Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
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Usually known by its brand name Epidu®, this topical treatment is a combination of adapalene, which is a type of medication called a...

Usually known by its brand name Epidu®, this topical treatment is a combination of adapalene, which is a type of medication called a retinoid that reduces inflammation in the skin and helps promote skin cell turnover, along with benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin. 

It is usually applied once a day before going to bed.

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3.7
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39.1%
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29.2%
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10.3%
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7.9%
1
13.5%

Used Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)? Rate It:

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July 30, 2010

Pros:

-Works pretty well in clearing up acne

Cons:

-Makes my face red

I really like this product but it always seems to make my face red for a few days so I only use it once or twice a week. I would definitely recommend this product
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July 24, 2010

Pros:

Clears up acne pretty fast

Cons:

Dried out my skin
Stung for about 30 minutes after applying, although the more I have used it the less it stings.

I broke out really badly right before I got Epiduo and it has done a great job clearing up the acne in a short amount of time. It hasn't cleared up completely but it has done a lot better than many other acne medications that I've used. The only problems is that it stings some, but it isn't too bad. Also, it dries out my skin some, but that is easily solved by applying some moisturizer. That and the more I use it, the less my skin dries out. Overall, I'd say it is working great considering that I've only had it a week and it has already helped almost clear a really bad breakout that would otherwise still be tormenting my face.
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July 22, 2010

Pros:

- See a big improvement in a day or so
- Dries up your acne, makes it "fade away"

Cons:

- Burns SO badly (makes you CRY)
- Dries out your face a LOT
- May give you an allergic reaction

I've had TERRIBLE acne for a few years now, and it was so life-changing, in a horrible way! I'm still using Epiduo (been using for 3 days) and it really seems to be working! The only 2 TERRIBLE things about this stuff is that it gave me a MAJOR allergic reaction (on neck and jawline) and it stings after you put it on for about...20 minutes. I see a HUGE improvement though, and would defineltey reccommend this to somebody with bad acne.
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July 22, 2010

Pros:

- See a big improvement in a day or so
- Dries up your acne, makes it "fade away"

Cons:

- Burns SO badly (makes you CRY)
- Dries out your face a LOT
- May give you an allergic reaction

I've had TERRIBLE acne for a few years now, and it was so life-changing, in a horrible way! I'm still using Epiduo (been using for 3 days) and it really seems to be working! The only 2 TERRIBLE things about this stuff is that it gave me a MAJOR allergic reaction (on neck and jawline) and it stings after you put it on for about...20 minutes. I see a HUGE improvement though, and would defineltey reccommend this to somebody with bad acne.
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July 9, 2010

Pros:

-First day after using saw an improvement
-Works wonderfully against acne
-Makes skin feel softer after using

Cons:

-Sometimes when I use it it makes my skin feel a little raw and itchy
-Can make skin dry

This product is really amazing. The only downsides about it is that for me it made my skin a little raw and itchy like said above and once it made me dry but that went away after exfoliating.Im pretty sure that day I used a bit too much. Usually after I use Epiduo my skin feels very soft and smooth. As long as you use the right amount of the gel it will work miracles for you. Also you should ease your skin onto it just like any other product. Hope this review helps. :)
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July 9, 2010

Pros:

acne disappears almost immediately
dries up whiteheads
blackheads magically vanish
even complexion

Cons:

extreme burning sensation right after application
red spots where pimples once were(go away in a day or two)
very dry skin
peeling on existing breakout areas

Okay so let me just start by saying that i have only been using this product for two weeks and I ADORE IT! I, like most on here, had been dealing with pretty bad acne(papules, whiteheads, blackheads, etc) but not enough that my doctor would put me on any medication. She prescribed me Epiduo gel after I came to her and complained that I didn't want to try Differin due to so many poor reviews on it. I gladly took this prescription and left her office, unaware that it is almost identical to Differin except that it contains benzoyl peroxide. I didn't discover this until after I had used the samples on my face for two days. I was initially worried about this product for many reasons...I had tried 10% benzoyl peroxide(only 2.5% in Epiduo) on my face for years and it did nothing except give me severe dryness and redness. Another worry was that it would just make my skin worse and I would be left with worse acne that I had initially. But I mustered up the courage to start using this gel once a day, every night after washing my face with Clear Pore by Neutrogena. I swear that by day 3 I was crying myself to sleep because of the intense burning and stinging. It felt like I took acid and put it all over my face! My existing zits just fell off my face and left highly pigmented red(almost stains) on my face. There were patches of peeling skin and zits started popping out all over the place. Again, this was all during the first week that I began using Epiduo! Thank God it eventually started to get better. By week 2 my zits were almost completely gone and my blackheads too(never expected that). My face almost has this fresh, clean glow to it that it hasn't had in a loooong time. Coming from a girl with moderate acne, this stuff really works!!! Give it at least 2-3 wks and you WILL see a difference. My skin got used to it and doesn't burn nearly as much anymore after i apply it. I no longer have any existing zits, just a bunch of scars which are quickly fading! t
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July 3, 2010

Pros:

-clears acne over time
-easy to use (Doesnt have many steps)
-easy to find (at drs. or derm.)
-You can use other face wash products so its not a drastic change to your face
-Works other places on your body besides the face

Cons:

-Expensive (not as much as Proactive though)
-Doesnt work immediately, could get worse in the beginning
-Makes skin vulnerable to sun
-You have to use it EVERYDAY, its a prescription

I have had acne since I was about 10 years old and not just on my face on my back and my chest. I would get these boil like things when the time of month came around. When I was younger my face was sensitive to everything I tryed on it. I tryed everything you could think of. Then when I got a little older you know my hormones where making life miserable. One of which was oily skin including hair. :-( So in the process of trying to find an acne treatment I was trying to find hair products to help with oily hair. And of course the two were contradicting each other. Some hair product would make my acne worse and then on. I finally went to my dr. and they prescribed Epiduo. Now after many years of experiementing and searching for the acne medicine that would work I was kind of fed up with the same old thing. "Just 3 steps, 3 bottles. Now you have to wash with THIS every night and morning and do this and do that" it was the same old thing with every treatment but they didnt work. But now with Epiduo you can use any face wash and moisterizer you want. You get to choose. Now I wouldnt recommended this to anybody who doesnt have good health insurance because WITHOUT it, its $200 I havent been using Epiduo for very long, about a month and only this last week I've noticed a improvement. But it says on the warnings that in the beginning the acne could worsen. And it did for me. But I use my Epiduo ONCE a day on my face, chest and back and use sunscreen everyday!
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July 1, 2010

Pros:

clears acne
prevents intense breakouts

Cons:

dries skin out
burns at times

Epiduo has really helped me. My skin looks amazing. I still kind of break out a bit, but that is to be expected. Also, the burning can be unbearable at times, but to wake up to clear skin makes it worth it. USE moisturizer. The dry skin is another reason why the Epiduo burns at times. I am on my third week and i see huge progress. I am also still learning, so hopefully the side effects will get better.
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

Heals acne fast.
Helps fight bacteria (Benzoyl Peroxide)
Helps with spots.

Cons:

Makes your skin dry, so only use it where you need it.

I have been using Differin for about a year and a half, along with Tetracycline. The Differin was okay, it made my skin heal faster, but it wasn't doing anything to help with the bacteria that was contributing to the acne in the first place. So about a month ago my doctor told me to start using Epiduo. He also told me to take the Tetracycline more frequently (2 in the am and 2 in the pm) I was really surprised at how fast it cleared my breakouts. My skin breaks out because of my hormones, so I can't do much to prevent the acne ( I still get a few pimples here and there) but they are small and are gone within a day, thanks to Epiduo. I never had the "purging" effect either, probably because I was already using Differin, and my skin had already been purged with an increase in breakouts. But I'm glad I went through it because now my skin is so much better. It took a while to figure out what my skin needed. And I learned what irritates it and what helps it. Be smart when you try products to help your skin, a little goes a long way. I also found that eating right, drinking lots of water and exercising helps too. I ONLY drink water and I make sure to eat plenty of vegetables. I also run every morning I get (nothing too extreme). Sometimes you can't just sit back and expect a little cream to do everything for you. Take care of your body, inside and out, and you will be beautiful :)
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

-helped reduce the size of the acne
-toned the redness
-helps prevent new acne

Cons:

-if not used properly it will dry/burn skin

I've had acne severely for the past 3 years and nothing I have tried has helped. I've been to the dermatologist quite a few times, she wanted to put me on accutane but my mother read reviews and well... that's just not going to happen. So she gave me these samples of epiduo(so I could see if it worked before we paid $200.00 for it) that I have been using for the past 3 weeks every night and I have seen a big difference in my skin. It's slowly but surely going away it's just taking its sweet time. Hope this helped!
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website