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
August 20, 2012
Cons:
- Didn't cause a real improvement in my condition. If anything my skin is worse now than before I started
- Initial side effects are super annoying
- Bleaches anything your face or post-application, unwashed hands touch
I'm 25, developed adult acne about a year and a half ago. Am religious about my routine and use only high-quality, gentle organic cleansers and moisturizers and Jane Iredale makeup. Like many, I wish I were leaving a positive review of Epiduo here, but I can't. The product didn't do for me what the labeling promised. Boooo.
August 8, 2012
Cons:
Redness
Drying
Burning
Peeling skin
I'm 27 and have light acne from clogged pores, used only for 4 days. The side effects where too harsh to continue. Its 2 weeks after stopping and my skin is still not better.
July 28, 2012
Pros:
-Works (For a While)
-Dries quickly
-No smell
-Cheap with coupon
-No purging for me.
-Spot treatment for back acne.
Cons:
-Causes some irritation. (i.e. Itching, Redness, Sun sensitivity, Extreme dryness)
-Sadly my skin got used to it.
-If you forget to use it once, you break out.
-Can bleach towels if you don't was it off your fingers completely.
-Does nothing for the scars acne can leave behind.
I was put on Epiduo in November 2011. It is now July 2012. Epiduo worked wonders for me and I thought I found the cure. It cleared my face up about 95% in about a month. Sadly, in June 2012, for some reason I broke out terribly (Worse than my face was before Epiduo) and it stayed until now. I also had EXTREME dryness, like if I got out of the shower or a pool, it was time to bring out the moisturizer. It also made my face extremely sensitive to the sun, and my face wont get an even tan. I have to use a ton of moisturizer, even with my oily skin. I went back to my Derm. Two days ago and he put me on Tazorac and Aczone. This is my last option because I am now on some list for Accutane.
July 12, 2012
Pros:
-Burns acne away in a couple of days
Cons:
- REDNESS
-BURNING
DONT RECOMMEND. I had a mild amount of acne. Although it did clear the acne in the short run, it didnt clear it in the long term. So i used this product for a while and acne kept returning. My face became very blotchy, with red spots.
I am currently on Roaccutane (Accutane) and it has cleared my acne. BUT the redness is not disappearing. All because i tried epiduo. DONT RECOMMEND
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!
April 27, 2012
Pros:
Burns away the acne
Cons:
-Bad redness
Although it does get rid of acne. It does leave redness which takes months to heal. Do NOT use this product. I am currently on roaccuatane and this epiduo definitely made my redness very bad, and the dermatologist said the redness will take time to fade. Possibly years, because it has just burnt my skin. So now have to get blue light therapy, or laser to remove redness.
DONT TRY. Yes its good in the short term, for about a week. But then after aq couple of weeks, you realise you have to deal with the redness. TERRIBLE
April 21, 2012
Pros:
none
Cons:
broke me out
the beginning of the worst skin i've ever had
once a pimple went away it left a scar so i then had a bunch of cystic acne and scars
DO NOT USE THIS. this was horrible for my skin. I had a couple zits here and there and i thought that was bad! i had it GREAT before i used this stuff. It made my skin sooo bad and it left horrible scars that are still here even though its been over a year.
March 20, 2012
Pros:
couldn't tell any
Cons:
didn't really do anything for me
this product did neither good nor bad things for me
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.
February 12, 2012
Pros:
Lightens your skin maybe a LITTLE bit
Cons:
Dries out skin,makes acne worse
For me,it did not work at all.Bottom line,doesn't work
Pros:
- Prescription itself not terribly expensive if the rebate works for you
- Initial side effects subside within a couple weeks (itching, burning, dry skin)
- Light and non-greasy