Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
Results
Side Effects

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.

 [more]
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:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
November 14, 2011

Pros:

Amazing - Works wonders
Cheaper than Clearasil with concession card!

Cons:

Initial breakout
Dry skin and flakiness

This product is amazing. Yes, there is an initial breakout period when your acne will worsen, but if you persevere with the product, your acne will clear up, and stay clear. I'm using this with doxycycline 50mg daily. Also, as I have a concession card I only pay $5.60 for a 30g tube. That's cheaper than most OTC topical agents! Very happy indeed.
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 3, 2011

Pros:

-one of the best acne treatments out there for me
-2-in-1 action of the adapalene (increases skin turnover to reduce cystic acne and fade past scars, and prevents wrinkles) and benzoyl peroxide (kills germs to prevent new breakouts without really building resistance like some of the other antibiotics)

Cons:

I believe if insurance does not cover it, it can get quite pricey. Although you can go to their website and download a coupon so you only pay $35 for it, and it lasts 1-2 years so not bad for that amount of time.

Like any other treatment, it might not work for everyone, but it definitely worked for me. I have VERY oily skin naturally, so this doesn't dry me out unless it's the winter time, and even then, it only dries out my cheeks and not my T-zone. I used to get one or two breakouts a week, and then as those scars would heal, I would get more breakouts. Occasionally, I would even get a cyst. Retin-A Micro did not work for me. Proactiv was not strong enough for me. Various Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, Clearasil products did not work for me (I definitely need something prescriptive). I now use this at night and a topical sulfonamide by day. I used to use the Oscion benzoyl peroxide cleanser and that combination was KILLER!...but then the cleanser got really expensive so I just use Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleanser now.
This Was Helpful

Report
October 29, 2011

Pros:

- Cleared my acne

Cons:

- Redness and burning sensation
- Dryness and peeling/flaking

 BACKGROUND: I am a 27 year old female with fair skin that is very sensitive. I had mild acne during my late teens but it went away after I started taking the birth control pill Yasmin. I took Yasmin for 5 years and I had perfect skin. Then my doctor suggested that I switch to Yaz, which contains the same type of hormones as Yasmin, but lower doses. That's when my adult acne nightmare started ( I was 25). My skin was extremely oily and I had cysts all over my face. They were big and painful, and left horrible hyperpigmentation marks on my face.  I switched to different birth control pills and even went back to taking Yasmin, but my skin did not improve. My doctor prescribed me Retin-A which made my acne worse and left me with more scars. Then I started taking doxycycline but I had to stop because it made me very nauseous. For a while I stopped taking the pill and used over the counter products on my face and my skin improved some.  At that point in time, I would classify my acne as moderate. MY EPIDUO EXPERIENCE: I finally went to a dermatologist and he prescribed me Epiduo, to be applied to the face every night.  During the first week of use, my face was very red, like I had a sunburn, and my skin burned after application. In addition, I experienced extreme dryness, which lead to extreme peeling/flaking of skin. I looked like a lizard and make up only made it worse. I experienced a mild initial breakout that lasted about a week. The dryness and peeling/flaking lasted for about two months, but was manageable with Cetaphil face wash and CeraVe moisturizer with SPF 30. I have been using Epiduo for three months now and my skin is clear! I usually get a couple of small pimples during my period, but they heal very fast and leave no marks. My skin doesn't peel anymore, but sometimes it gets a little dry. I would like to point out that Epiduo did not fade any of my old hyperpigmentation, which is slowly going away with time. MY TWO CENTS: I am so glad I
This Was Helpful

24 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 25, 2011

Pros:

Cleared skin
Made skin less oily
Tighter pores
Softer, smoother skin

Cons:

Initial breakout
Itchy skin
Puffiness/redness

I have seriously tried EVERYTHING for my breakouts. When I was in my teens I used proactiv and it worked really well but then it just stopped working. I have tried everything prescribed and all antibiotics. I also work at a health food store so I have tried all sorts of natural remedies and treatments. When I got fed up I went back to the doctor. He gave me epiduo and told me if it didn't work that I would have to do accutane (which I refuse to try). I passed on the antibiotic because they're terrible for you and instead got a probiotic. And by the way.. 50 mg of Zinc picolinate has the same effect as tetracycline. I did have an initial breakout but it really didn't last long maybe 4 days? I'm at the beginning of my 3rd week and my skin SO soft and smooth. I really shouldn't, but I can't stop touching it. My pores are so small and even my hyper pigmentation is starting to fade. I did get a few cysts, granted it was around the time of my period, but the skin around it looked so beautiful. Bottom line: I love epiduo and will continue using it cause it's amazing. And I think everyone should at least try it and be patient!! Don't do accutane.
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 21, 2011

Pros:

- not risky
- free on NHS

Cons:

- didn't clear me up at all
- can be irritating

Basically, I was on this for well over two months and I actually think it made my acne a little worse during that time. I'm going to go back to basics and use Dan's Regimen. It might work for you, but it certainly didn't for me.
This Was Helpful

Report
October 15, 2011

Pros:

- IT WORKS !
- Dries quickly
- Lightweight
- You can see difference within 1 week

Cons:

- Does make you break out during first 1-2 weeks
- For the first week you may expirience dry, flaky or really red/burning side effects on spots of your skin (BUT that's just cause your face needs to adjust to the medication, after it does, it's like a MIRACLE WORKER!)

Basically this thing REALLY WORKS! I wish I could just tell anyone who has acne how much I love it, and PLEASE try it. I had really bad flare-ups and acne last year because I started using foundation all the time. Well, I stopped using the foundation, but the acne seemed permanent. I tried proactive (which is a joke people- don't do it) then I tried buying my own cleanser/ toner/ moistrizer. They were okay, but you could still tell the bumps were there- some of them really red. So I asked my doctor what she thought, and she gave me samples of Epiduo. OH MY GOD ! I know this sounds crazy- but I definetly saw results within 3 days. They were just minor at first: my redness was going down, the bumps seemed smaller, but by the end of the third week ALL MY ACNE had virtually dissapeared. I am currently in the fourth week of using Epiduo, and just let me tell you that my confidence has gone up as a result. And for some reason I've been really motivated to work out. So indirectly, Epiduo is really a life changer and I HIGHLY reccomend it. * Please if you are having red/ flaky skin (during the first week) just know that it does go away with continuos use of Epiduo. I promise you! Just please stick it out, you'll be happy you did.* Good Luck everyone! & please just remember to be patient with it, because it WILL work...but over time. P.S. I'm still using the samples my doctor gave me so I didn't pay for Epiduo, but I probably will have to when I run out.
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 19, 2011

Pros:

Everything. This product is amazing.

Cons:

Initial breakout was tough.
Dry skin and flakiness in the first month, but the skin soon acclimatises.

I would recommend this product to everyone! It is amazing. Combined with Cetaphil Sunscreen Moisturiser (marketed by the same company) my skin has never looked better! I am finally acne free!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 10, 2011

Pros:

clears up acne
controls oil and shine
evens out skin tone

Cons:

dries out skin and occasional flakiness can occur

The only con is the fact this product dries out my skin...alot. but this doesnt seem to be a problem for most users so its probably just my skin. as for clearing acne this is pretty much perfect because it controls the oil production hence the shine control. I also have acne scarring and this helped to clear it and even my skin out.i have light skin so the scarring was very prominant. i dont use epiduo consistantly as it dires out my skin too much and causes it to flake so i give it a rest. As i live in the UK, medication is free of cost so i dont have any comments about the price. Overall this product does what it says. *im 14 years old :)
This Was Helpful

10 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 27, 2011

Pros:

It's very easy to apply and thats about it.

Cons:

It drys out the skin and doesn't really work at all.

First of all this product was insanely expensive and didn't even do it's job. I tried it for a year and tried to keep my hopes up but it just didn't clear up my acne and I put it on every night. It did aboslutely nothing and was a complete waste of money.
This Was Helpful

Report
August 23, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne FAST
Really effective
Makes skin smooth
Lasts long
Not irritating to skin

Cons:

Expensive if insurance doesn't cover it

My dermatologist prescribed this to me about a year ago. Luckily he gave me a card that allows you to pay only $35 for it, otherwise it can be expensive. I put a pea size amount on my face after I get out of the shower or wash my face and it works great. If I ever get acne I put it on at night and when I wake up the next morning its already mostly gone. It starts working fast, you can see it working about fifteen minutes after you put it on. Its very effective.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 33 34 35 36 37 … 49
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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