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
571
Read All About Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
38.2%
4
27.5%
3
11%
2
8.6%
1
14.7%

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

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November 19, 2010
After becoming "immune" to Duac my dermatologist prescribed me Epiduo to use once at night. I've been using it for 4 days and notice it's bringing out newer/frequent pimples, most are small raised bumps on my chin with one cystic like pimple. Is this normal to see in the beginning? & if so, how long does this occur for? I see a lot of people are saying they broke out at first when using it but how soon did that happen for them??
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September 2, 2010

Pros:

Cleared the bulk of spots.
Pretty much killed them overnight.

Cons:

-Drying+flaking
-Stings
-Redness

I found that after continued use (from about the 3-6th week) it kept bringing new pimples to the surface and left me with a lot of blocked pores and in turn they became inflamed

It worked well when i had moderatley bad skin to clear the bulk of my acne but then it started breaking me out a bit so i stopped it and used a 4% benzoyl peroxide and that did the trick.
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May 29, 2010

Pros:

Easy to use cream, almost gel like.
Keeps my skin CLEAR
No new blemishes!!

Cons:

A little drying at first, fixed that with Cerave lotion
I cant put moisturizer immediatley on after, it burns

Easy to use, apply pea sized amount to each area (nose, chin forehead, ect...) after washing. It is drying, so use a moisturizer! But it can burn if applied directly after, so I put moisturizer on in the mornings, this stuff on at night. This AND bc pills and Bactrim has kept me spot free since I started so I cant say which is doing the most work, but its great! I put severity as light since i dont have acne anymore! LOVE IT. Free so far with my samples, but I'm filling my prescription next week. Hope its not too pricey!
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December 19, 2009

Pros:

Similar to Duac but a little bit cheaper.

Cons:

Can dry skin. Seems to make me more sensitive to sunlight. Doesn't work much, WONT clear acne.

Like with other topical creams Ive tried, it helps, but stops working. So I'm having Blackmores B Vitamin Complex with Nature's Own Zinc (separate). And I'm getting more of Vitamin B5 (separate), because the B5 in the complex is too low, should be having like over 500mg a day of B5 at least to get rid of acne. And I'm waiting on my order from SkinB5 for the cleanser, moisturiser and mask. And my recommendation is 'no' if your acne is moderate and worse then moderate. It won't clear it. Sure if your acne is very light or light have a try.
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August 15, 2017
Average
Ive used this on and off for years since I was 13 (I'm now 18) and always stop because it dries my oily skin up so badly. However I decided to stick with it and try again and it cleared up my skin quite well, I kept sticking out the dryness as I could see it was working but after 4 months I gave up again. The dry skin is just such a put off for me and always makes me stop using it. I think it works for clearing active acne but I can't say it did much for my skin texture or blocked pores. Also over the years I have destroyed countless clothes and pillow cases as this causing bleaching in fabrics. However id still recommend it as it did help my skin but it hasn't been a life saver for me. Its worth a try
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March 10, 2017
Epiduo saved my skin!
I am so grateful for this product. I suffered from moderate and cystic acne for around 2 years before seeing a dermatologist that presecribed me Epiduo in combination with antibiotics. My acne was completely gone 1 month later. After 2 months I got off the antibiotics but my skin is still clear - all thanks to Epiduo! However, I should mention that the first week of Epiduo was hell. My skin was flaky, lots of irritation etc. My solution to this was to use a Cetaphil cleanser + moisturizer before applying Epiduo. This combination helped me a lot and my skin irritation stopped. Nevertheless, I am now suffering from really oily skin due to my Epiduo treatment. This clearly bums me out but with the help of certain makeup and oil absorbing powders (transparent powder) I have managed to control this. It's an irritating side effect but with 100% clear skin - I can deal with a bit of oil.
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February 17, 2017
Still premature but noticing results right away
Hi, In a last attempt at doing something for my skin before taking the accutane plunge, I saw the doc and asked for the Epiduo (tactuopump here in Canada) cause I had heard on YouTube from a few people it cleared their skin up surprisingly well- they all appeared to have accutane like results so I thought what the heck. Tane is scary and even though I'm in no hurry to take it the possibility is fast approaching. My skin was under control up until about 4 months ago with Neostrata glycol if line, then I had an ingenious idea to try oil cleansing which SCREWED UP MY SKIN. Ugh I ended up with so many under the skin bumps that have taken over two months to surface and I am in a point of cystic acne that is moderately covering my entire lower half of my face. Absolutely horrific compared to the progress I had been seeing before. Anyhow, Epiduo has dried the hell out of my skin, it's tight, it hurts, not ideal BUT it had cleared about 85 percent of my active acne within my first week of use. I understand I may purge but I am quite surprised at the fast progress. The dryness pain is worth it I just want the bumps gone. If this works and I don't have to go on accutane it'll be a blessing. Will update soon
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November 29, 2016
Not perfect, but the best product I've tried!
I'm 21 and female, I got my acne out of nowhere at age 18. I went to a skin therapist and did some extremely expensive acid treatments. That helped with the worst of it. But I still had my acne and redness. I tried a lot of different products but nothing worked. Then I went to a regular doctor who prescribed Epiduo (in combination with Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer) and after about 2-3 months I could see great results! Sure, I still have some red spots, scars and my skin is quite red - but I wouldn't even call it acne anymore! Epiduo is the only product I've actually seen a difference with, and it's cheap and simple! Epiduo is definitely worth a shot! I'm so happy to finally feel good about my face again! I think the secret to get rid of acne is to give it a lot of time and to use a simple routine.
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April 30, 2016
Works but very irritating
Like the title says,very irritating but fair enough for mild to moderate acne.And since it causes skin flaking(at least for me),it gave me hypermigmentation.
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February 25, 2016
Be Patient
The first few months were rough as my sensitive skin adjusted. I started out applying the EpiDuo once every 3 nights, and eventually moved to applying it every night. It look time for the redness to go away, but so worth it. I have been using EpiDuo for over 2 years now and my skin has never looked better. People actually compliment my complexion! I am now going off EpiDuo because the price has been increasing for me each time I refill. Bummer!
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strongbadia5000
February 25, 2016
You can get a generic benzoyl peroxide gel and a generic retinoid and just rotate them every other night to save money.
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iwon03
March 10, 2016
is it good to spot treat pimples through Epiduo? thanks a lot
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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