Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted approval to Differin Gel 0.1% (adapalene), an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for acne.
This is the first time that a retinoid has received FDA approval to be used in over-the-counter acne treatments. Differin Gel 0.1%, a once-daily topical gel, can now be used among people who are 12 years old or above.
Since the 1980s, this new gel is the first to include new active ingredients for treating acne in OTC treatments. In 1996, Differin Gel 0.1% gained approval to be used as a prescription product for acne vulgaris among people 12 years old and above.
An estimated 50 million people within the U.S. have acne, a common skin disease. Acne pimples happen when the skin’s hair follicles are filled with dirty. Acne usually forms on the chest, face, neck, shoulders and back; even though anyone can develop acne, it is more common among young adults and teenagers.
“Millions of consumers, from adolescents to adults, suffer from acne,” Dr. Lesley Furlong, deputy director of the Office of New Drugs IV in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said. “Now, consumers have access to a new safe and effective over-the-counter option.”
