Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)
Results
Side Effects

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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February 25, 2012

Pros:

consistency; easy to apply
no smell

Cons:

break outs worse than not treating it!
Expensive!

Waste of money. Splitpea size drop mixed with my daily moisturizer (on advice from my derm so I don't use too much) once per day at night after shower, then rinse off in the morning. After three months, no improvement at all. First eight weeks brought out worse breakouts than when I was a teenager twenty five years ago. Initially prescribed combined with oral minocin, but had a severe anaphalytic reaction so no more cycline antibiotics, EVER! Continued epiduo after discontinuance of antibiotic for ten more weeks. This is week thirteen and the oil on my face is worse than ever, my chest looks like I've been scrubbing it with a roofing shingle and my back is more spotty than ever. My cysts are deeper and hurt more. The only thing that helps the flaking is the jojoba oil. I am considering not returning to the dermatologist and just struggling along with OTC BP like I did before. At least it was cheaper. Between the initial consult, RX's, ER visit, more RX's, PCP followup, more RX's, return to derm, & PCP return, I've blown over a couple thousand dollars in the last four months. And that's not even mentioning having the Holiday season ruined and the repulsed look on my husband's face. Forget it! I've never experienced this kind of desperation in my life. Just complete discouragement. I'm ready to give up.
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November 28, 2009

Pros:

none

Cons:

made my acne 10 times worse,burns,stings,made my face dry and red

isnt worth it
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May 30, 2013
Bad

Pros:

Zits that u have=gone

Cons:

Prevent? Hell no

I used epiduo for a year and a half. It couldnt prevent my breakouts becuz wen i wuld put it on skin without zits.....it wuld dry me out and make myface burn! But wen you do have a zit....its perf!
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June 28, 2011

Pros:

not many at all

Cons:

flaky
dryness
redness
burning

Not a good product for me. I used it for about 3 months and all it did was keep new pimples from forming. It did nothing for my acne that was already there. Maybe this product would be better for people with light acne, but i did not like it at all for me.
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January 5, 2012

Pros:

Dries clear and fast

Cons:

Burns skin
Dries skin
Burned my upper eyelids
Didnt really work

I have been suffering with acne for 6 years (since I was 14) and have tired Many products and nothing worked. My derm gave me epiduo advertising it like it was a miracle cream and I was utterly disappointed not to see any major results. Benzoyl peroxide helps more than epiduo I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Safe yourself the hassle of burning your face. I feel like anyone who's claiming it works is just having a placebo effect
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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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September 1, 2012

Pros:

light, clear, not that expensive

Cons:

has not cleared my acne

I use a gentle wash, and light moisturizer afterward every day before going to sleep. It doesn't work for me.
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December 15, 2011

Pros:

I think it works.

Cons:

I didn't see many changes with my acne.

Expensive placebo.
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January 28, 2012

Pros:

clears acne like nobody's business

Cons:

burns skin
makes skin pill off alot!!!!
dries out skin

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. i saw it on commercial an wanted my mom to get it which eventually resulted in my skin burning. i continued to use it thinking that it was burning because it was working, but all it did was dry my skin out and make it peal off.i was sooooooooo embarassed walking around with marks all over my face. my mom eventually ended up hiding this product from me so i couldn't use it anymore. i have a tan skin ton and you know there is something wrong when your face turns red like uve got a really bad sunburn and haven't even went swimming......sorry idk price my mom perscibed it from my doctor
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June 8, 2012

Pros:

Eventually will clear skin

Cons:

burning
itching
PAINFUL
redness

My younger sister bought this product and she LOVED it! I really don't have "bad" acne; my skin is actually really good. About 3 months ago my skin spazzed out on me! i didn't know what I was doing wrong: I didn't sleep with my makeup on, I always washed my face, etc... The only thing i can remember changing was I wasn't using my Clinque 3 Step System. My sister let me use her Epiduo, and by the second day of wearing it, my skin felt like it was on fire! My sister assured my that it was only temporary. I toughed it out, and it felt like it wasn't serving any purpose. After a month of torture, my acne cleared up slightly. I did not continue to use it after that, but I did switch back to my Clinque and my skin looks awesome!
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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