Two medicines, side by side
Adapalene vs hydrocortisone
Adapalene is labeled for acne; hydrocortisone for osteoarthritis, asthma and allergies. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adapalene since 1996 and of hydrocortisone since 1951. Pharmacies paid $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) and $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrocortisone's other strengths are brand-only: $51.43 per Solu-cortef 250 mg act-o-vial. In FDA's classes, adapalene is a retinoid and hydrocortisone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023); the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026).
Highlights of the adapalene record
Adapalene (Differin) · label of December 27, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsDIFFERIN Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. DIFFERIN Gel, 0.3%, is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.504 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the hydrocortisone record
Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) · label of August 19, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications• temporarily relieves itching associated with minor skin irritations, inflammation, and rashes due to: • eczema • psoriasis • poison ivy, oak, sumac • insect bites • detergents • jewelry • seborrheic dermatitis • cosmetics • soaps • temporarily relieves external anal and genital itching • other uses of this product should only be under the advice and supervision of a doctor
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1951
- Generic labelers
- 49 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0613 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adapalene label of December 27, 2023, Hydrocortisone label of August 19, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adapalene and hydrocortisone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, adapalene is a retinoid and hydrocortisone a corticosteroid.
Generics: adapalene since 2010; hydrocortisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adapalene | Hydrocortisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) |
| Pharmacologic class | Retinoid | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 31, 1996 | December 21, 1951 |
| First generic approved | June 2, 2010 | December 22, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 49 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) | $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | +1% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 181,062 | 97,782 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to adapalene
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions