Epiduo

• Acne with a mix of blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed spots
• Skin that has responded to a retinoid alone but not fully cleared
• Long-term maintenance once acne is under control, which is where most previous routines have failed
• Anyone whose routine has never included benzoyl peroxide, which is a common gap
• Reducing the number of evening steps by combining two treatments in one

Not for use in pregnancy, when planning pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. Tell us before use if any of these apply.

Evening only, once daily.

• Cleanse and remove the day's sunscreen.
• Pat dry and wait ten to fifteen minutes. Applying to damp skin significantly increases irritation, and this pause matters more than it sounds.
• Apply a pea-sized amount to the whole affected area — not dotted onto individual spots. A pea covers the face.
• Wash your hands afterwards.
• Moisturiser if your skin wants it, twenty minutes later.

Build up gradually. Do not start every night.

• Weeks 1–2: every other night
• Week 3 onwards: nightly, if comfortable
• If skin becomes dry or tight, drop back a step rather than stopping altogether

Keep it clear of the eye area. At least 1cm from the bony rim of the eye socket, and nothing on the eyelids or the soft skin directly beneath. Applying a plain moisturiser around the eyes first, as a barrier, is worth doing.

Avoid broken, eczematous or sunburned skin, and the corners of the nose and mouth.

Benzoyl peroxide bleaches fabric and hair. Use a white or old towel and pillowcase, and take care with collars.

Daily sunscreen is not optional while using this. Both ingredients increase sensitivity to sunlight.

Adapalene 0.1% — a third-generation topical retinoid. Works inside the follicle to normalise cell turnover and prevent the blockages that become spots, and reduces inflammation. Unlike earlier retinoids it is chemically stable in the presence of benzoyl peroxide and is photostable.

Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% — acts on Cutibacterium acnes, the bacteria involved in inflammatory acne, and helps clear the follicle. Importantly, bacteria do not develop resistance to it, which is why it is used alongside or instead of antibiotic treatment rather than being reserved for failure.

On the 2.5% strength: benzoyl peroxide's effect on inflammatory spots plateaus early. Comparative work has found 2.5% performs comparably to 5% and 10%, with meaningfully less dryness and irritation. The higher strengths buy discomfort rather than clearance, which matters when the aim is a routine you can stay on.

Give it twelve weeks. That is the realistic window for judging any acne treatment, and changes made earlier are usually made too soon.

Weeks 1–4. Often worse before better. Dryness, some flaking and mild tightness are expected, and a temporary increase in spots is common as blockages already forming in the skin come to the surface. This is the most frequent point at which people abandon the treatment, usually a few weeks before it would have started working.

Weeks 4–8. Irritation settles as skin adapts. Fewer new spots forming.

Weeks 8–12. The clearest picture of what the treatment is doing, and the point at which we assess it properly.

Beyond that. Acne is a long-term condition rather than a course of treatment. The reason previous routines have stopped working is usually that they stopped, not that they failed. Maintenance is the part that holds the result.

Post-inflammatory marks fade over months rather than weeks, and considerably faster with daily sunscreen.

Individual results vary and we cannot guarantee a specific outcome.

• Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Lightweight Foaming Blemish Cleanser — salicylic acid 2%, morning cleanse
• Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy — salicylic acid 2% liquid exfoliant, introduced a few weeks in rather than at the start
• A high-protection daily facial sunscreen — required alongside this treatment, not optional
• A plain, non-active moisturiser — barrier support matters more here than any additional active
• Azelaic acid — sits comfortably alongside, and useful where marks and pigmentation are the residual concern

Do not use alongside a separate adapalene or tretinoin product, additional benzoyl peroxide, or any scrub or strong exfoliant while you are building up.

Both contain benzoyl peroxide 2.5%. The difference is the adapalene: 0.1% in the standard formulation, 0.3% in Forte.

Stronger is not automatically better. The higher-strength version was developed and trialled for more extensive acne, and it carries a correspondingly higher rate of dryness and irritation — which matters, because the treatment only works if you can stay on it.

We generally start at 0.1%, particularly where you are also adding benzoyl peroxide to your routine for the first time, since that is where most of the initial irritation comes from. If at your twelve-week review your skin is comfortable and settled but the acne has plateaued, stepping up to 0.3% is a reasonable next move. That is a decision for review rather than something to change on your own.

Can I use it in the morning instead? No. Evening only.

I forgot a night. Should I double up? No. Carry on as normal the next evening.

My skin is peeling. Should I stop? Drop back to alternate nights rather than stopping, and add a plain moisturiser. Contact us if it does not settle within a week.

Can I still use my other acne products? Only the ones on your written plan. The most common problem we see is products layered on top that overlap or work against each other.

Will it bleach my towels? Yes, if you let it. Use white or old towels and pillowcases.

Can I use it on my back or chest? Ask us first, so we can assess the area and advise on quantity.

Is it safe in pregnancy? No. Do not use if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. Tell us if your circumstances change.

How long will I be on it? Longer than you expect, and that is the point. Acne returns when treatment stops, which is what has happened after every previous course. Maintenance is what breaks that cycle.

Do I need a review? Yes. Typically at six and twelve weeks. Repeat supply depends on it.

• Formulation: gel
• Strengths: adapalene 0.1% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5%; also available as adapalene 0.3% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5%
• Pack size: [confirm from your stock]
• Manufacturer: Galderma
• Legal status: POM — prescription only
• Storage: below 25°C. Do not freeze. Keep the cap closed.
• Supply: dispensed following consultation, medical assessment and prescription. Prescribing is at our clinical discretion and is not guaranteed.
• Reviews: six and twelve weeks. Ongoing supply is subject to review.

Read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication for the full list of side effects, cautions and interactions. Contact us if you develop severe redness, swelling, blistering, or any reaction that does not settle.

All treatments at Sebastian Rose are carried out by GMC or NMC-registered medical professionals holding Level 7 in Aesthetic Medicine, with 24 years of healthcare experience including emergency medicine and over a decade in full-time medical aesthetics.