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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May 16, 2016
Epiduo helped my skin so much
I'm 14 years old but I've have acne for about 2 years and it's just slowly gotten worse. Around last year my entire forehead was covered in acne (mostly just my forehead) and I tried everything to get rid of it but nothing worked. About 3 months ago I finally made my first visit to the dermatologist where she recommended me Epiduo since I had mostly comedones. I looked it up and was honestly terrified because almost every review said it burnt very bad, but i tried it anyway bc dermatologist knows best lol. I started every other day and applied a very thin layer so my skin would get used to it ( I think a lot of people forgot this step). I never experienced any burning so I moved on to daily uses after I washed my face with cetaphil, and the next morning I would use cetaphil lotion. My skin did get dry at one point but that cleared up quickly. My pharmacist is also very helpful and told me it would make my skin sensitive to the sun, so on sunny days I put on a little bit of sunscreen. My face has cleared up so much and I'm so happy with the results so far. I really think anyone debating trying this product should take the plunge, it's worth it.
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March 2, 2016
Used to have oily skin(and alot of clogged pores and whitehead break outs) Epiduo saved me!
Used it for 2 months straight every night. At first it burned ALOT but then after 2 weeks i got used to it. After about a week my skin was clear and no problem. I'm not using it anymore and i'm fully recoverd.
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acnereview
July 20, 2016
I've always had little closed whiteheads around my mouth and chin but I started using epiduo a week ago today and they've tripled and gotten worse. will they clear up?
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February 25, 2016
Be Patient
The first few months were rough as my sensitive skin adjusted. I started out applying the EpiDuo once every 3 nights, and eventually moved to applying it every night. It look time for the redness to go away, but so worth it. I have been using EpiDuo for over 2 years now and my skin has never looked better. People actually compliment my complexion! I am now going off EpiDuo because the price has been increasing for me each time I refill. Bummer!
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strongbadia5000
February 25, 2016
You can get a generic benzoyl peroxide gel and a generic retinoid and just rotate them every other night to save money.
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iwon03
March 10, 2016
is it good to spot treat pimples through Epiduo? thanks a lot
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February 2, 2016
HAPPY
been suffering with acne on and off for 10 years and tried both aral medication and anti-acne product ..after being recommended by the derm 2 years ago i started to using this cream and apply skinoren after been using them for 2 years and i got wonderful result..be patient and stick in it!!
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January 7, 2016
Stick with it and you will get results!
I have now almost completed my three month treatment with EpiDuo (along with tetralysal). I am a 25 year old female who suffers from hormonal acne (mild-moderate) since coming off the pill 2 years ago. First 1-2 weeks of epiduo: face was red, burned after application, had to skip one night or so, face peeled. It wasn't pretty but it wasn't all that bad either - I knew these side effects would disappear. I was scared I was allergic but since it didn't itch that bad and the redness would disappear during the day I thought it was fine and continued. 2-4 weeks: acne healed, new pimples were still forming but way less than before. My worst was def my forehead and my chin, this is where I saw the most dramatic improvement. 4-8 weeks: maybe a new pimple or so around ovulation/menstruation, but way smaller than before, not as painful, go away much faster. Sometimes I still got those deep painful ones. Overall though my face looked almost flawless with makeup! WOW! 8-12 weeks: (now) right now I still have a few red marks where recent pimples have resided, but as far as pimples go.. I don't think I have any at the moment? I do still get some closed comedones on my forehead but they are super easy to extract. Honestly, my face is so smooth. I can go grocery shopping without makeup on.... to the gym, see my friends. I still always wear makeup to work/school/events but it looks GOOD and not all bumpy. My selfconfidence is fantastic, I absolutely love it and will continue with epiduo until my 40's or for however long I might need it...
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January 5, 2016
Epiduo it really works..
So i started using Epiduo after being recommended by my dermatologist in August 2015, last i had acne was back in 2010 while i was in college and now after 5 years..I am not sure of the reason behind sudden breakout but it is really scary to start seeing sports and little bumps appearing on your pretty face..So my dermatologist ask me to use Epiduo + Doxycyline (2 tabs a day ) and asked me to visit him in 2 months, initially i thought 2 months is a long time but as the day started to pass my acne started to get worse and more and more breakout is all i could see. I was depressed, shattered and sad and all i wanted to do is lock myself in a room and not to go anywhere. But by the time it was about 2 months and was time to see my doctor again my acne was looking way better than they use to be, there were no more new Acne or breakouts any more, my skin started to feel smooth and it has a shine in it, but still i had the spots and blemishes left from the acne. I visited my doctor after 2 months, and briefed him with the entire story of my journey on acne.. he graded my acne 4 this time, i was not sure what does that mean. He advised me to change the Epiduo to its advanced version Epiduo Forte, with insurance it will cost you no more than $25 ..and asked me to visit him again in 3 months..and today i am about to complete my 3rd month and i have zero acne, very light blemishes, my skin has brightened 2 times what it use to be and i feel so confident like never before.. My advise is please stick to it and u will see the results..Thank you Epiduo
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December 7, 2015
Day 3 of Epiduo on Mild/Moderate Acne
So basically I have started using my Epiduo cream three days ago and I have mild to moderate acne, and it has been clearing it up, but also I have been getting some of the burning, redness and dryness. However, it does look like something that should work, so I am going to persist.
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October 30, 2015
My little pot of Miracle Cream!
After struggling with Acne for years during my high school years, I was determined to get it under control by any means necessary before I started university. But I tried every over the counter remedy I could find... And University, Semester 1 came and went. Suddenly, one doctor told me about Epiduo (no other doctor had ever described it to me before) and ever since then (2 years ago now) I have no acne what so ever. I occasionally get a spot, but maybe once a month or less. And it had results very quickly! Within a week there was a very noticeable change. IMPORTANT: in the beginning of the treatment I applied way way to much; and this actually caused more Acne from irritation alone. I used it twice a day and a large amount, and it made things worse. As soon as I started to use it once a day at night, and only a very small "pea-sized" amount I had drastic results. I think this product is great as the "treatment" phase of the Acne.org Regimen. It has none of the comedogenic ingredients from the list available here online, and its very neutral in small quantities. To wash my face I use: Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser (buy it at Coles, Chemist Warehouse, Woolies, etc.) To treat my face: Epiduo (only at night! and a small amount) To moisturise my face: Acne.org Moisturiser This regime with Epiduo is based on the Acne.org Regime. So now, with a new face free of acne, I recommend it to all to give it a try as a relatively cheap cream. PROS - Quick to see results. - Works on mild acne. - Cheap (only $5.95 if you have a HealthCare Card in Australia; however it is ~$36 on the PBS with Medicare and thats for anyone.) - Each tube/pump lasts about a month. CONS - very easy to use too much and make things worse. - can be expensive for people without a HealthCare Card. - You have to get a doctors prescription for it (Max repeat on each prescription is x3). - makes you more prone to sunburn, reddening of the face. - not all pharmacies or chemists stock the cream.
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Lucymariexoxo
November 30, 2015
Hi, did you wear any makeup during the treatment process?
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September 14, 2015
LOVE
I love this product. I never had sever acne, I just always had a few marks on my chin and all a lot on my forehead and i was fine with that until I went to college. I started using it my freshman year of college, it took about a month and a half for my face to clear up, and everyone noticed! I used it until the middle of summer when i just forgot about it. My face stayed clear all summer, then as soon as my school started, so did the acne. So I started it agin and it cleared up my face again. If I can use this forever, I will! It does dry your skin out, so drink plenty of water and every morning wash your face with a not topical face wash (I use Cetephil) and apply lotion, (cetephil). And yes you face will look worse before it looks better, but give it at least 2 months and you will be so happy!
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September 1, 2015
number 1 product
Epiduo is nothing short of a miracle product for me. I had acne for 6 years, until finally I was referred to a dermatologist. I'd tried endless rounds of antibiotics, all of which either worked temporarily or made me too unwell to continue - or both - and had used Duac with, again, some temporary success. By this point I thought my skin would never be clear and I would have to live like this forever. Then my dermatologist started me on Dianette, a BCP, and Epiduo. The dianette made my skin a lot less oily and the epiduo cleared it up. It wasn't easy though. Even months in the epiduo stung so much to apply I'd almost be in tears. My skin has never been sensitive but it hurt even to moisturise it. Makeup was out of the question because it would get caught in these disgusting dry flakes, which was annoying because it made my skin quite red. This went on for months. I remember being very upset going out to parties at how horrible and red my face would look in photos, yet unable to wear makeup. My dermatologist actually prescribed me epiduo in the evening and Duac in the morning! I cringe to think of such a drying regime. I know Dan recommends being as gentle as possible, but what helped with the flakiness was using a gentle cleanser and my Clarisonic, followed by a moisturiser, to sort of buff off the flakes. Eventually, epiduo stopped irritating me so much and I settled in to a good regime and my skin was perfect! I came off Dianette because it made me very moody but my skin is still clear thanks to epiduo. It's a tiny bit more congested than it was when I was on the pill but I'm not going to complain because it's practically perfect. I never dreamt of having skin I was happy with and now I do.
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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