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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July 9, 2010

Pros:

-First day after using saw an improvement
-Works wonderfully against acne
-Makes skin feel softer after using

Cons:

-Sometimes when I use it it makes my skin feel a little raw and itchy
-Can make skin dry

This product is really amazing. The only downsides about it is that for me it made my skin a little raw and itchy like said above and once it made me dry but that went away after exfoliating.Im pretty sure that day I used a bit too much. Usually after I use Epiduo my skin feels very soft and smooth. As long as you use the right amount of the gel it will work miracles for you. Also you should ease your skin onto it just like any other product. Hope this review helps. :)
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July 9, 2010

Pros:

acne disappears almost immediately
dries up whiteheads
blackheads magically vanish
even complexion

Cons:

extreme burning sensation right after application
red spots where pimples once were(go away in a day or two)
very dry skin
peeling on existing breakout areas

Okay so let me just start by saying that i have only been using this product for two weeks and I ADORE IT! I, like most on here, had been dealing with pretty bad acne(papules, whiteheads, blackheads, etc) but not enough that my doctor would put me on any medication. She prescribed me Epiduo gel after I came to her and complained that I didn't want to try Differin due to so many poor reviews on it. I gladly took this prescription and left her office, unaware that it is almost identical to Differin except that it contains benzoyl peroxide. I didn't discover this until after I had used the samples on my face for two days. I was initially worried about this product for many reasons...I had tried 10% benzoyl peroxide(only 2.5% in Epiduo) on my face for years and it did nothing except give me severe dryness and redness. Another worry was that it would just make my skin worse and I would be left with worse acne that I had initially. But I mustered up the courage to start using this gel once a day, every night after washing my face with Clear Pore by Neutrogena. I swear that by day 3 I was crying myself to sleep because of the intense burning and stinging. It felt like I took acid and put it all over my face! My existing zits just fell off my face and left highly pigmented red(almost stains) on my face. There were patches of peeling skin and zits started popping out all over the place. Again, this was all during the first week that I began using Epiduo! Thank God it eventually started to get better. By week 2 my zits were almost completely gone and my blackheads too(never expected that). My face almost has this fresh, clean glow to it that it hasn't had in a loooong time. Coming from a girl with moderate acne, this stuff really works!!! Give it at least 2-3 wks and you WILL see a difference. My skin got used to it and doesn't burn nearly as much anymore after i apply it. I no longer have any existing zits, just a bunch of scars which are quickly fading! t
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July 3, 2010

Pros:

-clears acne over time
-easy to use (Doesnt have many steps)
-easy to find (at drs. or derm.)
-You can use other face wash products so its not a drastic change to your face
-Works other places on your body besides the face

Cons:

-Expensive (not as much as Proactive though)
-Doesnt work immediately, could get worse in the beginning
-Makes skin vulnerable to sun
-You have to use it EVERYDAY, its a prescription

I have had acne since I was about 10 years old and not just on my face on my back and my chest. I would get these boil like things when the time of month came around. When I was younger my face was sensitive to everything I tryed on it. I tryed everything you could think of. Then when I got a little older you know my hormones where making life miserable. One of which was oily skin including hair. :-( So in the process of trying to find an acne treatment I was trying to find hair products to help with oily hair. And of course the two were contradicting each other. Some hair product would make my acne worse and then on. I finally went to my dr. and they prescribed Epiduo. Now after many years of experiementing and searching for the acne medicine that would work I was kind of fed up with the same old thing. "Just 3 steps, 3 bottles. Now you have to wash with THIS every night and morning and do this and do that" it was the same old thing with every treatment but they didnt work. But now with Epiduo you can use any face wash and moisterizer you want. You get to choose. Now I wouldnt recommended this to anybody who doesnt have good health insurance because WITHOUT it, its $200 I havent been using Epiduo for very long, about a month and only this last week I've noticed a improvement. But it says on the warnings that in the beginning the acne could worsen. And it did for me. But I use my Epiduo ONCE a day on my face, chest and back and use sunscreen everyday!
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July 1, 2010

Pros:

clears acne
prevents intense breakouts

Cons:

dries skin out
burns at times

Epiduo has really helped me. My skin looks amazing. I still kind of break out a bit, but that is to be expected. Also, the burning can be unbearable at times, but to wake up to clear skin makes it worth it. USE moisturizer. The dry skin is another reason why the Epiduo burns at times. I am on my third week and i see huge progress. I am also still learning, so hopefully the side effects will get better.
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June 30, 2010

Pros:

-Clears pretty much all acne
-No smell/odor
-Actually even gets rid of a few scars

Cons:

None.

Before using Epiduo I used Differin. It worked for like a month and stopped working. So I asked my mom to make an appointment with my dermatologist. She said I didn't have the worst case of acne around, but I felt like a pepperoni pizza face :| so she prescribed me Epiduo and Clindamycin Phosphate. I didn't think it'd work, but after one day, I saw huuuge results! It got rid of about 35% of my acne already! And after a month I got rid of a bunch of scars. I totally recommend this. If it doesn't work for you, I suggest you ask for a different medication. Don't choose Proactiv. It's just soap in a fancy bottle that's expensive. PS: Ive had this for about 2 months and I just need to get rid of a few more pimples; remember, I had a lot. USE FACIAL SUNSCREEN DAILY.
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June 30, 2010

Pros:

- works quickly
- easy to use
- affordable

Cons:

- can be drying

I used to use ProActiv but it stopped working. I went to my dermatologist and he gave me a prescription of Epiduo. I LOVE THIS!!! He told me that I might see some drying in the beginning but that means its working. I did get some drying at first, but not anymore-- I guess my face got used to it. And he was definitely right about it working because I started to see a huge change within the first 3 weeks. I wash my face with a gentle cleanser (my derm told me to try cetaphil), let it my face dry (to avoid burning), apply a small amount of epiduo, then finish off with a moisturizer... all right before bed. I hope this helps because it made me feel better about my face. Also! make sure you get the coupon from [link removed]-- so worth it.
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

Heals acne fast.
Helps fight bacteria (Benzoyl Peroxide)
Helps with spots.

Cons:

Makes your skin dry, so only use it where you need it.

I have been using Differin for about a year and a half, along with Tetracycline. The Differin was okay, it made my skin heal faster, but it wasn't doing anything to help with the bacteria that was contributing to the acne in the first place. So about a month ago my doctor told me to start using Epiduo. He also told me to take the Tetracycline more frequently (2 in the am and 2 in the pm) I was really surprised at how fast it cleared my breakouts. My skin breaks out because of my hormones, so I can't do much to prevent the acne ( I still get a few pimples here and there) but they are small and are gone within a day, thanks to Epiduo. I never had the "purging" effect either, probably because I was already using Differin, and my skin had already been purged with an increase in breakouts. But I'm glad I went through it because now my skin is so much better. It took a while to figure out what my skin needed. And I learned what irritates it and what helps it. Be smart when you try products to help your skin, a little goes a long way. I also found that eating right, drinking lots of water and exercising helps too. I ONLY drink water and I make sure to eat plenty of vegetables. I also run every morning I get (nothing too extreme). Sometimes you can't just sit back and expect a little cream to do everything for you. Take care of your body, inside and out, and you will be beautiful :)
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

Clears Acne

Cons:

stings

I've tried EVERYTHING to clear my acne. I had taken antibiotics for a month and endured stomach problems (and the acne still didn't go away). This stuff actually works! Right away my acne cleared up. The stinging of the gel (for the first 15 minutes or so) is definitely worth having clear skin for a change! Especially since I'm 43 and really shouldn't have acne!!!
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

-helped reduce the size of the acne
-toned the redness
-helps prevent new acne

Cons:

-if not used properly it will dry/burn skin

I've had acne severely for the past 3 years and nothing I have tried has helped. I've been to the dermatologist quite a few times, she wanted to put me on accutane but my mother read reviews and well... that's just not going to happen. So she gave me these samples of epiduo(so I could see if it worked before we paid $200.00 for it) that I have been using for the past 3 weeks every night and I have seen a big difference in my skin. It's slowly but surely going away it's just taking its sweet time. Hope this helped!
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June 18, 2010

Pros:

-It's a product made with two products that are considered the best in the treatment of acne.
-Your acne really go away.
-Skin without spots.

Cons:

-Skin a little bit dry.
-You can't go out without sun block, because you can have burns.

My skin was terrible. I didn't know what to do. So, I decided to go to my dermatologist and see what I can do to improve my skin. When I buy this product and I started to use, I can saw clearly an improvement in my skin. I bought make products without oil too, because we have to use products to our tipe of skin, and skin with acne problems usually are oily. I really recommend this. My skin know is pretty good and I improve my self steem again.
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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