Adapalene / benzoyl peroxide topical for Acne User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2014

"I started using Epiduo about a week ago. I did not have severe acne, but I was very embarrassed of my breakouts. I tried other medications that did not work for me, so I was skeptical about trying Epiduo. Within 4 days, my skin began to clear up. I did not experience any negative side effects, nor did it burn my skin like it does in some patients. I would recommend Epiduo to anyone with mild acne who wants a clear face. Epiduo gave me confidence to go out of my house without makeup and without being embarrassed. I LOVE it!"

• Zoe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2020

"I started using Epiduo in mid-July, and 3 months later, I'm still getting significant breakouts (small whiteheads and cystic) and blackheads. I've been reading that the cream can take up to 3-5 months to be effective, so I'm holding out hope. The areas that weren't congested pre-Epiduo are SUPER smooth and clear (forehead and nose); however, my cheeks are still very congested. I have also developed lots of red marks from pigmentation. With all my strength, I have pushed out the purge for this long... I will keep going."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2015

"I have literally tried everything, aside from Accutane. My doctor gave me a prescription of spironolactone along with some Epiduo. The spironolactone made me feel weird, and I almost passed out. I gave up on that quickly and began using the samples. I called my doctor to let him know that the Epiduo was working! For the first time in as long as I can remember, I was waking up with no new zits. After a month of using Epiduo, I am 75% clear, and even my scars are fading faster. This has been the biggest blessing for me!"

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2021

"I started Epiduo gel on February 1, 2021, and am still on it currently. I went in with a pea-sized amount but used it every day since the start. My skin got red and dry in the first and second week, but the side effects quickly faded. However, I am not sure if it is the purge, but I broke out/purged in the fifth week. They were not huge cystic pimples but rather small pimples with pus and many closed comedones. I was helpless with the closed comedones because there is really nothing much to do about it, and it makes my skin feel so bumpy. Through these, I still stuck to applying Epiduo gel every night, and I swapped to a gentler moisturizer from CeraVe. I think what’s really important is using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, not picking on the pimples, and hydrating and, last but not least, letting the time pass!!"

• May...
• June 27, 2020

"My dermatologist prescribed me Epiduo Forte two weeks ago. I’ve been on doxycycline for five weeks, and around week three is when she prescribed me Epiduo Forte for my acne. I heard, “it gets worse before it gets better,” but for me, it just got better... like... immediately. Given, I do use strong products on my face like retinoids and chemical peels often. My face has been purging since late March, I feel that I’ve gone through the purge stage already. Then I was left with these horrible dark spots, pinpoint scars, small acne, and red spots from the old acne. Washing my face with a gentle face wash every night, then using a small amount of my Epiduo on my troubled areas, and then you wake up... and it’s literally completely different than the night before. It’s what you need if you have cystic acne or scarring or a mixture of both, like me. I’m giving it a nine because my neck is peeling and burning from it, and I’m not sure how since I’ve never placed it down my neck."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2019

"Back in 2016, I had severe acne. It was so painful, and it covered my entire face. I tried everything, and after a year, my face worsened. A friend recommended Epiduo, and after just a month, the acne cleared. I've been using this for years now :) Bye bye, acne. Note: too much use will cause redness. I'm using it every other day, at night only. And please just use a pea size for the entire face - just a really thin layer."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2019

"Please do not get your eyebrows waxed or threaded whilst using this! Recently had my eyebrows waxed and ripped a whole layer of my skin off. Very painful and so inflamed, leaving me unable to leave the house."

• Aye...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2023

"I have had cystic acne for 12 years, and it is honestly one of the most painful, confidence-wrecking conditions. I have tried so many prescription creams, including adapalene on its own, but nothing has ever given me perfect skin. This cream is absolutely incredible. I’m just two weeks in, my skin is completely clear, I have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and now a month in, it’s incredible. I cry when I look at my skin because I never thought it would be smooth. I never thought I could cure my acne. I still get one or two tiny pimples, but I use the cream once a night, and by day two, it’s flat and gone. My skin is used to retinoids, as I used adapalene with no joy for two years. Swapping to Epiduo has been incredible. The combination of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide did give me slight dryness, but now my skin GLOWS. Miracle cream for severe cystic acne, and I will never ever stop using it now!"

• Aan...
• June 23, 2019

"My skin was bad, so I went to a dermatologist after trying every drugstore acne med. She prescribed me Epiduo Forte. I was really excited to try this out, but I was also scared because my dermatologist told me my skin would get worse for the first 1-4 weeks of using it. That night, I started using it. For the first 3 days, my skin seemed to be getting better, but then it started to get bad. My skin broke out in places it had never broken out in before. But I didn’t give up, I was determined to have good skin. My skin took a full 4 weeks of worsening before it got better. On the fifth week, I started to see improvements. Now, after using it for 6 weeks, my skin just has a few pimples around my nose and some scars. I love Epiduo Forte!!! And please, please do not give up on it in the first 4 weeks!! I promise it will get better!!"

• Tea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2019

"Was concerned when I first started to use Epiduo because my face started to break out even more. I stayed consistent and by week 3, I started to see really great results. Lots of burning when I first started. Like I would get literally burns around my mouth, eyes, and sensitive parts of my face, but after staying consistent and not rubbing so hard when washing my face, the burns stopped."

• got...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2014

"I've had acne for 10 years, and this is the only thing that has worked. I've been on a few other prescription medications, and they didn't have the same results. My skin does get dry, but I just use a non-comedogenic moisturizer (Cetaphil), and it helps immensely. My skin is clear, and it feels smooth. Don't let the other reviews about redness and irritation scare you off. You should just reduce your usage to every other day instead of every day, and it still works. Also, the claims that it causes more acne are unlikely since it has TWO acne-killing medicines in it. If you use it correctly and how it best fits your needs, I promise you won't be let down."

• emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2015

"I'm just gonna get right to the point by saying that I'm just about to hit my 12 week mark on Epiduo, and it has completely cleared up my acne!! From 1-4 weeks, my acne kept getting worse. From 4-6 weeks, it was just kinda stuck in one place where it didn't really get worse but never got better. From 6-9 weeks, it slowly started to get better, but I was still waking up every day with a new pimple. Then from 9-12 weeks, I REALLY started noticing a difference. Pimples stopped occurring every day (with the exception of a couple because my period was starting). So for everyone using this product, just give it time to work! And for anyone wondering, I use Cetaphil Derma-Control Foam Wash in the morning and night but only apply Epiduo at night (waiting 30 min after to apply the moisturizer). Also, I really recommend getting the epi-tracker app to track your progress. SO GOOD LUCK EVERYONE."

• Epi...
• May 2, 2014

"I've been on Epiduo for quite some time now. I went from using it every day to once a week! It's super effective, and I LOVE it! I recommend Epiduo to everyone with acne. I used to have a face full of acne, now I only have like one or two pimples. Epiduo is amazing!"

• Epi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2014

"A couple of days ago, I was prescribed Epiduo. I didn't have really bad acne, but I had just enough where I didn't like my face. I've been trying Epiduo for a couple of days now, and I have already seen improvements in my face."

• bba...
• January 19, 2021

"I have been using Epiduo for 17 nights. Initially, it made my skin super smooth, with no breakouts, burning, or purging. However, after about a week, it became extremely painful, and my skin burned like crazy. Dry patches appeared around my eyes and mouth. I moisturized with Bria Organic Balm, and it cleared up within 2-4 days. One thing I will say for those who experience dry patches, burning, and peeling is to protect them while they heal. Put on a thin layer of thick moisturizer, massage it into the affected area, and cover it with Vaseline. Vaseline acts as a barrier, and therefore the benzoyl peroxide won’t travel to the affected areas. Vaseline is your friend in the fight against burning. Also, a handheld fan - or really any fan - is the best to just point at your face and sleep with! When they say a pea-sized amount, they mean it. You want as little as possible, but don’t worry, it will still work."

• Niq...
• May 25, 2015

"I never had acne until I hit 19. I let it go for a while, thinking it would go away. Then I tried a whole variety of home remedies, over-the-counter treatments, supplements, and stopped wearing makeup, and NOTHING was working. I went to my GP, fed up and with low self-esteem, and she prescribed me Epiduo! At first, I was skeptical, after all, it was just a cream, but then I began to use it. For the first month, I had terrible irritation and burning, my skin would crack and peel, but I was so determined to clear my skin I pushed on. Around the 50-day mark, a miracle happened! Not 1 pimple! And I haven't had one since! My skin is just amazing now, people are complimenting me all the time about it, and I feel fantastic!"

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2009

"I started using this medicine about a week ago, and I've already noticed significant changes in my skin. Prior to use, I had a very bad breakout of acne all over my face: small bumps and big ones. Now, I have very, very few bumps, and also the scars left behind from old bumps are also beginning to clear up and lighten my complexion for a more even tone. The only downfall is the stinging that occurs sometimes, along with minimal peeling. But other than that, it gets the job done, and I'm pleased with what I'm seeing thus far. Hopefully, it continues to eventually make me acne-free."

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2019

"First of all, after reading the other reviews, I see that a lot of people stop using this because of the redness, dryness, and burning it causes. If you stick with it for 2 weeks, the burning and redness subsides! You cannot give up on this product (or any other acne product) after only using it for a week. With that being said, I too experienced the irritation and dryness in the few weeks. I honestly love how much it makes your skin peel because it allows your past acne scars to fade! Yes, the dryness is annoying (especially if you are a makeup wearer)... but you have to look at the bright side, it fades your scars! I’ve been using this for 1 month and have seen drastic changes already in my skin's appearance and texture. I alternate between using Epiduo and Tretinoin at night. I had already been on Tretinoin for 3 months before adding Epiduo to my routine, so I did not experience a purge like other people do."

• Mar...
• January 15, 2021

"I started using Epiduo in November 2019, and back then my skin wasn’t very good. I had mild to moderate acne at the time and started using Epiduo once, maybe twice a day. The first month was horrible, and my skin started to get way worse. My breakouts were way worse than when I started. I didn’t have a burning sensation, however, my face started peeling like crazy. I had to use moisturizer all the time, and makeup would never cover it up. At the 2-3 month mark, my skin started getting slightly better with pretty bad scarring. However, when I reached the 6-month mark of this medication, I was VERY pleased with the results. It got rid of my scarring drastically, and my breakouts now are a lot better than they were before. I still have acne here and there, but nothing compared to what it was before. It doesn’t work for everybody, but it worked miracles on my skin."

• Qui...
• July 15, 2019

"When I first began applying Epiduo, I had a lot of breakouts coming through, but nothing I hadn't seen before. I have light acne, generally speaking. Using Epiduo at the beginning turned that light acne into moderate acne, which I understand to be the skin purging bacteria below the surface as the skin gets acclimated to the drug. Fast forward to two weeks in. I have clear skin. Tiny, texturized bumps that were there yesterday have vanished. I still have an active scab from a pimple I popped on my jawline, but I have never been more confident in this product. I am going to keep using it consistently so I don't disrupt this progress. I did/am getting a lot of dryness and flaking around the mouth and eyelids, but I am using CeraVe moisturizer to combat. Also, when I first started Epiduo, I was getting a TON of burning, and putting on moisturizer only made that feeling worse. That, however, is no longer the case after two weeks of consistent use. It doesn't burn at all anymore."

• m97...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2017

"I was prescribed Epiduo right before my senior year of high school, and I have now just finished my second year of college. For all of you reading reviews, don't believe any reviewer who has used this medication for less than 6 months. My dermatologist told me to use this every night on my whole face. I didn't have red pimples, but I had comodogenic acne-very bumpy, textured skin that drove me crazy. It took one full year to work, but it made my skin absolutely perfect-glowing, clear, tiny pores, everything I could ever have wanted. Flash forward to now, and I have moved up to Epiduo Forte because my skin is used to the regular Epiduo. There is no doubt about it. This works. But you have to stick out the awful part."

• sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2017

"Honestly, don't give up on this cream. I had acne since I was 13 years old, trying all sorts to clear my skin, but nothing worked, so I just dealt with it every day, covering myself in makeup. I'm now 21, and my skin is as clear as it has ever been. I started to use this cream 6 months ago, but after 2 weeks on it, I broke out in spots even more, and my skin started to peel to the point I couldn't even touch my face because it hurt. So I gave up the cream for a few weeks, but then decided to read some reviews, and I took on the advice of what people were saying to stick to it. I went back to the doctor's, got the cream again, 3 months on, the redness/peeling stopped and my skin is clear. I no longer wear makeup and feel confident! STICK IT OUT!"

• xze...
• June 20, 2013

"I'm 18 and have always struggled with hormonal acne. But for some reason, the past few months have been terrible. It was everywhere, and I felt so insecure. I went to the doctor, and she recommended Epiduo. Best decision ever! At first, I hated it because my skin is dry, itchy, flaky, and burns. But I finally found out how to put it on so it doesn't. Try this and see if it works: First, wash your face GENTLY with a NON-MEDICATED cleanser. Now this is the key. You have to wait for your face to completely dry between layers. Wait at least 10 minutes. So once that's dry, apply the Epiduo in a thin layer all over your face. Let dry for 15 min. Then apply a ton of moisturizer. My skin is so clear now!"

• Por...
• September 20, 2019

"I've had acne pretty well my whole life. However, after entering into my 20s, my adult acne got worse. I had small pimples down my jawline and cheeks. I got prescribed this medication about three months ago. You HAVE to get through the “purging stage”, things will get worse before they get better. You have to give this medication a chance before you can see results! I had extremely dry, red, burnt skin. So bad, people thought I had a sunburn. I actually stopped after using it for two weeks because of how insecure I was and the side effects of the cream. My skin peeled, I couldn’t put any makeup on. This lasted a little over a month before my skin got used to it. It will take several months for this to work! After about a month and a half, this medication made my pores smaller, my skin glowing and smooth. I’m so happy with how great my skin looks! I have people telling me how great my skin looks and asking what I’ve been using. Stick it out, it’s worth it!"

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2010

"I started using this medication on September 7th, 2010, and today's date is September 28th, 2010, and boy, have I noticed a big difference. The first couple of weeks, I felt like giving up because the burning and peeling were unbearable. But now my face is a lot clearer, and the burning and peeling are gone. It still has some ways to go, but it's so much better. My advice to you is to hold on and wait a little while longer because you will see awesome results once you get past that stage."