adapalene vs crisaborole
Side-by-side comparison of adapalene and crisaborole Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Differin
Eucrisa
Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel is a medicine used on the skin to treat acne. It contains two medicines: adapalene (a retinoid) and benzoyl peroxide.
Eucrisa is a medicine used on the skin to treat eczema. It helps reduce swelling and itching.
This medicine treats acne, a skin condition with pimples and bumps. You can use this medicine if you are 9 years or older. Apply the gel to the affected areas of your face and/or trunk.
Eucrisa treats mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Eczema is a skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Eucrisa can be used for adults and children 3 months and older. It helps to relieve the symptoms of eczema.
Adapalene is a retinoid that helps to unclog pores and reduce inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial medicine that kills acne-causing bacteria. Together, they help to clear up acne.
Eucrisa contains crisaborole, which is a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor. This medicine works by blocking PDE4. Blocking PDE4 reduces inflammation in the skin, which helps to relieve eczema symptoms.
- • Dry skin
- • Contact dermatitis (skin rash)
- • Burning feeling on the skin where you put the medicine
- • Skin irritation
- • Pain where you put the medicine
- The medicine did not work 51,276
- Dry skin 44,990
- Burning feeling on the skin 41,633
- Acne 39,264
- Redness 38,379
- The medicine did not work 1,957
- Pain where the medicine was applied 1,415
- Burning feeling 985
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 746
- The condition got worse 699
When using this medicine, avoid sunlight and sunlamps. If you can't avoid the sun, wear sunscreen. This medicine may cause skin irritation, redness, scaling, dryness, stinging, or burning. If this happens, use a moisturizer or apply the medicine less often. If irritation is severe, stop using the medicine.
If you have a hypersensitivity reaction, stop using Eucrisa right away. Signs of a reaction include severe itching, swelling, and redness at the application site or somewhere else on your body.
If you are pregnant, only use this medicine if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before using it if you are breastfeeding.
Not enough information is available to know if Eucrisa is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Eucrisa passes into breast milk, so discuss this with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This adapalene vs crisaborole Comparison
adapalene is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while crisaborole sits within the PDE4 Inhibitor (Topical) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, adapalene has 215,542 submissions while crisaborole has 5,802. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between adapalene and crisaborole — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.