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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November 18, 2010

Pros:

bottle lasts a long time
gets rid of pimples fast
creamy formula

Cons:

drying at first
left lots of flakes around my nose, on my chin and forehead
horrible breakouts first 2 weeks in

i was skeptical about using epiduo at first but i was desperate. my doctor told me to use it twice a day. the first few days using it, my existing pimples cleared up and i was happy. but by day 6 or so my acne had gone out of control. i was getting breakouts like never before. i wanted to stop but my mom told me to commit for at least 3 months. so i did. well im on week 10 right now and i couldn't be happier! i have not had a zit in 4 weeks and ALL of my old pimples completely disappeared. i am left with mild acne scarring but the epiduo gel is fading the scars away. i LOVE LOVE LOVE this product and recommend it to anyone and everyone who suffers with acne like me.
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November 10, 2010

Pros:

Prevents breakouts.

Cons:

Your face becomes EXTREMELY dry.

My dermatologist provided me with samples of Epiduo and I used it for the longest time. I would apply it every night before going to bed. Although it might help moderate acne, it is not worth having dry, red skin. My face is so dry, that I cannot even wear makeup. When I smile, all the dry skin around my face cracks. I feel and look like a lizard. Also, I have fairly sensitive skin, so anything I apply on my face now burns me horrible. All in all, this product is not worth it. I would rather have a few pimples then a lizard face.
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November 4, 2010

Pros:

Treats mild-moderate acne
Treats cysts

Cons:

Drying
Redness
Peeling
Takes a while to really work

I had mild-moderate acne since I was 13 or 14. I used many dermatologist prescribed treatments, the best of which for me was Differin. I used differin probably for about a year which really cleared my skin and I went on Yaz as well, which I think really did the trick. From 17-18 I had almost no acne whatsoever - I had an occasional pimple from time to time, but nothing that wouldn't heal in a day or two. I still had blackheads and oily skin, but I pretty much gave up trying to solve that. I went through a very stressful experience this summer which made my skin do a complete 180. All of a sudden I was breaking out in big red pimples all over my face - in places I never even broke out before, and was getting huge cysts almost every day that would take forever to heal and leave a scar. I decided to go back on a dermatologist treatment and I was given Epiduo and Aczone. I started using Epiduo once a day at night and Aczone in the morning. I have semi-sensitive skin, so Epiduo caused dryness and redness that I still get, even about two months into the treatment. It took about one solid month of treatment to see any improvement in my acne and two months to start looking clearer. Unfortunately, Epiduo does not do anything for my blackheads. Recently I stopped using Aczone (I didnt feel it really did anything) and started using Epiduo in the morning too. It had made my skin red and dry, but I started putting moisturizer over Epiduo and that seems to be helping. I would recommend this product to people with mild-to-moderate acne, but be patient! I wanted to give up so many times because my skin definitely got worse before it got better, but the best thing to do is give it a lot of time. My daily routine: Morning: Eucerin Soothing Redness Wash Epiduo Garnier Gel-Cream Moisturizer Night: Eucerin Soothing Redness Wash used with Clarisonic Skin Brush 10% Glycolic Acid Wash (from dermatologist) Epiduo Garnier Gel-Cream Moisturizer C
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November 1, 2010

Pros:

Fading scars
Healing acne
Kind of preventing new acne

Cons:

For the first 1-2 months my skin was very red and dry, and extremely flaky, as well as really sensitive.
Also, it takes a few months to see some results.

I really like this. I was very embarrassed about my acne and wouldn't even walk around my own house without make-up. I had this recommended to me, and have been using this since the end of July. Believe me when I say I had tried everything there was to offer in a drugstore and higher end stores. And nothing worked. I finally went to the dermatologist and he recommended Epiduo. For the first month and a half I didn't only have zits, but majorly red, dry areas of my face.Then slowly they started to clear away and now I have acne scars that are lightening and rarely get zits, except for that special time of the month when I am bound to get them.I wear much lighter cover up now, and people compliment me on how much better my skin looks. So all in all this is a really good product. Just make sure you have a good moisturizer (my dermatologist recommended Aveeno) and try not to use scrubs in the first month and a half to two months because of how irritated your skin will be. Also, do not expect immediate jaw dropping results. It takes lots of time. But overall, I am really happy with this product and I would recommend it.
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October 29, 2010

Pros:

-prevents all new major and minor acne from forming
-keeps existing acne from getting worse
-doesn't smell bad
-is not harsh on skin (for me anyhow)

Cons:

-doesn't make existing cystic acne heal faster
-doesn't shrink pores or get rid of blackheads
-takes a little time to see a big difference, but be patient!

I have been using Epiduo for about 3 weeks now, and I love it! I have had adult acne on and off for years (I'm 33), and this is the best product I have found in a long time. It IMMEDIATELY stopped my skin from forming new cysts (which I usually get a handful per month). I don't have terrible acne all over, but usually have a few bumps at any given time around my nose or on my chin, which got much worse after stopping birth control, so my acne is partially hormonal, partially stress related, and partially hereditary (my mom also had similar skin). I have oily skin, large pores, and some scarring from years of breakouts (although some years are good and some are bad). I had 2 existing cysts when I started using it, and it definitely halted their growth, but they took a long time to go away because it didn't really shrink them, but basically just stopped them in their tracks and then they stayed the same size for about 2 weeks. However; I have not had ANY new pimples or cysts come up since I started using it! No IBO at all. (Knock on wood!) It hasn't cleared the blackheads on my nose, kept the shine away that I always have throughout the day, or made my pores smaller, but waking up every morning without new acne spots is such a HUGE relief. I didn't experience the burning that some others have, and I only had minimal peeling-very manageable with some moisturizer. Definitely follow the directions, you really just need a thin layer all over your face, or it just wastes the product. I got samples from my derm, but I have read it can be pretty expensive without insurance. Overall I think this is a GREAT product and wish I had it about a year ago before going through a period of very bad skin. Hopefully this has helped put an end to this bad acne I've been experiencing for a long time to come. I highly recommend this product!
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October 23, 2010

Pros:

Dried out acne and gave me a face rash

Cons:

Have heard good things from others

Because this dried out my skin so much and caused a rash to break out around my eyes (did the same thing for a friend of mine), I didn't use it long enough to see results.
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October 21, 2010

Pros:

DOES clear acne!

Cons:

took a long time for me to work!
Burnt very little...just a little tingle

PLEASE do not get discouraged if your acne gets WORSE before it gets better. I used epiduo (along with solodyn and recently sodium sulfacetamide lotion) everynight and it took around 7 weeks so fully work. However, if you have severe acne like I did, 7 weeks is worth it for clear skin! My skin has never looked as good as it does now! Ive read other reviews how epiduo cleared some peoples' skin within days...this was NOT my case. I was miserable...my skin became terrible! I stuck it out because I had this feeling it would eventually work and it did! I'm happier than ever! Give it a shot! As I said, I am also taking solodyn and using the sodium sulfacetamide lotion and this is a great combo for me! Good luck!
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October 17, 2010

Pros:

It hasn't dried out my skin
It has killed alot of my exsisting pimples
Leaves my skin feeling smooth and has improved the tone of it.

Cons:

Isn't preventing pimples completly but I've only been on it for 3 weeks.
Skin peels alot more, but it's not dry feeling. The skin just peels off over the pimples which can be annoying.

I was prescribed Epiduo along with Solodyn. I had to stop taking the Solodyn because of the horrible side effects, and now I am just using the Epiduo. I get pretty bad breakouts and the Epiduo has significantly decreased the amount of pimples I get, although I still get a few new pimples every week. I have noticed that the pimples I do get, go away alot quicker because of the Epiduo and also they are not nearly as painful. I used to get really deep, painful pimples on my cheeks. They would get really inflamed and have tons of pus in them. I'm so happy that the Epiduo eliminated that type of pimple because there's nothing worse than your face hurting and looking gross. Thanks Epiduo for that. The Epiduo has made my skin peel over the pimples crazily. I guess that is a good thing, because it makes them smaller and that's a sign they are healing. One more thing I want to address is everyone complaining about Epiduo burning and itching. Today I was using it and I accidently got some on my neck, and now I understand the burning sensation. When I use Epiduo on my face, it doesn't burn or itch but on my neck it feels horrible. I don't think Epiduo makes my face burn or itch because I've used so many different acne products on it, and some that are stronger and have a higher percentage of benzoyl peroxide. My face has gotten use to strong acne products but my neck hasn't. Overall I would highly recommend everyone with acne try Epiduo.
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October 13, 2010

Pros:

Relatively effectively at healing breakouts.

Cons:

Expensive; Dries out skin; Doesn't prevent acne.

Personally, I'm not crazy about this product but I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time. I have moderate to somewhat severe acne around my mouth and chin and that's what I consider my real problem. On my forehead, I sometimes get mild, easy -to-manage breakouts. If I put epiduo on my forehead when I'm experiencing a minor breakout there, it will clear up literally over night. So I know that this product does work; however, it doesn't do nearly as much for my more severe acne. I do think it reduces the time that my breakouts are active but it has done nothing to reduce the frequency with which I break out. So, basically, I break out as often as ever and the breakouts are active for 2-4 days rather than 3-6. It's a noticeable difference but it's not like your problem is completely solved. I think this is probably a great product for people with mild acne but the biggest downside that probably applies in any case is that it is very drying. It's hard to use in conjunction with a moisturizer because epiduo makes your skin so dry and sensitive that it will sting when you try to apply moisturizer.
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October 8, 2010

Pros:

-Clears up cystic acne(which I had)
-Reduces appearance of large pores
-Reduces oiliness.If you had oily skin like I did,then it's a positive
-Fades blemishes

Cons:

-Dryness
-Burning
-Peeling

I use this along with the oral medication Amnesteem(Isotretinoin) and I have seen good results.Definitely better than the other topical treatments I've tried.I use it every other night,with the nights I don't use it I moisturize.I will caution if you have sensitive skin definitely start out with every other night and gradually increase,because it can burn your skin and cause peeling.So I moisturize in the AM and use sunblock.I had cystic acne with very oily skin and this helped a little,with Amnesteem being the savior.Definitely a great topical cream,and if you have oily skin you'll like the drying effect.
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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