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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May 2, 2012

Pros:

My face is completely clear
I can look at myself in the mirror
It isn't too much work
Also helps with scars
Have not had a pimple in months

Cons:

First few weeks burns face
May get dry skin

When I started Epiduo, I sat in my drs office balling because all I wanted was clear skin. I didn't believe my dermatologist but it worked! I have used every product, antibiotic, face wash, ect known to man and this product has done wonders. The first few months may be hard, but you will see results within a week. I have used it for 6 months and all I have left is scars, which are easy to cover up. I read the reviews on this website before I started using it and it gave me hope that I would finally find the answer and I did! If you get bad burning sensation on your face when using it the first few days I would recommend ice packs- that's what I did! Please try this- I promise you'll see results!!!!
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April 30, 2012

Pros:

It reduced my acne
You can feel that it is working

Cons:

Flaking
Dryness

I love this product though at first week you'll experience the hell out of it, like seriously, it really sting! BUT, I don't care, I love the result. :)
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April 22, 2012

Pros:

Reduces acne fast (within hours for me)
Clear in a few days
Dries out skin

Cons:

None

Things to take into consideration...

Skin type: Fair, but doesn't burn/tan and isn't irritated easily. Prone to hyper-pigmentation, whether it be spots, a scratch, mosquito bite... you name it, a pink mark will be there for years

I have an auto-immune disease

I don't get much sun, so that also enabled me to apply a lot of Epiduo. When I was in the sun (winter also) I wore SPF of at least 25

Moisturize sporadically (once a week or less) with Olay Complet

I started using this about 6 months ago after having years of acne. I went on the pill about a year before and that cleared me up, apart from the odd hormonal spot. I had hyper-pigmentation left over from years before, and it still hadn't gone - or barely faded. Bought some make up and it broke me out. Bad. Had taken years for my hyper-pigmentation to fade and was back to square one. Pill couldn't control acne. Came off pill, got Epiduo. Epiduo... - Dries my face out, but I like this. I don't find it to be too drying at all. It's different for everyone, you just need to try it and adjust the amounts, or change your routine (add more moisturiser etc) accordingly. - Worked instantly, the next day my acne was reduced. - I was clear within a week. (And I really did have moderate to bad acne) - I have kept using it as I like the drying effect and I'm hoping it will help fade my hyperpigmentation (so that it will take months, rather than years this time) - Not sure whether there has been an improvement to my hyp-pig. Other people think so, I'm not sure How I used it... - I didn't use anything else. I don't take any vitamins, supplements or do anything else with my face. I don't even wash with soap. - I use a lot more than they recommend. I do this because my skin is pretty tough, and it didn't dry out or go red or sting like a lot of other people complain. If that does happen to you, then initially stop, and reduce amount used in the future. - Now I use it a few days on, and have breaks, I just add it to spots that crop up (hormonal ones mainly) to let my skin heal. - I had stopped using it for as long as a month and my acne didn't return and I only went back on so it would help me exfoliate. I was really sceptical of this and was pretty furious when I went to the doctors and was told that I had to try this first. Unbelievably glad I did. A friend of mine also went on it at the same time as me, who had terri
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April 18, 2012

Pros:

AMAZING!
Takes away acne ASAP
Adds pigment to your skin
Reduces redness

Cons:

Drys ur skin out in the begging n can cause a little bit of red irration, however only last a week and goes away!

It is AMAZING! CHANGED MY LIFE! I've battled with acne for 3 years n try'ed so many different things and gave up ! Epiduo not only stoped my acne but also made my skin look more fresh and sun kissed ! Love this product A++++++++ (do not be discouraged by the first week of dryness, redness, and even irration. It goes away and ur skin will transform!)
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April 17, 2012

Pros:

IT WORKS!!
One tube lasts for many months
Much more simple to apply than Retin-A
Contains 2 meds so it works better

Cons:

Dries and irritates skin
Takes some patience
Contains BP so can bleach fabrics
Thins skins (no waxing allowed while using it)
Expensive (to my insurance company, not to me since they give out coupons)

I have been using Epiduo for 11.5 weeks now and I am THRILLED with the results!! Save one small nodule on my jawline that is taking forever to go away, I have NO active acne right now. Considering what my face looked like almost 3 months ago, that is a darn-near miracle. I'm a 34 YO woman and have had adult-onset acne for the past 7 years or so. I never experienced an initial breakout; things just kind of stayed the same for a while. The only improvement I saw in the first 6 weeks was a marked reduction in the tiny whiteheads I would get on the sides of my nose and on my chin. All of the pimples on my cheeks, though, were still going strong. I was starting to get discouraged, but I am SO glad I stuck it out! At 8 weeks, things started to improve dramatically. Some things I've learned: The first week, only apply it every other night. It will help your skin to get used to it and reduce the amount of irritation you'll experience. I still skip a night every now and then to give my skin a break when it needs it. Microfiber towels are great for getting rid of all the flakes you will have in the morning. I use the kind they sell in the car section and cut them into 4ths (don't worry; edges will not fray). After putting on my cleanser (CeraVe Hydrating), I GENTLY wipe it off with a wet microfiber towel before rinsing my face. Do NOT rub your face with one of these towels, though: they are deceptively abrasive and exfoliating and Epiduo thins your skin. Vaseline is my friend. At night, I wash my face with Purpose (CeraVe doesn't take off my makeup), pat dry, then immediately apply some CeraVe PM lotion. I let that absorb, THEN apply the Epiduo (think very small peas). Then I layer on some Vaseline to the areas of my face that get really dried out: eyelids and around my mouth. FYI, Vaseline is a ZERO on the comedogenic scale. It's true! Full disclosure: I have also been taking oral antibiotics (Solodyn) and using a topical antibio
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April 17, 2012

Pros:

-Clears up acne and keeps it at bay
-Works relatively quickly
-Use only at night when sleeping
-Only a pea sized amount needed
-Can be used as spot treatment for quickly drying up a pimple
-Goes onto face with a clear, smooth consistency
-Uses two different ingredients to effectively fight acne
-Inexpensive with insurance

Cons:

-Takes time to completely get rid of acne
-Might have an initial breakout
-Dries up skin for the first month or so

I had moderate acne this past year and I started using Epiduo at night and taking Monodox (a pill) twice a day. Although it took time, this combination got rid of my acne completely, and I think Epiduo was the main cause of that. It dried up my skin a lot at first, but if you get a good moisturizer (I recommend CeraVe) and exfoliate daily, you can keep it under control. Epiduo works quickly but it takes time to completely get rid of your acne. After about two months, my acne was all gone. I still use Epiduo at night and I have no pimples on my face at all now. All that's left is hyperpigmentation, which will fade with time. All in all, Epiduo is a great product and I highly recommend it!
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April 15, 2012

Pros:

-SIGNIFICANTLY reduced my acne
-Dries up all current pimples so that they simply fall out
-Perscription medicine so i get it for free.
-YOU FEEL IT WORKING!

Cons:

-Your face feels BURNT!
-STINGS!
-Dries up your face!
-REDNESS!!!
.. but it's all worth it :D

Best way to describe this; WOW! For the past year i have tried LOADS of acne treatments and none have worked; theyve made my acne worse until out of random, my docotor recommended Epiduo to me whilst i visited his as i had the flue! Boy am i glad i had the flue!. Ive had this for a week now. From the day i applied it, it was STINGING ME, BURNING, AND MY FACE WAS RED AS A TOMATOE! but i thrived my self through and the results are ASTONISHING! I highly reccomend you use this WITH a gentle face was such as 'Simple' moisturing facewash. Simple moisturiser however, when applied with epiduo will sting even more, so watch out!. HIGHLY RECCOMENDED! THE ACNE STOPS HERE!
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April 13, 2012

Pros:

Clear skin,prevent and clear up acne. Great product that does the job

Cons:

Dry skin, some peeling will stop over time, slight burning at the beginning.

This product is amazing.I've been using since 2010. after a year I stopped using it and then my acne came back. Went back to my derma. Give me a prescription and my skin is back looking good.The product takes a couple weeks to work but it DOES work.For dry skin dry a great moisturizer like neutrogena it helps. thanks epiduo
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April 7, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne!

Cons:

stings like a mofo!

Hi, my name is nick and i have only been using epiduo for about 3 days. I just got off of accutane about 3 and a half months ago which did clear all my acne for a while.... but the last month-2 months ive been getting little tiny zits that arent even worth popping, and i am a chronic zit popper. It really was very mild as compared to pre-accutane but was still extremely annoying. I decided to take epiduo before going back on accutane in a few weeks to see if this stuff really works or not. So far i have had no new little zits which is a good sign and i really think the only reason i was getting those was because of my ridiculously oily skin but anyways, he epiduo seems to ward off the oil until the morning. But i definitely reccomend so far! oh and my face feels like its on fire right now because i just applied the epiduo. Have FUn!
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April 2, 2012

Pros:

-Clears Acne
-Works Fast
-Reduces Hyper pigmentation

Cons:

-Dries Skin
-Initial Breakout

My dermatologist gave me a prescription for epiduo about four months ago. I was skeptical because I had tried it before (for about 2 weeks) and it did nothing, but I decided to stick with it the second time around. At first it started clearing up my skin, although it was a bit drying, then came the initial breakout. My face looked horrible! But I kept using it faithfully every night. After about a month and a half my skin started clearing up beautifully. Now after 4 months my skin is about 98% clear (I still break out around that time of the month) and my face is sooo smooth (thanks to honey masks). I would definitely recommend giving this a shot and sticking with it!
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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