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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Read All About Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
39.1%
4
29.2%
3
10.3%
2
7.9%
1
13.5%

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

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July 28, 2012

Pros:

-Works (For a While)
-Dries quickly
-No smell
-Cheap with coupon
-No purging for me.
-Spot treatment for back acne.

Cons:

-Causes some irritation. (i.e. Itching, Redness, Sun sensitivity, Extreme dryness)
-Sadly my skin got used to it.
-If you forget to use it once, you break out.
-Can bleach towels if you don't was it off your fingers completely.
-Does nothing for the scars acne can leave behind.

I was put on Epiduo in November 2011. It is now July 2012. Epiduo worked wonders for me and I thought I found the cure. It cleared my face up about 95% in about a month. Sadly, in June 2012, for some reason I broke out terribly (Worse than my face was before Epiduo) and it stayed until now. I also had EXTREME dryness, like if I got out of the shower or a pool, it was time to bring out the moisturizer. It also made my face extremely sensitive to the sun, and my face wont get an even tan. I have to use a ton of moisturizer, even with my oily skin. I went back to my Derm. Two days ago and he put me on Tazorac and Aczone. This is my last option because I am now on some list for Accutane.
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July 22, 2012

Pros:

Gets rid of acne
Gets rid of milia
Fades scars
Works fast

Cons:

REDNESS
BURNING
FLAKING

So im thirteen and ive only been using this for three days and i already see results. Ive had had a severe case of milia, bad acne, and quite a few scars. Ive tried everything and it all worked for a day then stopped working And made my acne worse. Epiduo worked and hasnt stopped yet. The redness and Burning only lasts while The medication is still drying, and the flaking is barely noticable. It got rid of a few painful cysts on my forehead that have been there for months, and i hardly recognise myself when i look in the mirror. Ive been using samples my doctor gave me with Cetaphil. I definitely recommend this product!!! :)
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July 19, 2012

Pros:

- The most least irritating acne product I have ever used
- The combination of benzoyl peroxide and adapalene is synergistic
- It works!

Cons:

- Like most acne products, it has its own side effects including drying, flaking, redness and itchiness BUT its side effects are minimal compared to the other acne products i have used
- I think it is expensive but i get it for free with my parent's insurance

Follow the directions on the label. My routine is as follows: AM: - Cleanse with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser with warmish to coolish water - Pat dry with a towel - Moisturize with Cetaphil Lotion PM: - Cleanse with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser with warmish to coolish water - Pat dry with a towel - Wait for 30 minutes - Apply the gel
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July 15, 2012

Pros:

-cleared up 90% of my acne
-lasts a long time (a little goes a long way)
-haven't had a major breakout in months
-easy to apply
-dries fairly quickly
-makes skin feel smooth & clean

Cons:

-takes a long time to work
-causes an initial breakout
-dries out skin for the first month or two
-burns & tingles when applied on the first month

If you're going back and fourth on whether or not to buy this product, I hope this review will convince you to. I'm 17 and i've struggled with acne since 13, and NOTHING has seemed to work. I've gotten topicals, oral medications, facials, peels, you name it, and none of them worked. I went through times where i would just cry due to the frustration of the acne on my face. Thankfully, I came across Epiduo, and it has seriously been a life saver. I got a compliment on my skin the other day (which never has happened) and i seriously cried, i was that happy. I was always known as the girl with the terrible skin, i even got my own nicknames! Now they have nothing to say, cause my face is extremely clear. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results quickly, it took 3-4 months for my acne to finally settle down. It will dry your skin out at first, but moisturizer will fix that problem. I used it the first week and it caused me to break out a bit at first, which made me think about not using it at all... Thank God i decided to stick with it. I'm a little mad at my doctor for not telling me about it sooner, it would have helped during my earlier high school years. But to whoever is reading this, go RUN to your doctor/dermatologist and get this product, you won't regret it :)
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July 12, 2012

Pros:

-Burns acne away in a couple of days

Cons:

- REDNESS
-BURNING

DONT RECOMMEND. I had a mild amount of acne. Although it did clear the acne in the short run, it didnt clear it in the long term. So i used this product for a while and acne kept returning. My face became very blotchy, with red spots. I am currently on Roaccutane (Accutane) and it has cleared my acne. BUT the redness is not disappearing. All because i tried epiduo. DONT RECOMMEND
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July 10, 2012

Pros:

Clearer skin- Fast!

Cons:

Skin dried a bit at the beginning

SUCH a good product. Fast acting and it really works well for me (i'm 15)
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June 29, 2012

Pros:

-Improved the number of pimples I got
-No greasy feeling when applying
-Made my acne not as red the next morning
-Made my skin look clearer

Cons:

-Initial breakouts
-Dried my skin out a lot
-Burned
-Didn't clear my skin completely.

I am so glad i used epiduo! I've been using it for almost a year now and my acne was REALLY bad. I have cystic acne so I would always get these massive bumps all over my face- even my nose! Epiduo made my acne better by not getting so many pimples. The downfall was the initial breakouts. I would breakout more at first but after a few weeks it got a little better and then I started seeing major improvements by about 3 months. I still use it now though. However, I had to use a lot of moisturizer because my skin would peel and fall off, and it really burned when i put it on the next day. I still do get huge bumps on my face, just not as many, but IT DOES NOT CLEAR YOUR ACNE COMPLETELY! One great thing I noticed is that it helps prevent breakouts when your stressed- and I have had a lot of stress after my aunt passed away of Ovarian Cancer and my mom getting breast cancer. When I used Epiduo, I didn't break out at all during those difficult times. I used cetaphil soap and moisturizer and it did my skin good. I would also get some sun during the summertime because thats the time my skin was the best, but I live in Florida so I guess that's normal. Overall, If you just want an improvement on the number of pimples you are getting, epiduo isn't a bad thing to ask your dermatologist about. But don't expect it to clear your acne all the way, i still get some zits but I am much happier than i was before!
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June 17, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my acne
Exfoliated my skin
It was free because my derm gave me a bunch of samples

Cons:

Made my skin look flaky
Initial breakout sucks!!

I want to say I'm also on doxycycline which together with the epiduo has Completly cleared my skin of acne ( I get a pimple or two a week before my period but nothing like before) my skin was clear up until march if 2012 then it went crazy and started popping up all over my face forehead, cheaks, chin, and they were NOT SMALL!! They where big ugly and painful, it's been 11 weeks since I started the epiduo and 13 weeks for the doxy and I am so relieved. You just gotta get though that initial breakout and you will get great results, I used ( and am still using)Cera Ve foaming facial cleanser Cera Ve day and night facial moisturizing lotion, I put the epiduo on before my Cera Ve night lotion and it's never stung or burnt bad at all. I do think acne treatment benefits from antibiotics like doxy or minocycline (solodyn) so you treat from the inside and out, I'm also an aesthetician and I definitely needed presciption meds for my skin, I could not deal with it myself, thanks, and don't stop it because of the initial breakout be patient and you will see results!!
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June 8, 2012

Pros:

Eventually will clear skin

Cons:

burning
itching
PAINFUL
redness

My younger sister bought this product and she LOVED it! I really don't have "bad" acne; my skin is actually really good. About 3 months ago my skin spazzed out on me! i didn't know what I was doing wrong: I didn't sleep with my makeup on, I always washed my face, etc... The only thing i can remember changing was I wasn't using my Clinque 3 Step System. My sister let me use her Epiduo, and by the second day of wearing it, my skin felt like it was on fire! My sister assured my that it was only temporary. I toughed it out, and it felt like it wasn't serving any purpose. After a month of torture, my acne cleared up slightly. I did not continue to use it after that, but I did switch back to my Clinque and my skin looks awesome!
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June 3, 2012

Pros:

really works
easy to use

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!
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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