- You should avoid spending time in sunlight or artificial sunlight, such as tanning beds or sunlamps. Epiduo gel can make your skin sensitive to sun and the light from tanning beds and sunlamps. You should wear sunscreen and wear a hat and clothes that cover the areas treated with Epiduo gel if you have to be in sunlight.
- You should avoid weather extremes such as wind and cold as this may cause irritation to your skin.
- You should avoid applying Epiduo gel to cuts, abrasions and sunburned skin.
- You should avoid skin products that may dry or irritate your skin such as harsh soaps, astringents, cosmetics that have strong skin drying effects and products containing high levels of alcohol.
- You should avoid the use of “waxing” as a hair removal method on skin treated with Epiduo gel. Epiduo gel may bleach your clothes or hair. Allow Epiduo gel to dry completely before dressing to prevent bleaching of your clothes.
Before you use Epiduo gel, tell your doctor if you:
- have other skin problems, including cuts or sunburn
- have any other medical conditions
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
- Use Epiduo gel exactly as your doctor tells you to use it. Epiduo gel is for skin use only. Do not use Epiduo gel in or on your mouth, eyes, or vagina.
- Apply Epiduo gel 1 time a day.
- Do not use more Epiduo gel than you need to cover the treatment area. Using too much Epiduo gel or using it more than 1 time a day may increase your chance of skin irritation.
Applying Epiduo gel:
- Wash the area where the gel will be applied with a mild cleanser and pat dry.
- Epiduo gel comes in a tube and a pump. If you have been prescribed the:
- Tube: Squeeze a small amount (about the size of a pea) of Epiduo gel onto your fingertips and spread a thin layer over the affected area.
- Pump: Depress the pump to dispense a small amount (about the size of a pea) of Epiduo gel and spread a thin layer over the affected area.
Epiduo (generic: adapalene/benzoyl peroxide) is a prescription medication used to treat acne in people over 9 years old. Epiduo gel contains two drugs. Adapalene belongs to a group of drugs called retinoid-like compounds, which prevent inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide belongs to a group of drugs called nitrogen binding agents, which kill acne-causing bacteria and remove dead skin cells.
This medication comes in gel form and is applied to the affected skin once a day.
Common side effects of Epiduo include redness, dryness. Epiduo will increase sensitivity to the sun.
- Local skin reactions. Local skin reactions are most likely to happen during the first 4 weeks of treatment and usually lessen with continued use of Epiduo gel. Signs and symptoms of local skin reaction include:
- Redness
- Dryness
- Swelling
- Scaling
- Stinging or burning
Tell your doctor right away if these side effects continue for longer than 4 weeks or get worse, you may have to stop using Epiduo gel.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Epiduo gel. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Epiduo gel is a prescription medicine used to treat acne in people 9 years of age and older.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your doctor if you use any other medicine for acne. Using Epiduo gel with topical (skin) medicines that contain sulfur, resorcinol or salicylic acid may cause skin irritation. You should avoid skin products that may dry or irritate your skin such as harsh soaps, astringents, cosmetics that have strong skin drying effects and products containing high levels of alcohol.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Epiduo gel, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when using Epiduo gel.
Active ingredient: adapalene and benzoyl peroxide
Inactive ingredients: acrylamide/sodium acryloydimethyltaurate copolymer, docusate sodium, edetate disodium, glycerin, isohexadecane, polaxamer 124, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, purified water and sorbitan oleate
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Epiduo gel passes into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you use Epiduo gel.
If you apply too much Epiduo gel it may lead to skin irritation, redness, and peeling. Treatment may include washing the treated skin with soap and water to remove excess Epiduo gel.
If this medicine is taken by mouth, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
- Store Epiduo gel at room temperature, 68° to 77° F (20° to 25° C), with excursions permitted between 59° and 86° F (15° and 30°C).
- Keep Epiduo gel inside container and out of light and away from heat.
Keep Epiduo gel and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Apply a thin film of Epiduo gel to affected areas of the face and/or trunk once daily after washing, or as directed by your doctor. Use a pea-sized amount for each area of the face (e.g., forehead, chin, each cheek). Avoid the eyes, lips and mucous membranes.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Epiduo gel can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.