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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Used Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide (Epiduo®)? Rate It:

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February 20, 2012

Pros:

-Works fast
-Dries out any existing blemishes quickly
-Lightens hyper pigmentation
-Easy to use

Cons:

-Burning/scaling/redness the first week or so
-May cause initial breakout within the first few weeks (but goes away and gets much better)

I am so happy with this product. I got a little frustrated at first with the burning during the first week and on the third week I had a pretty bad breakout on my chin. However, both these side effects were to be expected, so I toughed it out and am completely COMPLETELY happy I stuck with it! It has lightened a lot of my red/hyper pigmented scars and dries out the occasional pimple really fast (like within a few days or so). I've seen such an improvement in only the one month I've been using it that I'm super excited to see what kind of results I can get in 3+ months! I'm only worried about it possibly losing its effectiveness for me, but according to many of these reviews a lot of people have been using this product for a longgg time and it still seems to do the trick :) I only had to pay $12.00 for my tube since my insurance is pretty decent, but your dermatologist/doctor usually gives you a discount coupon/card thingy so that you won't pay more than $35. Bottom line is I honestly recommend this product :D
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February 17, 2012

Pros:

Clears milia
Comedomal Acne drying out fast

Cons:

Burning
Peeling
Redness

Ive only been using this since last Thursday. I haven't had an initial breakout. My zits and milia are almost gone.
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February 15, 2012

Pros:

-Works fast
-Won't dry out skin
-Works continuously (won't stop working after a few months)
-Almost completely cleared my acne
-Can be used on back, chest, etc.

Cons:

-Expensive
-If you don't use the right cleansers, it may sting. (See below for the cleansers and moisturizers I used)

This is by far THE BEST ACNE PRODUCT I have used! I have tried many different products and Epiduo has given me the best results without destroying my skin. I have been using Epiduo for almost a year now, and it has not failed me yet. When I first started using Epiduo, I had horrible cystic acne on the sides of my face and around my chin. Mostly, this was because of Proactive and other harsh products which caused my skin to be oily, yet flaky, sensitive, and irritated. When my doctor prescribed me this, I was already depressed and I doubted it would work. However, within 2-3 weeks, my acne was significantly better. Most of the cysts on face were MUCH smaller, and most of the little bumps and white heads were gone. For the first time in years I had NO acne on my forehead and chin!! The cysts on the sides of my face took longer to heal because they were so deep, but they healed within two months. This is the only way Epiduo worked for me otherwise it would sting (In Order): -Cetaphil Normal to Oily Skin Cleanser (AM and PM) -Cetaphil Antibacterial Bar Soap (AM and PM) -Estee Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator serum (I used to get rid of the red marks and scars, I highly recommend this, its also very moisturizing) (AM) -Epiduo (PM) -Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer (AM and PM) Using those products provided me with the clearest skin I've had since Jr. High. Now I only get the occasional pimple but that's not a big deal. Overall Epiduo gave me my CONFIDENCE back, and has made me an overall happier person to know my skin looks good. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
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February 15, 2012

Pros:

Completely stopped my breakouts

Cons:

Drys out your face BADLY for a week

So, like most that start using epiduo, my face was SCALDING off within the first week of use. I was applying a pea sized amount to my whole face every night. After the 3rd day of having my face peel off, I called my dermatologist and he told me to use it every other day and also don't skimp on the mosturizer. Of course my face also started breaking out insanely bad after the first week. I'm now on week three, and have pretty much fallen in love with it now that I've got a routine down. I wash my face w/ cetaphil in a.m. and do a light exfoliation scrub (clinique). I use the clinique mosturizer too. In the evenings I wash with cetaphil again and put on pea sized epiduo all over face. On nights that I skip the epiduo I'll use salicylic acid (be careful, it can STING after all the epiduo peeling) to dry out/fade old scars. I don't have anymore active pimples, and am now working on fading old scars. It's nice to be able to put on makeup without worrying about large mountains on my face :) If youre thinking of quitting epiduo b/c of the burning or peeling, DONT! It's well worth the wait. If you're feeling self conscious about the peeling, just fix your hair nice and concentrate on something else for a few days. It's worked wonders for me!!!!
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February 6, 2012
I love Epiduo! Before I asked my doctor about it I read up on it and was worried because people say that it burns and makes your face red. After using it for a few weeks twice a day I have never felt any burning and my face did not get red. I have very sensitive skin. It takes a little while to start working, but you definitely get results.
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January 31, 2012

Pros:

clears up acne

Cons:

DRIES YOUR FACE LIKE CRAZY
burns
you must be patient

I bought this product on 1/24 and today is 1/30. so i've been using for 6 days, twice a day, because that's what my doctor instructed me to do and BOY is she crazy!!! haha it completely dried out my face :( and turned it extremely and embarrassingly red. :( I was pretty disappointed with the actual Epiduo website because it says to use a cleanser such as Cetaphil???? Are they on crack?? That face wash combined with Epiduo is what initiated my extreme redness and intense burning. CETAPHIL BURNS!!!!! I don't recommend it, and I have never considered myself to have sensitive skin, but apparently I was wrong. I can't seem to find a face wash or moisturizer that doesn't make my skin burn now that i've been using Epiduo. HOWEVER, this stuff does clear acne like no one's business. My initial breakout after using this product wasn't bad, I may have had like two zits, but other than that everything seems to have cleared up quickly. I had really bad acne on both sides of my face. by the jaw line and it looked so bad to the point where i was really self conscious about it. but now everything seems to be working as i was told. The only thing I don't like is that my face is as red as a lobster and my face is peeling. I don't know when the burning or peeling will stop but I am definitely cutting down to using this product ONCE every other day. If you're like me and thought you didn't have sensitive skin.. think again! because this product is extremely harsh. but it does get the job done within time. it's only been 6 days for me, but i'm excited to see what the results will be even farther into the future! :)
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January 27, 2012

Pros:

it helped my acne go away fasy

Cons:

it burns your face off of at least thats what it feels like but all you need to do is cut it down to twice a week or once a week then slowly bring it back up it works it truley does

.(:
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January 8, 2012

Pros:

does dry out pimples and prevents them from getting bigger and uglier
works on very pale asian sensitive skin
did not have any major breakouts since started using it
easy to use, dries fast

Cons:

can make your skin very dry and pill off

I am using it for about 1 months now and it does help. I have very pale asian skin and my acne is moderate. When I started using it I got 3 new breakouts which disappeared very quickly and felt for about 1 week as if I had a sunburn on my face. My skin did improve quite quickly and I am looking forward to see if it clears me completely. I was told by my doctor to use it for 3 months to see the results. I would recommend it because nothing worked so far in the past. and I have tried everything except accutane.
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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)
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December 25, 2011

Pros:

Works semi-quickly
Skin gets used to it
Goes on/dries clear
Can wear under/over makeup

Cons:

1st week of use=HELL!!!! (details below)
Peely, flaky, dry skin
Redness
Irritation

So..... My first week using this (let's call it the "initiation" week) was to introduce it to my skin and make my skin get used to it. My skin was red as a firetruck and dry as a desert. We're talking cracked, peeling, flaky, DISGUSTING skin. I had to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. This hurt very bad because you will experience extreme sensitivity on your face. These symptoms will get milder and milder and disappear after approx 1 month. Hang in there. Anyway, on to the good: After about a week, i noticed my acne (mostly my whiteheads) had gone down! However, after about 3 months of use, my acne started to appear again. Thennn, after some intense use for about 3 wks my acne started to fade completely and I am seeing BABY SMOOTH skin!
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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