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
September 18, 2010
Cons:
Cost (even with the Advantage card, each tube costs $35. Luckily it seems to last a pretty long time.)
Itchiness after applying
Didn't really reduce the readness and scarring as some others have experienced
Great Product. After the first month, I saw results, but don't think it'll look clear, it takes time for it to kick in. I think this, in addition to drinking more water helped clear me up!
May 14, 2010
Pros:
-absorbs quickly
-only have to use at night
-doesn't stain anything
-not very expensive
Cons:
-dries out skin
-takes a while to work
-not very affective
This product takes a very long time to work! And it makes you break out way worse before your skin even looks remotely better. It dries out your skin a lot so i would recommend a moisturizer to use day and night. Also, it doesnt work at all for me when im on my period. Which is awful. I wouldn't waste your money on this product, it can mess up your skin in the long run (lots of red marks and can irritate your whole face.)
December 17, 2009
Pros:
I had mild acne and after using this product for about 4 months I can say I have seen a noticeable difference. I only apply it around my mouth/chin area, but where I once had multiple zits I now have 0-1. I use it once a night before bed
Cons:
Slightly drying, especially during winter. I use the acne.org moisturizer when needed and that takes care of the dryness. Also the treated area is more vulnerable to sunburns, so that needs to be kept in mind
I saw no initial "flare up" as other people on here have using this product. I am using the 0.1% adapalene 2.5% BP mix.. No more cystic zits and I am more than willing to pay for the dry skin in exhange for being acne free. I am very happy with the results.
September 5, 2017
Patience is key
I never ever write reviews for anything...but I feel like I should share my experience with epiduo. I started in June of 2017 and immediately experienced the purging. Unfortunately for me, I started to get acne in places that I had never gotten before due to this purging phase. It was extremely irritating and embarrassing because my face was nowhere near as bad before as it was during the purging phase. For me, the purging lasted about 2 months (I know this sounds really bad, but you have to be patient). I live in Florida, so I'm constantly sweating (terrible for acne!). I almost gave up around the 2 month mark, but I kept reading reviews about how I need to stick it out until month 3. I'm currently on week 12 (one week away from the 3 month mark) and my face has improved exponentially. Throughout all of August, I had non-elevated red marks all over my face, but those are fading very quickly right now. My face is not 100% clear, but I can definitely see it heading in that direction. I'm so glad that I didn't give up on this product. As awful as it may be to have to wait 10-12 to see results, it's totally worth it. It's very upsetting to read reviews about how people stopped after like 6 weeks. This just isn't enough time. For someone that is extremely acne prone, I was so excited to see this product start working. Once my face clears completely, I will probably only apply the epiduo every other night to maintain. Long story short: not everyone will see results quickly because everybody responds differently and at different intervals. Stick it out and you should see good results. Besides, the acne that you are getting as a result of beginning epiduo (the purging) would have come anyways at some point in the future. I highly recommend!
January 10, 2012
Pros:
- It cleared up most of my acne
- It is really fast to use
- SAVED MY LIFE
Cons:
- first couple weeks of use, you may see your acne worsen
- made my skin red and dry
- can bleach towels or sheets
I love epiduo. I don't know what I would do without it. The first couple weeks were bad and I didn't see any improvement. My skin was super red and I was peeling. About the 4th or 5th week is when I saw my acne going away. Even my scars. My face no longer gets red and it is the best thing I've used so far. You have to let your face get used to the medicine and so far, I've been using it for a month. Without epiduo, I would still be getting bullied at school<3 thank you epiduo(:
August 6, 2011
Pros:
cleared white heads and blackheads and prevented inflammation from break outs
Cons:
dry skin but manageable with nutrogena sensitive moisturizer cream
it worked within the 2 days of using it gave me great results my skin is clear with not lttle bumps clears blemishes i love it and hope my skin doesnt immune to it, its been week now using this product and everyone is noticing my clear skin :) love it
March 23, 2011
Pros:
less acne
Cons:
Redness from cream
Tingling
I've been using Epiduo for one week now and already seen incredible results. I've suffered from severe adult acne for years; I'm 28 now. This was worth the price, and I'm glad my dermatologist recommended it. I have noticed some burning and redness from the cream, but that was only when I applied too much cream. A lot goes a long way with this cream.
December 4, 2010
Pros:
Clears acne
Smoother Skin
Evens out skin-tone
Cons:
Initial redness, burning and peeling
Quite pricey.
This treatment is fantastic.
The first few weeks are horrible. Your skin looks like it been boiled, and it BURNS, seriously BURNS, when you apply it or anything else to your face.
But after your over the hump its perfect. Your skin is smoother, oil is eliminated, your skin tone is even and your rid of pimples,blackheads and cysts.
I used it in conjunction with Tetralysal 150mg.
August 6, 2010
Pros:
Fast acting
Helps dry out Oily Skin types
Leaves skin soft
Noticeable results in days
Cons:
Can irritate skin, even non-sensitive skin types
Possible redness
Possible dryness
Possible flaking
Possible tingling/burning
Went to the Dermatologist and was prescribed this product. I have extremely oily skin with lots of congestion (blackheads) and some pimples. He said this would help with the oilyness and acne. So far I have been using this product for about a week and I can see a slight difference in my skin. My face is still oily but not as oily as before and hopefully with prolonged use it will become even less so. Most of my pimples have started to dry up but I have gotten a couple of new ones, although they are small ones. As for the blackheads, it is too early to tell. I would advise those with non oily skin types to exercise caution as this product is VERY DRYING. I have had some mild irritation on the skin above my lip and a little on my chin where my skin is slightly drier accompanied by slight tingling/burning sensation. I think it is too early to say whether I would recommend this to someone, but if you have had little success with Benzoyl Peroxide, I think this would be next logical step to take.
July 3, 2010
Pros:
-clears acne over time
-easy to use (Doesnt have many steps)
-easy to find (at drs. or derm.)
-You can use other face wash products so its not a drastic change to your face
-Works other places on your body besides the face
Cons:
-Expensive (not as much as Proactive though)
-Doesnt work immediately, could get worse in the beginning
-Makes skin vulnerable to sun
-You have to use it EVERYDAY, its a prescription
I have had acne since I was about 10 years old and not just on my face on my back and my chest. I would get these boil like things when the time of month came around. When I was younger my face was sensitive to everything I tryed on it. I tryed everything you could think of. Then when I got a little older you know my hormones where making life miserable. One of which was oily skin including hair. :-( So in the process of trying to find an acne treatment I was trying to find hair products to help with oily hair. And of course the two were contradicting each other. Some hair product would make my acne worse and then on.
I finally went to my dr. and they prescribed Epiduo. Now after many years of experiementing and searching for the acne medicine that would work I was kind of fed up with the same old thing. "Just 3 steps, 3 bottles. Now you have to wash with THIS every night and morning and do this and do that" it was the same old thing with every treatment but they didnt work.
But now with Epiduo you can use any face wash and moisterizer you want. You get to choose.
Now I wouldnt recommended this to anybody who doesnt have good health insurance because WITHOUT it, its $200 I havent been using Epiduo for very long, about a month and only this last week I've noticed a improvement. But it says on the warnings that in the beginning the acne could worsen. And it did for me. But I use my Epiduo ONCE a day on my face, chest and back and use sunscreen everyday!
Pros:
Works fairly quickly. My face is pretty much 95% clear from when I started. I had cystic acne and nodules, but now I have the occasional breakout.