"i&#039;ve been using adapalene 0.3% for 11 weeks now. i&#039;ve read other users&#039; reviews, &amp; it seems like people tend to negatively rate it due to the irritancy that occurs initially. you should expect irritancy when you first start using this. i&#039;ve experienced flaking, redness, &amp; itchiness, which have mostly subsided now. the right support products help minimize irritancy: a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, moisturizer, &amp; daily spf are essential. learn from my mistake: i used an aha based product to help loosen the flakes, but it only exacerbated the irritation, so i&#039;d recommend avoiding chemical (&amp; physical) exfoliants until your skin seems well-adapted to adapalene. the bottom line: my skin is smooth &amp; acne-free after 11 weeks of use."