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
January 8, 2018
best acne treatment there is. WILL SEE RESULTS.
If you're reading this and you're debating whether or not to go on epiduo. Just do it. I've used this on 3 separate occasions, once for 5 months, once for a year and once for one month (currently still on this third time)... The thing about epiduo is that it WORKS. Look at your forearm right now and how smooth it is... thats what my red, painful acne turned into after exactly 12 weeks of using epiduo (both times). You HAVE to use cetaphil gentle cleanser and moisturizer otherwise it wont work as well (cera v made the process longer the second time i took it). It will get worse before it gets better. Your skin will be beautiful one week and hell the next. But when it's over you have clear skin. What do you have to lose? NOTHING. it WILL work. I can almost promise it to everyone. I find that it is very emotionally taxing to keep on desperately trying new things becuase you think that next thing, the one thing that youre "missing" is going to cure your acne but that is total bullsh*t. This will give you clear skin guarenteed. If the burning sensation is unbearable you are using too much, simple as that. The only thing I regret is not starting it right away and wasting so much time on guessing and checking and wasting hundreds of dollar on pointless methods and products. DO IT. Im posting my week by week review of this on my third time taking this (this time i will not be dumb and stop using it EVER lol). Please check it out! I also have a bunch of tips on there for anyone interested. You have to be mentally strong and push through this. 12 weeks for a LIFE of clear skin (if you sparingly maintain it) is plenty worth it to me.
February 18, 2018
Hello, in your experience does epiduo stop working/ having any effect after a while?
Thanks!
July 11, 2018
Amen! Me too!!
April 5, 2017
It has to get worse before it gets better, then you will thank it and can't imagine your life without it!!
I have been using Epiduo for about 6 months now and WOW, the results are so encouraging! The first 1-2 months of using this acne treatment was not easy; my face would get swollen because it still had to get used to the Adapalene and Benzoyl Peroxide, I was breaking out more than I ever have and my skin was so So sensitive. The burning sensations I felt were so painful I honestly just had to lay there and wait for it to pass. I thought about stopping the treatment many times, but I have to say; I'm very grateful my dermatologist encouraged me to keep on track with it. I rarely get any pimples, before my pimples were mainly in my chin and forehead area. I will get the occasional one, maybe 1 every â…" weeks, but the Epiduo clears it up within 3 days. When I was using Epiduo for the first 4 months, I would apply my face cream after 15 minutes, but now I have realised that putting on a face cream over the Epiduo didn't do me any justice. It only made things worse, and it wasn't the face cream. Now, I simply wash my face using a very gentle electrical face brush and the recommended Cetaphil acne wash and then apply one pump of Epiduo to my whole face. Hopefully my skin will only get better than it is now! I also found it helpful to get the app that tracks your skin progress! The most important thing is to PERSEVERE and oh, STAY OUT OF THE SUN and LATHER ON THAT SPF 50!! I hope I've helped xxx
July 14, 2016
Has worked great in combination with topical clindamycin
I'm 27 years old and have suffered with acne for what seems like forever. At 22, I decided to get on birth control to combat my skin problems. It worked, but I knew this was only a temporary solution. Last year in April, I decided I wanted to get off birth control because I knew it wasn't something I wanted to be in my system forever. By October, my skin was horrible again. I went to see my physician and he prescribed me epiduo. The first few months were hell! I had acne all over my chin, cheeks and an occasional huge zit or two on my neck and forehead. I regretted ever going to my physician. I sent him pictures of my skin and he immediately put me on an oral antibiotic. That seemed to help. My physician, however, didn't want me on an oral antibiotic for such a long period of time. He prescribed me a topical antibiotic, clindamycin, and together with epiduo my skin looks wonderful! I've been on both now for a good six months and looking back at pictures I couldn't believe how horrible my skin was less than a year ago. I say definitely give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. I also recommend getting the epiduo app to track your progress, that's the only way I can look back at what my skin looked like before.
January 24, 2016
Stick with it!
I have had acne on and off for a few years, but nothing major until earlier this year when the stress of school caught up with me. I went to the dermatologist and was given a prescription for epiduo as well as a recommendation to use Cerave AM after applying. I have very sensitive skin that often becomes irritated and red so I wasn't sure what to expect. The first week was torture! My face became so red and dry that everything was so painful. My face hurt so badly I stopped wearing makeup and my whole face was bright red. I was about to give up until I found the reviews on this site saying that it takes a little while for it to work, so I stuck with it. It really paid off! After about 10 weeks, my face finally began to show some drastic differences. I got a clarisonic facial brush for Christmas and the combination of the brush as well as the time really made a difference in my acne. I haven't had a new pimple in about two weeks and now I am just waiting for the old acne scarring to fade. I think that this really is a good product, it just takes a while to make a difference. I really suggest sticking with it and while it might take a while it really pays off in the end. I wore makeup the entire time and I don't think it made a big difference so don't worry about that. Hope this helps!
March 10, 2016
is it good to spot treat pimples through Epiduo? thanks a lot
September 5, 2014
Wonderful!
I'm a teenaged girl with mild-moderate, yet persistent and painful acne consisting of papules and pustules, as well as open and closed comedons, and this has significantly cleared my skin up. I have been using Tactuo (as Epiduo is known here in Canada) for 5 months and my acne has been reduced by a good 90% which I find incredible as nothing else that I've tried has helped without damaging my skin. It's important to note that while I have extremely sensitive skin and for that reason I cannot use many popular products, including Cetephil and Dove, along with Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean and Clear, and other similar brands, I have not had any stinging, itching or purging, as others have mentioned. I did, however, notice some mild flaking in the areas of application for the first week, as others have also mentioned, but that subsided once my skin adjusted to the medication. It is also noteworthy to mention that I used Tactuo (AKA Epiduo) bi-daily, then daily, for a good month before I noticed major results. This products is a godsend, and as I have not noticed any adverse reactions, I will continue to use it as needed until I no longer feel like my skin needs. For reference, I have had luck with using, lush skincare (Tea Tree Oil as the main active acne-fighting ingredient), Murad skincare (salicylic and glycolic acid based), and Spectro jel as a gentle, non-medicated cleanser.
August 23, 2014
Only thing that cleared up 10 years of acne
The first week it felt very harsh on my skin. It was red and looked a little sunburned. After the frst week it stopped burning and you could start to see a difference in my skin. This was the ONLY thing that ever worked for my skin. My face has been clear for 7 months now.
August 20, 2013
Nope.
Cons:
Burning, itching, peeling, redness, drying
Took about a month for my skin to recover
Can't tolerate with sensitive skin
If you have any degree of sensitive skin, please save yourself the pain and do not use this product. I should have predicted the outcome I would have with this medication because I can't tolerate BP. So, BP and retinol together....Nope. Not good. I felt like my skin was melting off my face. I had extreme redness, drying, itching, peeling, and burning. I was using this product on my forehead, so it must have gotten into the area around my eyes which hurt so badly I was in tears for days. No moisturizer could remedy the damage this product caused at that time. LIke I sad, bad bad bad for sensitive skin!
August 9, 2013
Works Well - with patience
Pros:
Quick and easy to apply
Cheap (I live in Australia and a tube lasts about 6 months)
Very effective, especially after a few months of use
Cons:
Can bleach towels, clothes and sheets
Can cause a bit of redness in areas of face on ocassion
I had been using BP (as part of The Regimen) for over a year, but decided to switch to Epiduo to try and reduce the amount of time I was taking to complete my skin regimen each day. Because my face was already adjusted to BP I didn't have any reactions to Epiduo, such as dry skin or redness but I did notice a little bit of redness on occasion in the creases next to my mouth. When this happened I just skipped one night's application and my skin was fine by the following day. In the first few months I had minor breakouts (about 1 - 2 pimples a week) but this slowly started to reduce. I became completely clear at around month 5 and have remained so for over a month now. If you have not used Epiduo before, its important to build up slowly, applying only every few days, then every second until you are applying every night and your skin is adjusted. Its also true that less is truly more. Only ever apply a pea size amount. This is plenty to apply all over your face. If you use more than this, it just adds unnecessary irritation without making it work better. It takes a few months before you see the full effects, so patience is paramount. Plus its also important to moisturise to keep your skin balanced. I really like this product - its quick to apply, its a once a day application and it works so long as you have the patience to get through the first few months.
May 11, 2013
Pros:
Quick spot treatment
Cons:
Can be irritating
I'm male in my late 40s and have had mild but persistent acne since my teens. Oral isotretinoin at 37 gave some relief for a while but then I went back on the usual cycle of prescription oral & topical antibiotics, plus azelaic acid and epiduo (2.5% BP + 0.1% Adapalene). Whilst this help control acne I found the BP part irritating and it led to dry, red patches on my skin that moisturisers only partially resolved. Overall it's good at zapping spots but can be quite strong for sensitive skin.
December 23, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne very quickly
Tube lasts a long time
Easy to use
Gets rid of stubborn pimples
Cons:
Dries out face
Slight redness
Itchiness for few days
I've been suffering from mild/moderate acne from the age of 15. In the past I have used oxytetracycline, Yasmin, dianette, doxycycline, quinoderm and duac which have all failed to work. My doc recently prescribed me epiduo and I have to say its an amazing product. My sister is also on it and advised me to use a very smal amount (tiny blob) before bed on each area where I am prone to acne. First miss three days in using it. The following week miss two days in between using it then third week use it every day. I am on my first week and have to say it is already making a big difference. The cysts on my chin have decreased immensely and the pimples on my nose and cheek have totally flattened and going less red. My skin did dry out quite abit but i used moisturiser 10minutes before applying the epiduo. And this reduced the redness and flakiness the next day. Some people may suffer IB But I advise you to wait it out as it will work.
Pros:
Got free trial sizes from GP