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
496
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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January 8, 2012

Pros:

does dry out pimples and prevents them from getting bigger and uglier
works on very pale asian sensitive skin
did not have any major breakouts since started using it
easy to use, dries fast

Cons:

can make your skin very dry and pill off

I am using it for about 1 months now and it does help. I have very pale asian skin and my acne is moderate. When I started using it I got 3 new breakouts which disappeared very quickly and felt for about 1 week as if I had a sunburn on my face. My skin did improve quite quickly and I am looking forward to see if it clears me completely. I was told by my doctor to use it for 3 months to see the results. I would recommend it because nothing worked so far in the past. and I have tried everything except accutane.
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January 5, 2012

Pros:

Dries clear and fast

Cons:

Burns skin
Dries skin
Burned my upper eyelids
Didnt really work

I have been suffering with acne for 6 years (since I was 14) and have tired Many products and nothing worked. My derm gave me epiduo advertising it like it was a miracle cream and I was utterly disappointed not to see any major results. Benzoyl peroxide helps more than epiduo I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Safe yourself the hassle of burning your face. I feel like anyone who's claiming it works is just having a placebo effect
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January 3, 2012

Pros:

It works better than anything else I have tried, and I've tried a lot of things!

Cons:

You can only get it cheap with insurance + a discount card and even then it's $35/tube. Each tube could last you 1-2 years, though.

Also, the initial breakout can be bad.

DO NOT follow the doctor's instructions if you have sensitive skin at all! This medication is very harsh - that's why it works - but if you use it as instructed it can destroy your skin. The standard instructions I was given were to: a) apply a small amount to the entire face. -- this does not work. The acne-prone areas don't get enough and the clear skin breaks out and dries out. I use the recommended pea-sized amount and apply only to acne-prone areas. b) apply to dry skin 20 min after washing. -- again, this is really harsh on your skin. I apply it to unwashed skin around 3-4pm and wash off before bedtime at 11pm-12am, OR apply immediately after washing at bedtime and let dry 10 min (so I don't bleach my pillow). The initial breakout was bad, but I applied a lot to bare, dry skin every day because I was in a hurry to clear my skin up before my wedding. (It took 5 months to completely clear - success!) I think this could have been avoided by following the recommended changes above. On the whole I recommend this medication. I also combined it with 50mg Zinc and Airborne (Trader Joes) every day to treat my cystic acne. With all three *every day* I have clear skin for the first time in 10 years. (Other things I tried: the acne cure, the regimen, urine therapy, various supplements, various drug store products, scrubbing, doing everything, not doing anything. The only things I didn't try were accutane & birth control)
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December 29, 2011

Pros:

Clears Acne
Works fast saw results in 3 days
Heels old scares
Keeps my face clear even with the use of make up
Can be applied under make-up
Drys clear
Drys out oily skin

Cons:

Did not get rid of my blackheads
Burns the first 2 weeks
Drys out skin the first 2-3 weeks
Expensive with out insurance
Can't use other products like moisturizer due to skin being extra sensitive
Burns in the sun

I am 22 years old and I started getting acne in my late teens. I have wasted this year alone over $700 on facials and products at this high end spa. Every time I got a facial my face would be red for 3-5 days. My face would only stay clear for a week maybe 3. I finally decided to see a proffesional about 3 weeks age. I must say I wish I would had done it years ago. I have wasted so much on retail non working products. I tried proactive only worked for a couple weeks. I recomend everyone to reserch the best dermatologist and go for it. Might as well spend the money and clear your face ones and for all. You will just keep spending other wise. Epiduo works but it can be very expensive I saved $75 with a coupon I got on there site. My Pimpels are all gone. I still have black heads, I did pop them. I put Epiduo over the pop black heads and they have not been back. My demoatologist also prescribed me doxycycline hyclate pills. I take two a day. This pill are very strong and can make your stomach hurt bad. Well good luck getting rid of your acne and I completely recomend Epido. Go for it!
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December 25, 2011

Pros:

Works semi-quickly
Skin gets used to it
Goes on/dries clear
Can wear under/over makeup

Cons:

1st week of use=HELL!!!! (details below)
Peely, flaky, dry skin
Redness
Irritation

So..... My first week using this (let's call it the "initiation" week) was to introduce it to my skin and make my skin get used to it. My skin was red as a firetruck and dry as a desert. We're talking cracked, peeling, flaky, DISGUSTING skin. I had to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. This hurt very bad because you will experience extreme sensitivity on your face. These symptoms will get milder and milder and disappear after approx 1 month. Hang in there. Anyway, on to the good: After about a week, i noticed my acne (mostly my whiteheads) had gone down! However, after about 3 months of use, my acne started to appear again. Thennn, after some intense use for about 3 wks my acne started to fade completely and I am seeing BABY SMOOTH skin!
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December 23, 2011

Pros:

Works

Cons:

Slow. Iv been using for two mouths but I have a lot of acne

Best product iv ever used
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December 20, 2011

Pros:

It works! No more pimples, smaller pores, evens tone.

Cons:

I bleached my pillow and sheets :(

My acne was mild.. I would have about about 2-3 small blemishes at a time and maybe 1 larger one. I have large pores on my t-zone. I have been using the product for about 4 weeks. When I started I used it for four nights in a row. Face got very dry and a little red and burned when I moisturized. Stopped using for 4-5 nights to let it get back to normal. Then started using 3 nights in a row, one night break. I have no more drying or redness. I have not had one blemish since I started using this. Even my pores are getting small and my tone is more even. I love it!
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10 user(s) found this helpful

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December 15, 2011

Pros:

I think it works.

Cons:

I didn't see many changes with my acne.

Expensive placebo.
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December 14, 2011

Pros:

Pimples started to diminish after first 2 days. Minimal redness and burning. Smooths complexion out.

Cons:

Bleaches your pillow case --make sure you use an old one, or white one!

I'm 23, had bad forehead acne from 13-18. All my acne disappeared between 18-22. Now I'm 23 and I've been having very bad embarassing breakouts on my chin, cheeks and jawline. I have been using this for a week every night and my acne has cleared up 75%. It's a self-esteem/confidence savor. I hope it works as good for you as it has for me!
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14 user(s) found this helpful

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December 12, 2011

Pros:

Got rid of my severe acne completly
gave me my life back
makes scars and acne go away
cheap to buy
easy to use

Cons:

initial breakout was horrible acne doubled in severety

the initial three months of using this will be bad but if you can break through that you can get amazing results, i used to have tons of scars and red skin with 10 large whiteheads and some cysts on a consistant bases and now i have one small pimple a day! Been using it for a year!
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11 user(s) found this helpful

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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