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:

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November 25, 2018
WARNING before using Epiduo

Before I begin: do NOT apply Epiduo to a large area of the skin until you have completed a 48 hour 'patch test'.

I applied a small amount of Epiduo to the 'T-zone' and did not notice any redness or stinging at first. However, the following evening some redness began to show. I assumed that this was a normal response, since there was no pain, and applied another small amount. 

The area quickly began to burn and I removed the product within 5 minutes of application. By the next morning, the redness had spread to almost my entire face (exceeding where the Epiduo had been applied initially) and my skin was sore, dry and flaky. This continued for another day, getting worse until eventually the burning became so severe that the only relief was from holding my face in ice water, meanwhile the skin became incredibly tight, cracking at the driest points, and swelling.

The burning pain was so excruciating that I was taking both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Getting no relief from either, I took Codeine whilst continuing to ice my face. I was concerned that I was having an allergic reaction due to the swelling, and went to A&E.

The burning, cracking and swelling was so intense that I had to refrain from screaming in pain in the waiting room. I was administered an emergency topical anaesthetic that is used to treat burns.

The following day the swelling was at its worst and I could barely move my face, however the burning pain had subsided. I lost a layer of skin, but (luckily) it healed within two days.

I am now aware of the fact that with Epiduo 'your skin will get worse before it gets better' (my dermatologist failed to mention this), however the severity of the skin's initial reaction will vary with each patient. Unfortunately, I was left in unbearable pain beyond what is tolerable in exchange for good results.

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of leaving your 'patch test' for 48 hours or more as my response to the Epiduo took days to emerge. Some may choose to continue with the treatment, if it does not cause a great deal of pain (or despite the pain, if you really are desperate for results), however you MUST give yourself time to test the product on a small area and fully consider whether you are prepared to go through with treatment. Do NOT apply without testing

November 9, 2018
Epiduo!
Hi there! I'm a 31 year old female. Struggling with acne for 15 years, with lots of ups and downs. Few years of clear skin, few years of horrible acne. Used pretty much everything, I can't even remember all of the creams and tabletes.. 2 years ago a got married, and stopped using bcp, as trying to get pregnant. Skin was clear, me happy. Then, about 4 months ago as we couldn't get pregnant naturaly, we started with the IVF. Allready done 2 cicles, no success. All I got from those synthetic hormones were cluged pores and comedonal acne. Was, and am, soo soo sad that my clear face was ruined. Anyways, I finnaly went to see my dermatologyst, and she suggested I take: Epiduo gel (at night, right before going to sleep), Eucerin Dermopure micellar water and Eucerin Dermopure Adjunctive Soothing Cream. Have been using this trio for exactly 18 days. Finnaly I can see the little improovement!! At firts, sking felt like it was too small for my face, it burnt, was itchy, peeling, got painful break out..and I was depressed, wouldn't go out, crying..was soo down, my self esteem so low, even I have the most wonderful man beside me. Now, 18 day after, i can see a light in the end of a tunnel. My skin condition is yet far from clean, but it's on its good way to that. Closed comedones are still here, but in smaller number, i have 1 cystic acne (from initial break out I think). I hope things would go well from now on.. I'm giving to Epiduo 3/5 cause I'm not acne free, yet, i hope! I'll keep you posted in comments. Fingers crossed! Wish all the best to all of you! P.s. when on Epiduo, your skin becomes very thin, so if you go and pop your zits you'll end up with real wound. Telling you-been there done that! Thank god epiduo fastens the act of healing!
November 22, 2018

How are you getting on? I am one week into epiduo gel. I completely understand not wanting to go out. The final straw for me was when I was due to go for a meal with my other half and his friends and I tried to apply make up and felt so down I cancelled and stayed in crying! I decided I had to go doctors

How are you getting on? I am one week into epiduo gel. I completely understand not wanting to go out. The final straw for me was when I was due to go for a meal with my other half and his friends and I tried to apply make up and felt so down I cancelled and stayed in crying! I decided I had to go doctors

December 16, 2018

Hey! My face isn't completely clear, but it's better. My face is soo dry, i'll have to avoid applying epiduo every night, as i did fot the past 2 weeks. Yesterday I went on comedone extraction and now have horrible reddness, i wont be able to go to work tomorrow!!!! God, I hope this will heal quickly!!! Enivejz, i am od 8th week now and hope in 2 weeks my face will be better, it's christmas soon and this is all i want...

How are u doing?

November 3, 2018
9 months treatment = no results
Absolutely useless. Has been 9 Months on this f***g s**t. Good luck with it. Maybe it will help you. May we all have beautiful and healthy skin! Much love.
October 7, 2018
Life saver!
I've been suffering from mild-moderate acne. I broke out severely after going through some health issues so I decided to see a dermatologist who recommended Epiduo. I started noticing my acne clearing within a few weeks! It's been 5 years I've been using Epido which I can't live without. I do get a pimple here and there but for the most part my skin looks so good and radiant. I would highly recommend this drug.
July 11, 2018
Not for all skin types but is definitely worth a try
When I say different skin types I mean varied dry skin types or sensitive skin types it could work for someone with oily skin and leave a rash on someone who also has oily skin, one time it may leave a rash, burn or dry skin if it does then stop using it but before u give up on it a couple months later try it again just to be sure if it still leaves a bad reaction don't use it again. At first when I used it it left a rash so I left it for a while now âges later I've started using it again and it is great for small forehead bumps and can even make a spot smaller overnight for me and I have really sensitive skin on my brothers face it burnt him so he moved on to something a little harsh so it really is not for everyone or even depending on ur skin type but it could be worth a try
June 14, 2018
Question!
I have a question! I have moderate hormonal localised acne (that is mostly purple/red scars now) on my cheekbones right in front of both ears, either side of my mouth and scarring on my cheeks near my nose. I started Epiduo 3 days ago after my skin built up a resistance to Apo-Doxycycline 50mg and 100mg. The first night was fine, pimples under the skin came up and disappeared by the end of the day. I did learn quite quickly that you CANNOT put the cream on popped pimples, cause it leaves a rash! The second day I helped a friend out with a makeup assessment and she put quite a thick layer of foundation on my face. It burned a little around my eyes and mouth, but I said I'd take the makeup off at home as I knew my face would be red underneath. I got home and used Garnier's Micellar Water to take off the makeup, and alas, my cheeks became hot and red and my eyes stung like hell. I put a cold towel on my face and just laid down on the bathroom floor because it hurt so much. I also put Borage Seed Oil on my face, which calmed the redness a bit. I went to bed praying that I'd look better in the morning. This morning I woke up and my skin looked great! My skin was smooth and glowing and didn't hurt at all. I've learnt that my skin gets angry when I cleanse it in the morning, no matter what cleanser I use, so I just use a hydrating serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. I wet my face, and when I touched it I realised why it was so smooth. Epiduo had bloody stripped a layer of skin off my face and there were burnt patches that killed to touch. I was in so much pain! I waited a bit to put any makeup on, probably around half an hour. I dabbed concealer on and that is all I put on my skin. I'm sitting at school now and my face is just burning. My skin is hot, and the skin under my eyes is swollen and ridiculously sore. I don't know what to do! I've read that people have experienced burning, but should I continue using it? I'm seeing my GP on Saturday, if my skin hasn't improved she's putting me back on Doxycycline 50mg. The products that I use: AM: - Cold Water - The Ordinary's Marine Hyaluronics - Dermalogica Active Moist - Nivea Daily Veil SPF 30+ - Clinique Concealer PM: - Cold Water - Clinique Redness Solutions Cleanser - The Ordinary's Marine Hyaluronics - Epiduo Cream (Spot Treatment, very thin layer, I use one pump) - Clinique Redness Solutions Moisturiser and if my face still feels dry - Dermalogica Active Moist
November 5, 2018
I would not use epiduo for localised acne from my experience! I did for a few local areas of acne on my cheeks. Well, it started to purge me in areas I had never had acne, and 1 year later, my face is 1000 times worse then when i started- the acne from cheeks is better, fine. but the rest of my face which had never seen a pimple is covered in cystic acne which i had never had.
June 10, 2018
Product used: Epiduo (Forte Gel)
Amazing!
I started on this mid-August of 2017, and now it's nearly been a year since I've been on it. When starting, I was definitely skeptical, based on the fact that no other acne treatments had been able to clear my stubborn, severely inflamed acne. I'm 14 now, I've had acne since I was about 9. Most people say that they go through a purge period while using this, typically at the beginning of use, but I was pretty lucky. I didn't get too many more pimples than I was getting on a weekly basis (about 4-7 new pimples a week :| ). I don't remember much from the beginning months. I had the same amount some weeks, I'd get new breakouts (not so many though) and the number of large, painful blind pimples and cysts I was getting has monumentally decreased since usage. Right now, my skin is 95% clear of acne, my main concern is hyperpigmentation, which is relieving to be concerned only about that. I can't recall the last time I had a cyst, which feels great! The only pimples I get now are super teeny and usually go away within 2-3 days. My best advice if you're trying this out would be to stick it out! Don't despair if you feel like you're getting worse, because it will definitely get better! Best of luck!
May 8, 2018
Bleh
Didn't do crap for me
April 25, 2018
Do not use for localised acne
Hello friends, I had moderate acne solely on my right cheek- literally never a spot anywhere else. This went on for about two years, and was starting to scar- potted, red, etc. So I forked out to see a derm, who prescribed epiduo. I used it for 7 months exactly. The first 4 months were utter hell. From having mild 'bumpy skin and max 2 spots' on my cheek i went from having full blown deep cystic acne. months 4-7, slowly cleared up, but has left scarring. Now the cheek is pretty much clear, but the entire rest of my face now gets spots. Epiduo essentially barred the spots from coming out on that 3cm space on my cheek, and instead now spread them across the rest of my face. Sadly, I now dream of having the skin I had before epiduo. Use with caution for small area.
March 1, 2018
Really effective for stubborn mild acne
I've had acne all my life and as a teenager it got so severe that I eventually went on Roaccutane (which worked amazing, but came with a lot of side effects). 4 years after finishing accutane my skin started breaking out again, which was worsened by changing contraceptive pill. I didn't develop deep cystic acne again but had constant stubborn whiteheads and small bumps all over my t-zone. I especially had a breakout of bumps under the skin on my forehead that wouldn't clear. I was almost ready to beg my doctor for Roaccutane again but she said to try Epiduo as my case was still 'mild'. The first few weeks my skin was dry, red and flaky. It itched and looked pretty gross (so I wouldn't try it before a big event, I waited until I had study period for exams and wasn't seeing many people). I managed the dryness using Cetaphil moisturising cream which is amazing, as well as jojoba oil at night, and my skin eventually adapted. The key is to moisturise with it! Within a few weeks my skin had dramatically cleared and now I only need to use it every few days on new spots, and it dries them up really quickly and stops them becoming any bigger or inflamed. I'm not sure if it would work well with deep cystic acne, but for mild surface breakouts and whiteheads it has worked really well for me. Warning: if you use too much this will make your skin crusty and dry - use a sparing amount and make sure you moisturise with it and exfoliate dead skin regularly.

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.