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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September 11, 2013
Great!!

Pros:

Cleared Acne
Good for everyday
Side effects go away after a couple of weeks

Cons:

Flaking
After treatment, my skin is red

I am 13, and for about a year or two I struggled with acne. I literally was obsessed with my skin. I was spending my free time looking up reviews of products and trying everything from cheap drug store products to expensive department store one and getting facials with my own money. All I can say is stop wasting your time and money looking for other products other than Epiduo. It took me a couple of months to start working and I'm happy to say that face is acne free. I was also using another product that I got from my Dermatologist called Ziana which was amazing also. I have to admit that my skin is a little more red than usual after using this wonderful product, but it can easily be concealed with a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. Please! If you are like me and have tried everything than get to your nearest dermatologist. It will change your life and give you so much more confidence. Epiduo Works!!!!
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August 9, 2013
Works Well - with patience

Pros:

Quick and easy to apply
Cheap (I live in Australia and a tube lasts about 6 months)
Very effective, especially after a few months of use

Cons:

Can bleach towels, clothes and sheets
Can cause a bit of redness in areas of face on ocassion

I had been using BP (as part of The Regimen) for over a year, but decided to switch to Epiduo to try and reduce the amount of time I was taking to complete my skin regimen each day. Because my face was already adjusted to BP I didn't have any reactions to Epiduo, such as dry skin or redness but I did notice a little bit of redness on occasion in the creases next to my mouth. When this happened I just skipped one night's application and my skin was fine by the following day. In the first few months I had minor breakouts (about 1 - 2 pimples a week) but this slowly started to reduce. I became completely clear at around month 5 and have remained so for over a month now. If you have not used Epiduo before, its important to build up slowly, applying only every few days, then every second until you are applying every night and your skin is adjusted. Its also true that less is truly more. Only ever apply a pea size amount. This is plenty to apply all over your face. If you use more than this, it just adds unnecessary irritation without making it work better. It takes a few months before you see the full effects, so patience is paramount. Plus its also important to moisturise to keep your skin balanced. I really like this product - its quick to apply, its a once a day application and it works so long as you have the patience to get through the first few months.
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August 2, 2013
So far, I'm loving it!

Pros:

Works well
No burning, stinging, itching
Efficient

Cons:

Expensive

To start this off, I am 15 years old, and I have had mild-moderate acne since age 12. My dermatologist recommended Epiduo, and so I have been using it for about 3.5 months now, and I really like it. I've been using little sample sizes every night, but when I went to the pharmacy the other day to get the full size, they said it costed over $200, and there's no way I'm paying for that. My derm said with insurance, it'll cost me about $25-30, which is pretty good. But as for results, I am pretty much clear, probably about 90%, whereas before I was around 30%. Also, no stinging, itching, burning or sensations for me. Probably because my skin is so used to benzoyl peroxide after using it for years. If you get the chance to use Epiduo, I would highly recommend it.
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July 17, 2013
amazing
Ok, so I wanted to write a review because of how amazing this product is. I honestly have tried it all, and tried nothing, and I kept breaking out for the past 6 months. I got on birth control, did facials, used expensive products and cheap ones, even home made stuff. What people aren't understanding is how to USE this product. FIrst, get something calming like cetaphil for your skin. Cleanse with that in the am and use sunscreen, NO MOISTURIZER. At night wash with cetaphil and let your skin dry at least 30 mins. I normally wait about an hour or two. USE a pea size amount and dab all over the face not to touch the delicate eye part or cracks of nose. GO TO BED. DO not use anything else. Start out by using every 3 days. The first night I let it work for 5 hours to see if I got a reaction. I haven't had ANY reactions. NONE. I have been using for 3 weeks and completely clear skin. I can't even believe it. I highly recommend this but with caution - do research and use it properly!
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March 28, 2013

Pros:

Actually works!
Easy to apply.
Doesn't burn /dry out face.
Works within a week!

Cons:

It doesn't work over night.

I absolutely love this. I went to my dermatologist 2 years ago around this time and he recommended i be on solyden (oral treatment) and epiduo. At first i had severe acne it was just awful. Then I started using the solyden and epiduo and my skin got 10 clearer i have acne but its very very light now you have to be rally close to even tell I have any. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!
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March 15, 2013

Pros:

almost immediate results
lasting result
great for sensitive skin
odorless
easy to use

Cons:

slight dryness
somewhat expensive

I started epiduo when my dermatologist recommended I try it and gave me a few samples, I had acne on my back chest, and face at that time. I used it once and when I got out of bed the next day, my mother immediately commented on how well it had worked. even before I tried epiduo I was using aveeno moisturizer, but when I realized my skin was still a little dry, I switched to cetaphil I would recommend this for anyone, it is a definite life changer.
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March 10, 2013

Pros:

easy to apply
no smell
absorbs fast
works great!
once-a-day application
removed acne scars
easy to use
one tube lasts forever
cheap

Cons:

drying if you don't use a good moisturizer

I'm in high school and I have never had an acne problem, EVER. All of a sudden my face just broke out. I would count the pimples and at one point I had 32 pimples on my face all together. Desperate, I tried all creams and scrubs but nothing worked. I saw my doctor 4 weeks ago, in tears and totally desperate. My face is totally clear now. 32 pimples to 0 all in 4 weeks. Proactive can't even do that! I'd recommend this to everyone. My doctor also has me using Cetaphil, both wash and moisturizer.
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March 7, 2013

Pros:

cleared my acne and scars
one tube lasts several months

Cons:

first month face very red, itchy
large scaley looking pores at first
developed contact dermatitis around eyes (I believe from epiduo getting on pillow case since I don't use near my eyes)

I have been using this product for over 4 months and it has cleared my acne completely. The first month was rough, but from month 1 - month 2, saw drastic improvement. Still had lots of redness, so I decreased usage to once before bedtime every other night. Only had one zit the week after I decreased dose, cleared quickly, been acne free ever since. I'm in my 30s and have been dealing with moderate to severe acne since around age 19. Tried numerous products, including accutane, all worked well at first then my skin would become twice as bad as before. I had given up on prescription products years ago, but after having children my skin became impossible to manage. I'm so glad I gave it a shot. I use cerave foaming facial cleanser twice a day, complex 15 face cream in morning, and skinceuticals phloretin c, also in the morning. Epiduo every other night.
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January 29, 2013

Pros:

Has cleared up ALL acne (including blackheads).
Skin is significantly less oily throughout the day.
Has faded my acne scars/red marks significantly.

Cons:

Very drying and itchy at first.
Horrible initial breakout - but I am using it in conjunction with spironolactone so the breakout may have just been caused by that.

This medication is wonderful and I'll probably use it forever. After two-three months I completely stopped experiencing the redness, dryness, etc. and all that was left was clear, soft, (almost) scarless skin! I'm extremely pale so red marks have forced me to wear lots of makeup whenever I see anyone outside of my family, but after 5 months using this medication I use concealer on maybe 2-3 faded spots and NO other face makeup. Having clear skin changes so much and the wait is so worth it.
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January 28, 2013

Pros:

Works quickly.
Skin looks and feels amazing.
Once a day application.
Increased confidence.
Not depressed anymore.

Cons:

Photosensitivity.
Skin always slightly reddened.
Causes moisturiser/sunscreen to sting when applying.

31 year old male who has suffered acne since my early teens. Epiduo began working immediately to reduce the painful acne around my chin and nose area. After 2 weeks my skin had cleared and no new acne was forming on my face. 1 month on and my face is completely clear and my skin looks and feels amazing and I am finally feeling happy! I also use epiduo on my nape and upper back but I'm still getting acne on my back but not as bad as it was. Ultimately I'm just glad my face is clear!
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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