Acne.org Products
Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
67%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Side Effects
Low-Medium
Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Acne.org’s Real World Take
A way of using benzoyl peroxide in combination with the topical retinoid, adapalene, that studies show works a bit better than benzoyl peroxide alone. Comes with side effects for the first weeks and can bleach fabric. Note: When used correctly, benzoyl peroxide on its own can completely clear the skin.
Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
June 3, 2012
Cons:
possible irritation and dryness
takes 2-3 months to work
a couple months ago i had a huge patch of acne on my forehead that would not go away. It had been there for about 2 months and nothing would work on it. When i went to the doctors for a check up one time, the doctor noticed it and gave me some samples of epiduo without really telling me how to use it. I started using it that night but i was only applying it to my forehead, not my entire face. it took about 2 months and never dried my forehead out and the patch was COMPLETELY gone and still, a couple months later, i have not had one blemish on my forehead. However, i started getting alot of breakouts on my chin and on my cheeks which was unusual so i decided to go see a dermatologist. She prescribed me to use epiduo on my entire face which i didn't know you could do since i was never told how to use it, I just thought it was a spot treatment. But i have been using epiduo on my entire face every night for about 2 weeks and i can already notice a difference in my skin. My skin is not as oily and my skin is slowly clearing up. I still have some blemishes but it has gotten better. I have had a little flakiness around my nose and my mouth but its nothing that a little moisturizer can't fix but i would definitely recommend this product!
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
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!
February 10, 2012
Pros:
Works amazing!
Cleared up my skin.
Bleached my scars and pigmentation.
Really the first thing that gave great results.
Cons:
Burns to the extent that I had a hard time going to sleep at night.
Makes your face turn hot red while you have it on.
Dries up your skin and makes it peal off.
I was almost about to quit using this gel after the first few days. My doctor had advised me to use it only at night after cleansing and to use it on my whole face. After the first night I noticed about five huge and deep zits, the kind you can't even pop cause they lie so deep within your skin. Also I almost couldn't stand the burning since I have both sensitive and dry (doesn't stop me from breaking out and getting extremly greasy in my t-zone) skin. By the third day my skin was flaking and I hadn't gotten that much sleep due to all the burning. But my doctor had advised me to use it on my whole face for a whole month and then if I was clear to stop and only use on areas where a break-out was forming. I decided to stick it out and by the end of the first week I was actually happy about all the flaking since my skin started to look better and better by each day. I've had no more break outs and my skin is looking really nice except for some old acne scars. I'm on my third week and this is by far the best results I've ever seen.
November 30, 2011
Pros:
Works fast
Cons:
Dries up face sometimes .
Its been a week since ive used epiduo and i have seen massive results! But here are some things that Ive experienced while using epiduo: ~If it irriates ur skin, dont use it everyday. Use it every other day so that your skin can adjust to it more..
~While using epiduo, you must apply sunscreen every single day. If not, then it will burn your skin and cause redness.
~I recommend using it only at night before you go to bed instead of day and night because if you put it on at night then wake up and cleanse your face and put more epiduo on, the epiduo wont have time to work its magic!(: I higly recommend Epiduo! Give it some time and trust me, it will work. I only have bumps here and there on my face now! Ill reply in the next week to tell you guys how my face is lookin' (:
February 9, 2011
Pros:
Immediately lessened my breakouts, brings whiteheads out, reduced scarring
Cons:
very drying, burns when using certain lotions, burns when applied near eyes
I have been using this for about a week. The dr gave me about 4 or 5 free sample tubes after at 23 I have had a horrible breakout for 2 months. Also prescibed Doryx (haven't started). At first I was using clearasil cleansing wash without salicylic acid (no acne prevention) and purpose face lotion w/spf. My face would BURN for 10 minutes after using the epiduo gel. Even after applying ponds dry skin cream. I have pretty sensitive skin. Since I couldn't tolerate the burning, I have since changed my face wash and lotion/cream and there is NO BURNING. I believe this is because the products are made to be gentle and to help with skin conditions. On the epiduo-The epiduo is working great. My breakouts have decreased and the redness has lessened. It does bring out whiteheads and the bacterial infections under the skin. I immediately saw a differenence. My regimen is as follows; Morning- Wash with Vanicream cleansing bar with wash cloth (being sensitive to eye area)
Use Sea Breeze astringent
After astringent dries, apply Vanicream cream in drier spots and Vanicream lotion on the rest of face. This lotion is the only thing that doesn't make me oily throughout the entire day. Night-Wash with Vanicream cleansing bar with wash cloth (being sensitive to eye area)
Apply a very thin layer of epiduo gel to breakout/pimples
Apply Vanicream cream all over AFTER epiduo DRIES!!! Since using this wash/lotion/cream regimen I have not expierienced ANY BURNING!!!!!!! This stuff is pretty darn cheap ($12 for a lb of cream in a pump dispenser). They sell everything I use at Walgreens. The website is [link removed]. They specialize in sesitive products and are formulated without dyes, fragrance/masking fragrance, parabens, lanolin, & formaldehyde. (non-comdomgenic sp?). I am stressing that these products are AMAZING. My skin is so soft even with using the epiduo gel and my skin can get extremely dry. Just wanted to share because the burning and dryness wer
October 13, 2010
Pros:
Relatively effectively at healing breakouts.
Cons:
Expensive; Dries out skin; Doesn't prevent acne.
Personally, I'm not crazy about this product but I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time. I have moderate to somewhat severe acne around my mouth and chin and that's what I consider my real problem. On my forehead, I sometimes get mild, easy -to-manage breakouts. If I put epiduo on my forehead when I'm experiencing a minor breakout there, it will clear up literally over night. So I know that this product does work; however, it doesn't do nearly as much for my more severe acne. I do think it reduces the time that my breakouts are active but it has done nothing to reduce the frequency with which I break out. So, basically, I break out as often as ever and the breakouts are active for 2-4 days rather than 3-6. It's a noticeable difference but it's not like your problem is completely solved. I think this is probably a great product for people with mild acne but the biggest downside that probably applies in any case is that it is very drying. It's hard to use in conjunction with a moisturizer because epiduo makes your skin so dry and sensitive that it will sting when you try to apply moisturizer.
September 11, 2010
Pros:
Fading away my acne
Works!
Clears skin FAST
Cons:
Causes an initial break out
*Mine lasted two days*
Dires out your skin a bit (moisturize like crazy)
Expensive
It's fast acting and will make your acne go from wow prominent to fading away then nothing. I love it! You see the progress on your face and it is worth the money.
I love it love it love it.
It can burn for a little bit like the first week but deal wit it. Just don't put so much on at first, that doesn't mean that you will get clear skin faster it just irritates your skin.
So start with small amounts and then add more after the second week.
Best advice PATIENCE and a POSITIVE attitude :)
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. :)
November 30, 2009
Pros:
Really clears up skin and improves skin tone
Cons:
Makes skin dry and flaky at first and it is painful to apply other products to the face
When I first started to use it, it was very painful and made me break out worse than ever but after a few days itcalmed down. If my skin became too irritaed I Began to use it every other day. After a while my skin became amazingly clear so I started using it
Less and less and simply used an acne clearing face wash. I think I stopped using epiduo too soon though because recently my skin got much worse. I'm using it again now and my skin is starting to improve once again :)
Pros:
really works
easy to use