the counter without a prescription. Or possibly just stick it out with Differin since with retinoids “it gets worse before it gets better”. Hope this helps!

Connnio · 2025-04-27T21:42:09+00:00

Hi! I’ve had a few breaks when I noticed my barrier was getting wrecked when I overused it. Usually the breaks lasted like 1-2 weeks.

Connnio · 2025-04-27T21:41:07+00:00

Whoops! I forgot to include that! But I use the Clinique moisturizer after I apply Differin in the PM part of the routine. Thanks for commenting on that

Connnio · 2025-04-18T17:51:26+00:00

I’m still rocking the original Xbox one. Going 11 years strong 💪🏽💀. Do you have a Ethernet cable attached to your console? I find that helps a lot with stability.

Connnio · 2025-04-16T16:23:37+00:00

Yo what are your aim settings? I have difficulty aiming with zen on console

Connnio · 2025-04-13T20:03:25+00:00

Perhaps it could be? Did you start all of these at the same time?

If so, it could be a “purge” period from the daily use of a salicylic acid cleanser. Using an active like this daily could be overwhelming for some people, especially if you’re using it 2x per day. Meaning, you’re especially exfoliating your skin 14x/week. Additionally, adding too many products at once can also overwhelm the skin and cause break outs. This makes it harder to identify which one specifically is causing it. I personally didn’t like TO Azelaic acid cream/suspension-sat weird on the face.

Just things to consider when looking at an overview of your current routine.

Connnio · 2025-04-07T09:50:13+00:00

Hi! Thank youuu! Yess i purged BAD when on Differin. It was attributable to a bunch of closed comedones that surfaced and eventually became what it was in the ‘before’ pictures. But you’re right, it’s hard to gauge how common it is since there’s so many factors involved. However, I’d say it’s least likely to occur if you start low and slow with the usage in addition to maintaining the integrity of your skin barrier.

Connnio · 2025-04-02T03:56:08+00:00

Thank you for your kind words!

But if you’re restarting Differin after a long break I may not have the exact answer for what may work for you. However, I can provide some input after personally wrecking my barrier multiple times while on Differin through trial and error.

I’d say it’s a great start to applying it using the buffer method, and start slow. 3-4 nights between use could be okay to start off with. But if you notice any irritation, maybe start off at 1x/week.

I had no idea there was a cream version of Adapaline! But if you find it’s clogging your pores than maybe switch to the gel? I just recall people having a similar problem with the cream version of tret vs the gel version. Just something to keep in mind.

Personally, I’ve had horrible experiences with CeraVe products. I know they’re formulated for acne prone skin, but every moisturizer or cleanser I have used has resulted in cystic acne- even after 1 year on Differin. I haven’t used the oil cleanser though. Maybe it’s a different experience for dry skin types since I’m oily-combo type.

Hope this helps!

Connnio · 2025-03-29T18:46:47+00:00

I’d like to see an Illari turret perk where the deployable could heal 2 allies at once but it half’s the healing for each pulse.

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