Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Reviews
3.7
579 Reviews
Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
67%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
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.
Read All About Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
38.2%
4
27.3%
3
11.1%
2
8.6%
1
14.9%

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

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 11, 2017
Active ingredients seem to have already wore off by the time the medication is finished
I will try keep the medication in refrigerator and see if this helps Always a new gel has better results from a month old . I kept the medication under 25 celcius as advised ( room temp)
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November 8, 2017
It also advises not to refrigerate the gel (catch 22 for those of us in hot climates). Maybe that could be why?
November 11, 2016
Product used: Epiduo (Forte Gel)
epi do it for me
epiduo is great for drying active acne, a small amount will do wonders , don't use to much as it can burn your skin. Epiduo keeps your skin and pores clean and dry ,which is a good thing for people with oily skin and a added bonus as you would be applying this with your hands by smooching it on your face with your hands you are sterilizing them as well ,this product works well with a cataphil lotion , but no moisturizer as it would just increase oil production
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September 14, 2016
Definitely recommend!!
Okay so I used to use this in my teens but as my skin pretty much cleared up I stopped. My skin suddenly went really bad again these past few years and literally nothing has been working. My skin would clear up for a couple of months but then out of no where it would turn to complete sh*t again. So recently a friend raved about dermalogica medibac kit so I thought why not and gave it a try. The big bumps I had kind of got smaller but I still has comedomes and after 2 weeks I saw no results so I stopped. Anyway I've been getting these facials where they do extractions and kind of laser your skin to try prevent acne and get rid of pigmentation/scars (guys I really recommend this, it's great for your skin and it really does help your acne). she practically yelled at me for changing cleansing regimes (lol oops) BUT since then I've been cleansing day and night with cetaphil and using epiduo. I use it day and night even though it says once at night only. Because I've used it before, the dryness didn't really bother me - you can just moisturise throughout the day. It's been only a couple of days but I can definitely see results. I think it's a combination of the facial but I had some leftover pimples that were purging and they calm down immensely over night with epiduo. My comedomes also seem to be gradually going away but I'll definitely post an update after a couple of more weeks. I've read a lot of negative reviews but it really does work wonders so why not give it a try. If you're looking for faster results you might wanna try going for the facial beforehand Hope this helped!
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July 29, 2016
It's a No For Me
I've had acne for a few years and this was the first thing I tried. I have a blurry memory with Epiduo because it was 3 years ago but it did not work
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March 10, 2016
Not for all skin types
It helps at first but then my skin turns too sensitive, irritated, itchy, flaky, red and burning feeling. I can't use any products with BP in. I have never had before sensitive skin, "thanks" to this product my skin has changed and now I have to choose carefully products I'm using on my face.
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February 2, 2016
3 weeks & 2 days into treatment
I got on this product because I was so sick and tired of my persistent acne. Throughout high school and most of college I had regular skin with a pimple here and there but nothing abnormal at all. Right after I graduated college (22 years old) my acne started to get worse and worse. At its worst I have subsurface pimples, large pores, blackheads, and whiteheads. My cheeks is where I get the majority of my acne and towards the sides of my face. On my forehead there are a few blackheads here and there and the same goes for my chin. The subsurface bumps are soooooo painful!! I started epiduo in January 2016, and today marks the 3rd week and 2nd day. I haven't had any significant improvements in my skin as a whole but I made the decision to stick with the treatment for a total of 3 months and if I saw no improvements I would either get to a dermatologist or try the acne.org regimen. Every single review I've read has said that it does take a while to work, so I believe 3 months is plenty of time for my skin to be well adjusted and for me to see some type if results. I also noticed that a lot of reviewers were saying that their skin started to clear within the first 1-2 weeks while using epiduo, but I just figure because I have sensitive skin it may take my skin a little while longer than others. Right now my skin is very dry/flaky, and my cheeks still have a ton of bumps on them. I use the epiduo with the Cetaphil face wash and moisturizer and Botanicals Rosewater toner to combat irritation. Again after 3 months I'll decide if epiduo is worth staying on but if it continues the way its been going then I'll probably just try the acne.org regimen! I gave the product 3 stars and recommended simply because I have only been on it for 3 weeks so I can't say with confidence that it does or does not work. I will post another review after 3 months!
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December 3, 2015
DO NOT USE I BEG YOU
horrible.. ruined my entire face. im a 17 year old boy and have always have 100% flawless skin and got a couple zits on my cheeks from over drying it swimming everyday during the summer and i wanted them gone cause it was annoying. so i read some good reviews on this, had a friend who used it and worked for him and also saw the commercials and stuff., so i had my dad (whos a family doctor) prescribe it for me. it did nothing at first then turned my mild acne into giant cysts all over my face. its been 5 months and im still working to clear the horrible scarring and other zits that formed from trying other crappy products in an attempt to clear the acne that epiduo started.
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January 15, 2016
Maybe you should've made a smart choice and gone to a dermatologist who actually knows what they're doing, instead of assuming you know everything. You should've at least done some research into who it's meant for and what to expect, because it's definitely not meant for people with very mild acne.
September 10, 2015
Works great, but don't expect perfection
I am happy with the results so far. Keep on using it for 12 weeks!
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November 30, 2015
Hi, did you wear any makeup during the treatment process?
May 12, 2015
Early stages
I've suffered from acne since I was in year 8 (13 yrs old), I am now 19. It's something that I really struggle with, I've found temporary solutions but nothing that has really stopped it in its tracks. I did have acne on my back, but when I went on the pill (birth control) that cleared it up, which led me to think it would do the same for my face, I was wrong. I went to my dermatologist in year 11 I think it was and he prescribed me epiduo, and told me that this was something to try before accutane, which I really did not want to go on. So I think I used it for a couple months, but I can't really remember what my reaction and results were from that time. I must have been lazy or forgot about using it. Reading all of these reviews now, I wish that I had stuck with it. Maybe then I wouldn't be in this situation. Abit about my acne now: My acne has been moderate, I get a lot on both of my cheeks and breakouts on my forehead, and when 1 goes away, another 2 come up. ( I am a culprit of picking pimples). They are usually little red with yellow heads a lot of the times in groups (lucky me). I've never had any cystic acne, so you guess that's where I am abit lucky. I wear makeup everyday, it's hard not to when your skin looks like mine. This year I became fed up and decided to try epiduo again. Last week was the first time that I tried it, and I used it at night ( I know how much to use, from previous experience). So that night it didn't irritate my skin one bit, I was thinking maybe since I've used it before my skin might be used to it. The next morning when I woke up my spots had considerably gone down, obviously I wasn't expecting a miracle over night but that did give me some hope. The products I use in conjunction with the epiduo is the cetaphil gentle cleanser, witchazel toner and cetaphil moisturising cream. So the next few nights I repeated the process by only putting a thin layer over my problem areas and it was fine. After about 3 days of using it at nightly skin began to sting and was very inflamed, I knew that this was normal so I continued. It has been 1 and a half weeks nearly and my skin is very very dry. I'm not sure if I'm using enough moisturiser so tonight I might apply abit more than I usually do. But last night I noticed 2 pimples in a row on my cheek under the skin. I knew that they were going to make it to the surface and they did the next day. I'm not sure if I'm going to leave out epiduo for tonight and continue tomorrow. At the moment I am studying to be a beauty therapist, and my teacher has told me to stop the treatment for the duration of the course ( 1 year) because of the facials and waxing we do on the face. I really don't think it's an option for me, I've started now and i want to continue to get the best results. So I think I'm going to moisturise as much as possible and put on as little epiduo as I can. I just wanted to document my journey with epiduo, and maybe in a month or more I will write another entry. I am very hopeful that this product will work, and I will try not to give up. Thank you everyone for writing there experiences and reviews, it has really given me some confidence in epiduo . Please feel free to comment or anything to give me some tips/advice/maybe just to have a chat about your journey :)
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May 10, 2015
1 In 100
Well I broke out horrible in 2014 it was so bad I cried when looking in the mirror I went to the doctor and they put me on Diane 35 it was amazing!!!! Within 3 months my acne was completely gone I was so happy I thought I could stop wearing makeup!!! But then it all tired bad I was vomiting I couldn't see so I went back to the doctors and turns out I'm allergic to one of the ingredients in birth control pills including Diane 35 so I had to be taken off it so now all my acne has come back. Yay! Not! So I've gone back to the doctor and they have out me on doxycycline antibiotics and epiduo cream but after first use of the cream the pain was unbearable my face was so painful and ichy!!! I then read the box and it said 1 in 10 people we have dry sore skin and 1 in 100 will have ichy skin!!! So not only am I allergic to the medication that works I'm also 1 in 100! So here I am still with a face full of acne crying every morning when I look in the mirror. Any other suggestions??? (16 years old)
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May 28, 2015
Ziana may be perfect for yu. It is very mild.

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.

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.