Is Differin and retinoid creams safe for treating acne in children?

We are beginning to see more children with acne due to earlier puberty. Differin and Retinoid creams have traditionally been considered off-label for children.

The question is: How old is your child?

Most acne drugs for children are prescribed off-label, meaning that clinical trials were done on patients older than 12.

One exception is a gel with a retinoid and benzoyl peroxide (Epiduo), which the Food and Drug Administration approved in February for children as young as 9.

Acne in children is not rare and is seen worldwide.The key is to know which drugs/creams are safe based on your child's age.

Treat Active Acne Early to prevent Acne Scars, which are often more challenging and expensive to treat!

Warmest regards,

Dr Justin Boey

Hi, Differin contain adapalene which causes less iritation compared to retinoid creams, but there is no research that ensures the safety of its use for children, so it should not be given for children with age below 10 years.

This depends on what the age of the patient (your child) is.

Epiduo has been recently approved for the use in children age 9 and above by FDA, as such from the clinical perspective the use of Differin alone can be expected to be safe, albeit off-label.

Other options such as mild BHA and AHA can be considered as an acne- treatment. Do consult your doctor early though.

Winston