Acne.org Products
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
December 16, 2009
Cons:
My skin is very dry and flaky... i'm sure this will go away once my skin gets used to the medication.
Taking this with doxycycline and using an 8% benzoyl peroxide wash. I'm sure once the antibiotics kick in after a few weeks I will clear up nicely.
The first week I used it started clearing up areas that were very broken out. For a few days my skin and pores were very dry and flaky but I can see improvement in my pores... a lot of my black heads are gone. So far this is the best topical I've used thus far (ive used retin a). I have had a few new zits here and there but they are much faster to heal and I'm sure it's just getting prior existing blemishes out of my system.
July 22, 2012
Pros:
Gets rid of acne
Gets rid of milia
Fades scars
Works fast
Cons:
REDNESS
BURNING
FLAKING
So im thirteen and ive only been using this for three days and i already see results. Ive had had a severe case of milia, bad acne, and quite a few scars. Ive tried everything and it all worked for a day then stopped working
And made my acne worse. Epiduo worked and hasnt stopped yet. The redness and
Burning only lasts while
The medication is still drying, and the flaking is barely noticable. It got rid of a few painful cysts on my forehead that have been there for months, and i hardly recognise myself when i look in the mirror. Ive been using samples my doctor gave me with Cetaphil. I definitely recommend this product!!! :)
April 18, 2012
Pros:
AMAZING!
Takes away acne ASAP
Adds pigment to your skin
Reduces redness
Cons:
Drys ur skin out in the begging n can cause a little bit of red irration, however only last a week and goes away!
It is AMAZING! CHANGED MY LIFE! I've battled with acne for 3 years n try'ed so many different things and gave up ! Epiduo not only stoped my acne but also made my skin look more fresh and sun kissed ! Love this product A++++++++ (do not be discouraged by the first week of dryness, redness, and even irration. It goes away and ur skin will transform!)
March 20, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne, reduces hyper pigmentation
Cons:
None
This stuff is wonderful. After struggling for a year trying to get my right cheek under control. I went to a dermatologist and he prescribed epiduo. I used it and saw a difference the next morning. My face was less swollen. I have tried everything under the sun to get my cheeks and chin under control and nothing worked until epiduo. The first week my skin was red and dry but nothing a little moisturizer didnt combat now I'm so happy my face looks better every day I've been using it a month and a half and I wish I would have gone to the doctor sooner. If you suffer from acne try epiduo it works!
January 3, 2012
Pros:
It works better than anything else I have tried, and I've tried a lot of things!
Cons:
You can only get it cheap with insurance + a discount card and even then it's $35/tube. Each tube could last you 1-2 years, though.
Also, the initial breakout can be bad.
DO NOT follow the doctor's instructions if you have sensitive skin at all! This medication is very harsh - that's why it works - but if you use it as instructed it can destroy your skin. The standard instructions I was given were to:
a) apply a small amount to the entire face. -- this does not work. The acne-prone areas don't get enough and the clear skin breaks out and dries out. I use the recommended pea-sized amount and apply only to acne-prone areas. b) apply to dry skin 20 min after washing. -- again, this is really harsh on your skin. I apply it to unwashed skin around 3-4pm and wash off before bedtime at 11pm-12am, OR apply immediately after washing at bedtime and let dry 10 min (so I don't bleach my pillow). The initial breakout was bad, but I applied a lot to bare, dry skin every day because I was in a hurry to clear my skin up before my wedding. (It took 5 months to completely clear - success!) I think this could have been avoided by following the recommended changes above. On the whole I recommend this medication. I also combined it with 50mg Zinc and Airborne (Trader Joes) every day to treat my cystic acne. With all three *every day* I have clear skin for the first time in 10 years. (Other things I tried: the acne cure, the regimen, urine therapy, various supplements, various drug store products, scrubbing, doing everything, not doing anything. The only things I didn't try were accutane & birth control)
June 7, 2011
Pros:
Light, non-drying, effective, no initial breakout if started slow, can be used as spot treatment, eliminates the need to overspend on OTC products
Cons:
There are better (retinaid) alternatives when bacteria is controlled and BP is no longer needed, can be expensive
I've mild but stubborn acne that is hormonally triggered. While all acne is related to bacteria, hormonally triggered/cystic/adult acne is unique in my experience. I think this type of acne responds well to combination treatment and does not need to be treated "aggressively". I've tried many things over the years, but I always felt like my acne would come and go randomly as it pleased and I was completely powerless no matter what skin regimen I followed.
On a recent acne comeback, worried it might turn into a persistent and sever one, I quickly saw a highly-recommended NY dermatologist. She put me on Epiduo and Spironolactone following blood work. I did not have a hormonal imbalance, but she suspected I was sensitive to androgen since I was experiencing hair loss as well.
The key to any topical treatment is to start slowly. I used Epiduo twice a week in the first wee, then 3 times a week, then increased to every other day, and at the end of a month or so, I was using it every night. During this period, I did not have any breakouts, and my skin started showing improvement almost immediately.
My derm said Epiduo was Step 1 in introducing me to retinol, but her immediate goal was to first stop inflammation/bacteria with BP.
My routine was using a light moisturizer she gave me (CeraVE PM), gentle face wash (Jan Marini non-glycolic wash) and if needed, a weekly scrub (Proactiv face wash).
On this routine and spiro, I only had about 4-5 pimples in total over the course of 4 months, never had more than 2 at the same time.
At the end of the 4th month, my derm and I decided to replace Epiduo with a stronger retinaid (Tazorac cream) as my skin could benefit from its resurfacing and pore-reducings effects.
Although BP is no longer needed in the mix, I still spot/area-treat with Epiduo when I feel like a breakout might happen, especially before my period.
I wholeheartedly recommend Epiduo as a starter for people with mild to moderate acne.
November 28, 2010
Pros:
Makes your acne go away-IT REALLY WORKS
Cons:
Drying, burns a little at first
Makes your acne worse at first
It's AMAZING!!!!!!! Just keep applying it and your acne will go away. I used to have about moderate acne but after epiduo my acne simply disappeared. I felt so much more confident and school and as long as I don't miss applying it, I don't get ANY acne or pimple AT ALL
November 18, 2010
Pros:
bottle lasts a long time
gets rid of pimples fast
creamy formula
Cons:
drying at first
left lots of flakes around my nose, on my chin and forehead
horrible breakouts first 2 weeks in
i was skeptical about using epiduo at first but i was desperate. my doctor told me to use it twice a day. the first few days using it, my existing pimples cleared up and i was happy. but by day 6 or so my acne had gone out of control. i was getting breakouts like never before. i wanted to stop but my mom told me to commit for at least 3 months. so i did. well im on week 10 right now and i couldn't be happier! i have not had a zit in 4 weeks and ALL of my old pimples completely disappeared. i am left with mild acne scarring but the epiduo gel is fading the scars away. i LOVE LOVE LOVE this product and recommend it to anyone and everyone who suffers with acne like me.
November 1, 2010
Pros:
Fading scars
Healing acne
Kind of preventing new acne
Cons:
For the first 1-2 months my skin was very red and dry, and extremely flaky, as well as really sensitive.
Also, it takes a few months to see some results.
I really like this. I was very embarrassed about my acne and wouldn't even walk around my own house without make-up. I had this recommended to me, and have been using this since the end of July. Believe me when I say I had tried everything there was to offer in a drugstore and higher end stores. And nothing worked. I finally went to the dermatologist and he recommended Epiduo. For the first month and a half I didn't only have zits, but majorly red, dry areas of my face.Then slowly they started to clear away and now I have acne scars that are lightening and rarely get zits, except for that special time of the month when I am bound to get them.I wear much lighter cover up now, and people compliment me on how much better my skin looks. So all in all this is a really good product. Just make sure you have a good moisturizer (my dermatologist recommended Aveeno) and try not to use scrubs in the first month and a half to two months because of how irritated your skin will be. Also, do not expect immediate jaw dropping results. It takes lots of time. But overall, I am really happy with this product and I would recommend it.
October 29, 2010
Pros:
-prevents all new major and minor acne from forming
-keeps existing acne from getting worse
-doesn't smell bad
-is not harsh on skin (for me anyhow)
Cons:
-doesn't make existing cystic acne heal faster
-doesn't shrink pores or get rid of blackheads
-takes a little time to see a big difference, but be patient!
I have been using Epiduo for about 3 weeks now, and I love it! I have had adult acne on and off for years (I'm 33), and this is the best product I have found in a long time. It IMMEDIATELY stopped my skin from forming new cysts (which I usually get a handful per month). I don't have terrible acne all over, but usually have a few bumps at any given time around my nose or on my chin, which got much worse after stopping birth control, so my acne is partially hormonal, partially stress related, and partially hereditary (my mom also had similar skin). I have oily skin, large pores, and some scarring from years of breakouts (although some years are good and some are bad). I had 2 existing cysts when I started using it, and it definitely halted their growth, but they took a long time to go away because it didn't really shrink them, but basically just stopped them in their tracks and then they stayed the same size for about 2 weeks. However; I have not had ANY new pimples or cysts come up since I started using it! No IBO at all. (Knock on wood!) It hasn't cleared the blackheads on my nose, kept the shine away that I always have throughout the day, or made my pores smaller, but waking up every morning without new acne spots is such a HUGE relief. I didn't experience the burning that some others have, and I only had minimal peeling-very manageable with some moisturizer. Definitely follow the directions, you really just need a thin layer all over your face, or it just wastes the product. I got samples from my derm, but I have read it can be pretty expensive without insurance. Overall I think this is a GREAT product and wish I had it about a year ago before going through a period of very bad skin. Hopefully this has helped put an end to this bad acne I've been experiencing for a long time to come. I highly recommend this product!
Pros:
It's immediately started clearing up some very stubborn breakouts i'd had for weeks