Topical Retinoid / Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
67%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
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.
Used Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
July 22, 2010
Cons:
- Burns SO badly (makes you CRY)
- Dries out your face a LOT
- May give you an allergic reaction
I've had TERRIBLE acne for a few years now, and it was so life-changing, in a horrible way! I'm still using Epiduo (been using for 3 days) and it really seems to be working! The only 2 TERRIBLE things about this stuff is that it gave me a MAJOR allergic reaction (on neck and jawline) and it stings after you put it on for about...20 minutes. I see a HUGE improvement though, and would defineltey reccommend this to somebody with bad acne.
July 22, 2010
Pros:
- See a big improvement in a day or so
- Dries up your acne, makes it "fade away"
Cons:
- Burns SO badly (makes you CRY)
- Dries out your face a LOT
- May give you an allergic reaction
I've had TERRIBLE acne for a few years now, and it was so life-changing, in a horrible way! I'm still using Epiduo (been using for 3 days) and it really seems to be working! The only 2 TERRIBLE things about this stuff is that it gave me a MAJOR allergic reaction (on neck and jawline) and it stings after you put it on for about...20 minutes. I see a HUGE improvement though, and would defineltey reccommend this to somebody with bad acne.
July 20, 2010
Pros:
-Works to an extent
-Easy to use
-Get the $35 coupon from your dermatologist, it'll save you a lot.
Cons:
-The first day I used it, it irritated my skin so badly that everyone at school asked if I got sunburned.
-Made my skin flake and dry out for months, even after I went off the cream.
-Made my face extremely red for an entire year.
-Acne got worse after I kept using Epiduo for months.
It didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean it won't work for others. Try it for a few weeks but if your skin is too sensitive like mine, don't risk it.
July 19, 2010
Pros:
- Clears acne almost immediately!!!
- Makes your skin feel soft and smooth
- Fades acne scars
Cons:
Nothing so far.......
I honestly consider Epiduo a miracle drug. I have been using it only for a week, and my acne is almost completely cleared. I was a little skeptical at first about this product, but after numerous research I decided to give it a try. And it was the best decision that i've made. I've used proactiv for 5 months and were not completely satisfied with the results. It cleared my skin a little, but it was never 100%. Epiduo has been the best thing that has happened to me. Being a perfectionist, I couldn't have acne. My look is a huge part of who I am, and with acne it messed with my confidence. But Epiduo has brought it back. I would advise anyone to give this product a try. If it worked for me, i'm positive it will work for you. Only con I have about this product is that it can be a little expensive. The retail price was $241, but with my insurance and a card my doctor gave me, I only paid $35 just like it was advertised. Goodluck to all!!!!
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. :)
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
Pros:
- See a big improvement in a day or so
- Dries up your acne, makes it "fade away"