Topical compositions containing from 0.01% to 0.09% by weight of adapalene or salts thereof are useful for the treatment or prevention of keratinization disorders, particularly acne, and additionally contain at least one gelling agent selected from among carbomers, polysaccharides, cellulose and its derivatives, copolymers of acrylate and of alkyl acrylate, copolymers of acrylamide and of sodium acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate, and xanthan gum.