Is Epiflin gel NAFDAC approved?

Yes — Epiflin 1 mg (0.1%) adapalene gel, registered to Akso Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited, carries NAFDAC registration A4-101036, recorded as Active in our copy of the register. Confirm the number printed on your tube matches in our free NAFDAC checker before you buy.

How long does adapalene take to work?

Plan for 8–12 weeks of nightly use before judging it. Many people see their skin get slightly worse in weeks 2–4 — a known settling-in effect as pores clear — before steady improvement. Applying it more often does not speed this up; it only adds irritation.

Can I use adapalene instead of a triple action cream for pimples?

Yes — and you should. The steroid combination creams widely sold for 'everything' actually worsen acne with continued use and thin the skin. Adapalene is designed for acne, works without steroids, and is safe for the months-long use acne treatment takes.

What are the brand names of Adapalene in Nigeria?

Brand names of Adapalene sold in Nigeria include Epiflin and Norbacare. The full list, with each registration number and who holds it, is on the Adapalene brands page.

Which Adapalene brand is best in Nigeria?

No NAFDAC-registered brand of Adapalene is stronger or purer than another by design: at the same strength, each contains the same Adapalene at the same labelled dose (Norbacare adds clindamycin). What separates brands is whether the registration is current, whether a seller near you stocks it, the price and the pack. Of the brands named on this page, 2 carry an active registration in our October 2026 copy of the NAFDAC Green Book: single-ingredient Epiflin (A4-101036), and the combination Norbacare (A4-100668). Choose a registered brand your pharmacist or a listed shop stocks, check its number in the NAFDAC checker, and buy from a licensed seller.

Which Adapalene is original?

In everyday Nigerian usage, "original" means genuine rather than fake, not the first brand ever made. Any brand whose NAFDAC registration is current is a genuine registered product; the register does not rank one above another. To tell an original pack from a fake: find the NAFDAC number printed on it and check it against the register (the checker on this site searches our October 2026 copy), buy from a licensed pharmacy or a shop listed here, and reject a pack with no number, a number the register does not know, or a lapsed status. Brands named on this page and their standing in our copy: Epiflin (A4-101036, active); Norbacare (A4-100668, active).

How much is Adapalene in Nigeria? About ₦25,140 (October 2026)

Adapalene is a topical retinoid — a vitamin-A-derived gel applied to the skin to treat acne. It works by normalising how skin cells shed inside pores, so blackheads and whiteheads stop forming, and by calming the inflammation that turns blocked pores into angry pimples. In Nigeria it sells as a 0.1% gel; internationally the best-known brand is Differin, and NAFDAC-registered equivalents here include Epiflin and Norbacare.

In the NAFDAC register

2 registered products

from 2 registration holders

In force · October 2026 copy2 active

Where madenone in Nigeria · 2 imported

China1

India1

See all 2 registered brands →

What it costs online

about ₦25,140

0% since September 2026 · like-for-like

Sampled from 3 listings across MedPlus and Supermart.ng · October 2026

Full price breakdown →

Brands of Adapalene in Nigeria

Those 2 products from 2 registration holders, counted in our October 2026 copy of the register, include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.

Epiflin
Akso Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited
0.1% (1 mg/g) · Gel · A4-101036
Norbacare
Norbarc Pharmaceutical Limited
0.1% · Gel · A4-100668

Brand Name	Manufacturer	Strength	Form	NAFDAC Reg. No.
Epiflin	Akso Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited	0.1% (1 mg/g)	Gel	A4-101036
Norbacare	Norbarc Pharmaceutical Limited	0.1%	Gel	A4-100668

Adapalene Price in Nigeria

As of October 2026, Adapalene sells for about ₦25,140 online in Nigeria (₦7,725–₦28,350) at MedPlus and Supermart.ng. The online price is roughly unchanged since September 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

Online retail (sampled)

Same medicine throughout — every listing contains Adapalene. The difference is brand and pack size.

median ₦25,140 · 3 listings

CheapestDifferin Gel 0.1% 30 g(Supermart.ng)

₦7,725

PriciestDIFFERIN GEL 0.1% 45G(MedPlus)

₦28,350

3 listings across MedPlus + Supermart.ng — brands and pack sizes vary · October 2026.

Unchanged since September 2026.

How to Verify Your Adapalene is Genuine

1Check the tube and carton for the NAFDAC registration number — Epiflin gel carries A4-101036, Norbacare A4-100668
2Enter the number in our free NAFDAC checker and confirm it matches the product and maker printed on the pack
3Buy from a registered pharmacy — imported 'Differin' with no NAFDAC number on the pack cannot be verified here
4Be wary of any acne product that promises visible results in days: genuine retinoids take weeks, and the products that promise otherwise usually contain undeclared steroids

Use our NAFDAC Checker tool

Where to Buy

Buying Adapalene wholesale, by the carton

Cartons of adapalene are bought at Nigeria's open drug markets: Idumota Market in Lagos, Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha, Ariaria Market in Aba and Sabon Gari Market in Kano. Each guide says where the market is and how to buy there safely; where we list sellers, they are named.

No shop we list has Adapalene on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.

Which one are you?

I'm buying adapalene

Tell us what you need and the quantity, and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source. Free, no obligation.

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I sell adapalene

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See a listed shop: Blessed Michael Pharmacy → · or sign up yourself →

Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Adapalene in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.

Need Adapalene in bulk, or can't find it near you?

Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.

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What is Adapalene?

It is a treatment for the coming weeks' skin, not tonight's pimple: adapalene prevents new spots from forming, and the visible payoff arrives over 8–12 weeks of nightly use. Many people's skin looks slightly worse in weeks 2–4 before it looks better — a known settling-in effect, not a sign the gel is fake or failing.

Unlike the steroid combination creams widely sold in Nigerian markets, adapalene is actually meant for acne. Triple- and quadruple-action steroid creams make acne worse with continued use; adapalene is the evidence-backed alternative for pimples.

What is Adapalene used for?

In Nigeria, Adapalene is commonly used for:

Mild to moderate acne — blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed pimples on the face, chest or back
Keeping acne-prone skin clear with continued nightly use
As the retinoid half of combination acne treatment (with benzoyl peroxide or an oral antibiotic) for more severe acne

Dosage

IMPORTANT

Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.

Adults

Apply a thin layer to the whole acne-prone area (not just individual spots) once daily at night, on clean, dry skin. A pea-sized amount covers the face. Wash hands after applying. Expect 8–12 weeks of nightly use before judging whether it works; do not apply more often to speed it up — that only increases irritation.

Children

Suitable for teenagers with acne (12 years and older). Not for younger children except on a doctor's advice.

Elderly

Acne is uncommon after middle age — if new 'acne' appears later in life, see a pharmacist or doctor to check what it actually is before treating it.

Use a moisturiser (adapalene dries the skin, especially in the first weeks) and sunscreen or sun avoidance — treated skin burns more easily. Do not apply to broken skin, eczema or sunburn, and keep it away from eyes, lips and nostrils.

Side Effects

General information for a reader holding a pack, not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. If something on the serious list is happening, seek care now.

Common side effects

•Dryness, peeling, mild burning or stinging where applied — usually worst in weeks 1–4, then settles
•Redness and skin irritation
•Temporary worsening of breakouts in the first month (the settling-in flare)
•Increased sensitivity to sunlight

Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately

Severe irritation, blistering or swelling — stop and see a pharmacist or doctor
Allergic reaction: spreading rash, itching, swelling of the face

When to see a doctor

See a pharmacist or doctor if irritation is severe or not settling after the first month, if there is no improvement at all after 12 weeks of nightly use, or if acne is deep, scarring or cystic — that grade needs more than a gel.

Warnings & Precautions