adapalene vs fluocinolone
Side-by-side comparison of adapalene and fluocinolone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Differin
Synalar, Derma-Smoothe
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.
Fluocinolone is a topical steroid medicine. It helps reduce swelling, itching, and redness of the skin.
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.
This medicine treats skin problems that cause swelling and itching. It can help with conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. It works by reducing inflammation in the affected areas.
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.
Fluocinolone is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation. This helps to relieve itching and other skin problems.
- • Dry skin
- • Contact dermatitis (skin rash)
- • Burning feeling on the skin where you put the medicine
- • Skin irritation
- • Burning
- • Itching
- • Irritation
- • Dryness
- The medicine did not work 51,276
- Dry skin 44,990
- Burning feeling on the skin 41,633
- Acne 39,264
- Redness 38,379
No adverse event reports.
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 get an infection, stop using bandages and talk to your doctor about treatment.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine. It is not known if fluocinolone can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This adapalene vs fluocinolone Comparison
adapalene is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while fluocinolone sits within the Topical Corticosteroid 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 fluocinolone has 0. 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 fluocinolone — 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.