adapalene vs mometasone topical

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of adapalene and mometasone topical. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
adapalene Retinoid (Topical)
mometasone topical Topical Corticosteroid
Type
adapalene Over-the-Counter
mometasone topical Prescription
Summary
adapalene

No summary available.

mometasone topical

Mometasone Furoate Cream is a medicine that reduces skin inflammation and itching. It belongs to a class of drugs called topical corticosteroids.

What It Treats
adapalene

Information not available.

mometasone topical

This cream treats skin problems that cause swelling, redness, and itching. These problems are called corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. You can use this medicine if you are 2 years or older.

How It Works
adapalene

Information not available.

mometasone topical

Mometasone Furoate Cream works by reducing inflammation in the skin. It does this by blocking certain substances in the body that cause swelling and itching. This helps to relieve the symptoms of skin conditions.

Common Side Effects
adapalene
  • Dry skin
  • Contact dermatitis (skin rash)
  • Burning feeling on the skin where you put the medicine
  • Skin irritation
mometasone topical
  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Skin thinning
FAERS Reports
adapalene
  • Dry Skin 44,990
  • Skin Burning Sensation 41,633
  • Acne 39,264
  • Erythema 38,379
  • Skin Irritation 26,225
mometasone topical

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
adapalene

No specific warnings noted.

mometasone topical

Using too much mometasone cream or using it for a long time can affect your hormone levels. This can cause problems like Cushing's syndrome or high blood sugar. Children are more likely to get these side effects. This medicine may also increase your risk of cataracts and glaucoma. Tell your doctor if you have blurred vision.

Pregnancy
adapalene

No pregnancy information available.

mometasone topical

If you are pregnant, only use this cream if your doctor says it is okay. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before using it if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This adapalene vs mometasone topical Comparison

adapalene is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while mometasone topical 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 190,491 submissions while mometasone topical 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 represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for adapalene or mometasone topical.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.