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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June 16, 2013
Epiduo for hormonal acne

Pros:

Will clear acne if you give it time

Cons:

Extremely drying

I suffered an intense hormonal breakout with cystic acne 8 months ago after messing around with BCP. I had severe cystic acne on my chin, neck and jawline. My doctor gave me a bunch of Epiduo samples, and I started using them after the acne didn't go away after 3 months (I had perfectly clear skin all my life, before this breakout). I used Epiduo for about 4-6 weeks before I gave up. It is incredibly drying and makes your skin feel dead and horrible. I couldn't wear makeup because my skin looked like it was literally peeling off, despite using layers of moisturiser. A month later and I decided to give it another go. You must give it time to work and fight the negative symptoms! I started using Jojoba oil at night after cleansing, allowing it to sink into my skin (an hour or more), then apply Epiduo just to active acne before going to bed. THIS WORKS. My skin is clearing up significantly and my skin isn't dry or flaky. Epiduo works if you can manage its negative symptoms, and for me, using Jojoba oil as my nightly moisturiser did this. I also use AHA lotion during the day, to manage the dryness. Stick with Epiduo, and use products to counter the dryness, and you should see results.
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June 4, 2013
Recommend

Pros:

Clearing my skin!
Preventing new breakouts

Cons:

Initial breakout
Takes patience
Can make skin dry

I've been using epiduo for just over two months now & I highly recommend it! However, during the 2-3 week stage I definitely felt like giving up. The initial breakout was TERRIBLE. I've never had any cysts before in my life & then suddenly day 16 hit & my face exploded. I basically saw no improved from that day onwards right until around day 50, & so I was disappointed as I began feeling like it was just yet another benzoyl peroxide product that doesn't work for me. I decided to stick with it & by day 66 I was hardly getting any new spots forming. At the moment (day 70), although my old scars are still there (which I'm praying will fade over time), I only have three active spots on my chin, which considering I used to have millions over my forehead & around my mouth & nose, it's a definite achievement in my eyes! My one & only criticism would be that I now have both dry AND oily skin. I've always ridiculously oily skin, but now I sometimes get dry patches as well which is a little awkward when knowing how much/what moisturiser to apply (when using epiduo I'd always recommend apply moisturiser day & night). I did experience a little bit of burning for the first week or so with a slight red tint to my skin, but nothing too major, & also my skin did become very dry for the first two weeks. I'm glad I persevered though! I also really recommend the epiduo app if you have an iPhone :-) p.s apologies for the lengthy review!
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May 30, 2013
Pretty Effective

Pros:

Clears some acne
Effective
Fast results

Cons:

Dryness/ burning
Flakiness
Expensive

I think that Epiduo was really effective, and it cleared my acne a little, but slowly and not completely. I felt that it was a but too dry and harsh on my skin, because my skin burned a lot at times. It made me skin flake, but it did clear up the acne. It did not prevent future breakouts for me. The reason why I stopped using the product was, because it was causing hyperpigmentation on my tan skin, and because it was very irritating and drying for my skin. It worked pretty well for my friends skin. She had terrible acne and after using epiduo her skin cleared up within a few months.
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March 9, 2013
The first 3 weeks were hell, my face exploded! I had to put tons of make-up on but it still won't cover it. I was literally mortified. I am in week 5 now and finally starting to see some great improvements! My forehead is becoming clear again, and my cheeks are slowly exposing beautiful healthy skin, and what is not clear can be covered by make-up until then I have also started drinking 9 bottles of water a day,I think that is what sped up the process.I can't wait to see the finished product!
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March 7, 2013

Pros:

Works great
reduced acne

Cons:

very drying
made face red
made face sting
moisturizers sting after using epiduo

Epiduo works great but you have to use moisturizer because its very drying. My dermatologist prescribed this with clindamycin and my face is much clearer. i would also recommend using it every other day because its very drying
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March 7, 2013

Pros:

It works well if you apply it every day and don't forget.

Cons:

Does really dry out your skin and causes really bad burning that feels like a sunburn.

It's a great price. And it works so well.
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March 1, 2013

Pros:

Clears up face very well!
Doesn't make my face very dry

Cons:

Makes my skin red
Burns a little
Less acne on my face, but more on my chest and back

I've had acne all through out middle and high school. Some days I wanted to stay home it was so bad. I've never felt so confident from this product. My face is the clearest it has ever been, and it feels amazing. Thank you Epiduo
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February 19, 2013

Pros:

It clears up the acne very well. It shows a massive difference with in 2 months. reduces the colour and size of blackheads.

Cons:

I suffered from all the effects such as:
Erythema
Scaling
Dry skin
Contact dermatitis
Skin irritation
Stinging
Burning

I had never felt such a bad stinging burning sensation in my life. for the first month of using it, I was in pain. I wasn't allowed any make up because it would make it ten times worse as it was.

I'm actually 14 and my acne is quiet violent. My acne did knock my confidence really bad but when I was prescribed epiduo, it brought my confidence up again. I would recommend epiduo because its very effective. although I'm too young, I recommend that the pill would work better as it doesn't irritate your skin (obviously). When epiduo dries out your skin, use Vaseline because it helps reduce the pain and dryness.
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February 6, 2013

Pros:

Dries out pimples fast, helps oily skin, anti-aging, helps cystic acne

Cons:

Burns, makes face red, takes awhile to work, doesn't help scars that much, expensive

I'm 23 and have been dealing with cystic, hormonal breakouts since high school. It took about 2 months for me to start seeing results with Epiduo, so be patient! You definitely need to moisturize twice a day with this topical. I like CeraVe's PM lotion, it dries really lightly on the skin. I also wash my face with Dr. Bronner's lavender liquid castile soap morning/night and tone at night with Burt's Bee's Rosewater toner.
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January 6, 2013

Pros:

Reduces pimple size overnight
Stops breakouts
Easy to use
No smell (that I've noticed)
Makes skin feel soft

Cons:

Can cause dryness and make your face itchy

I have had acne for four years. I lost all confidence in myself and didn't leave the house because of it. I'm a teen, so I have to go to school. I couldn't just hide in my house everyday because of how bad my skin was. It was painful, red, and makeup just made it look worse. I went to the dermatologist regularly and tried many different creams and antibiotics. Nothing had worked. My acne would calm down a little bit, but it always came back. My dermatologist insisted that I try epiduo. It didn't seem to be working the first few months and so I switched to Differin. About a week later my skin was completely covered with acne. There wasn't a single spot on my face without a bump. I switched back to the epiduo and within days, my face started to look clearer and the acne started to go away. I still have a long way to go but my skin has improved so much. Epiduo has nearly cleared my face. I have just a few pimples left over and many scars. But so far it is the only thing that has worked for me.
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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