Duac and Redness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Whi...
• July 16, 2019

For Acne "I was prescribed this by my doctor for some minor cystic acne around my chin (I'm in my mid-20s). I used it as instructed, knowing that due to the benzoyl peroxide, it would irritate and dry the skin initially, but after five days, I just had to stop. My skin became raw, red, flaky, excoriated, discolored, and painfully dry. It made my skin WORSE, instead of a few ugly spots, I now had angry, red, peeling patches on my face, and for nearly a week, I had to slather on liberal amounts of moisturizer and bio-oil just to keep the itchiness, irritation, and pain of my dry cracked skin down to tolerable levels. Five days of using Duac, and it took my skin over a week to get to the point where I don't have to layer on moisturizer to get through the day (still not even back to where it was pre-Duac), and the worst part was, it didn't even help with the spots! They're still there. Completely useless, made my skin so much worse. 100% would not recommend."

• Arl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2015

For Acne "I've used it for a week, and the first three days were okay besides the peeling off the skin; it was moderate and not itchy a lot, so I gave it a chance. After a week or so, one morning I woke up with completely irritated skin, red; it was like I had a laser procedure. I didn't use it the following night, hoping redness and itchiness would go for good, but the following day was even worse. Puffy, red, itchy, and irritated skin, dry like a raisin. So, as it's the weekend, I have to stay calm till tomorrow's doctor's appointment, hoping it will all get cured. It really seems like an allergy or chemical burn. I really hope it will be healed. I really advise using it on small parts of the acne-affected places just to give it a try."

• chl...
• November 30, 2011

For Acne "I have been using this cream for over a year now, and my spots have cleared. I do still get the occasional one now and then, but that's normal. Duac cream has reduced the darkness of my blackheads as well. I have also been noticing my skin has been quite red, so I've laid off the cream for a while and just been using a scrub before bed to see. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone, but there are side effects if you are allergic to some of the products in it. Ask your doctor for more information. Hope this helped."

• ask...
• February 18, 2018

For Acne "This was great for my blackheads for the first few months that I used it. Really smoothed out my skin, got rid of blemishes, and even helped prevent breakouts (and if I did get something, it dramatically reduced how bad it was and how long it lasted). Then all of a sudden, it started making my face red. Not itchy or dry (kind of shiny actually), but very red. My dermatologist told me to try using it every other night instead of every night. But still, whenever I'd apply it, I'd wake up the next day so red, and it would be like that for a full day, sometimes two days. I kept trying to reduce the frequency of use, but every time I use it now I just get completely red. Not sure what the deal is, but it no longer feels worth it. A shame though, since it was great when it was working."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

For Acne "I went to the doctor's about my acne, and she prescribed me this gel. I used it on my face the first night I got it, and it was fine, I woke up with a few red patches, but overall thought it worked well. I applied it on the second night, and I woke up to severe redness and itchiness on my face, as well as big dry patches on my cheeks, chin, and forehead. Turns out I had an allergic reaction to this gel, which has left my sensitive skin unbearable to look at. It has caused my eyes to swell up, and itching still persists."

• Kee...
• June 4, 2016

For Acne "Day 3 of using Duac gel, and my face is red, irritated, and very itchy. I woke in the night with a very itchy face, and it kept me awake, so I decided to wash it and apply a few layers of a moisturizer. It is still considerably itchy, but I think that helped. I have quite dry skin anyway, so I'm guessing that's why my face got so itchy. Hopefully, I'll start seeing better results soon."

• Con...
• July 4, 2016

For Acne "Very effective from the beginning! Although I came across a few side effects - redness, dryness, peeling of skin - this cream completely eliminated most of my acne. I particularly found it astonishing that over the space of a few months my cysts had decreased - in size - dramatically. They'd shrink and leak until they vanish, usually not leaving any scars, only marks - which will fade over a period of time. When my skin was feeling painful due to the side effects - stinging at night - I'd stop using Duac for a couple of days and moisturize up. Once the side effects decreased slightly, I'd go back on it. I took Duac alongside the antibiotic erythromycin - however, I didn't find that drug effective."

• Ash...
• March 7, 2019

For Acne "I’ve suffered with mild to moderate acne from about 14 years old and had tried almost every product and treatment method possible. As I turned 20, I’d noticed all my friends who’d had bad spots had lovely clear skin, and I was the only one who still had acne. I went to my doctor, and she prescribed me Duac. Within 3 days, the bumps I’d had under the skin on my forehead for years had gone. I was thrilled, and my skin became the clearest and softest it’d been since I was a child! After a week, I had no spots at all, even maintaining clear skin on my period. However, when I reached the end of my second month using it, I reduced the frequency of applying as I started to get redness on my cheeks after washing it off. I’ve now been off of it for 5 weeks, and my skin is back to where it was before I started the course, and the confidence I’d found through having clear skin has vanished, which is disappointing. The product itself worked marvelously for the 9/10 weeks I used it though, and the first couple after!"

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2018

For Acne "I've never had bad acne on my face, but I got some inflammation on my shoulders. As I got older, it started to fix itself, but I wanted something to help it along a little. I went to the doctor's and was prescribed Duac. Due to my pale skin, I was given a slightly weaker version of the gel. As expected, I had dry and itchy skin, but it passed. My shoulders became clearer, but I noticed that my face hadn't improved at all, it seemed to have gotten worse. It caused me to have a breakout on my chin that, two weeks on, still hasn't cleared up. I only apply it to my cheeks and chin, but noticed that I was getting small red lumps on my forehead. My skin has turned really red, and it seems like the irritation that you experience when you first start using this gel has returned. I have read the reviews and comments here saying that people could see improvements within several weeks to a month, but I've seen no change and it appears as though I'm just wasting my breath with this product."

• Vic...
• May 12, 2016

For Acne "I get quite a few red spots only in my T-zone, along with loads of little red bumps on my forehead. I've been using Duac cream for about 5 days now, and I have seen quite a good improvement, especially on my forehead. However, my skin is bright red and flaky that it almost looks worse. I don't have as many spots at all, but my whole face is red and constantly burning to the point where I cry. Yes, it is good for spots, but for me, it's not worth it."

• oll...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2018

For Acne "I've been using Duac gel for close to a month now. I have read reviews about this product, but it seems my case is different. I did not experience any form of dryness, itch, or redness. I just hope it works without these horrible experiences. Although my face is clearing little by little apart from the new ones coming out. I hope to comment with a better testimony next time."

• Sed...
• July 1, 2019

For Acne "It caused me irritations, made me extremely itchy, and I have red blotches all over my face. I would say that the negatives outweigh the positives, and I would not recommend this as the side effects are not worth it."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2021

For Acne "I found that it made my skin dry, red, and patchy. Dry/red/irritated skin, on top of acne, was not ideal! So I decided to come off it only 2 weeks into starting it. I know I should've probably given it a better chance, but I just thought it made me look 10 times worse than having acne alone! It made me look like I had another skin condition. It did dry out my skin majorly, and even 2 weeks later I still have the dry patches, although I am moisturizing well. For some that worry about oily skin contributing to acne, this could be a positive. I just note that it is a very, very harsh cream, and anything with the ability to bleach my towels would, in my opinion, be too harsh for my skin."

• Sam...
• February 14, 2016

For Acne "40 yrs old & last year tried the progesterone-only pill for just 5 months (ceased that pill 4 months ago), but ever since, my once near-perfect skin has been plagued by constant hormonal spots. The doctor prescribed Duac & said it could cause redness & drying. I used this for 2 nights only, last Monday & Tuesday, applying just a very thin layer to all areas affected by spots as per the directions. By Wednesday afternoon, my skin had started going pink & itchy, so I didn't use it again. Woke up Thursday morning with red, itchy, burning patches all over, like port stain birthmarks, & it is still driving me crazy now, trying not to scratch, using moisturizers but to no joy - 5 days it has been like this, wish I had not used it."

• Ms ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2017

For Acne "Horrible! This product should not even be prescribed to anyone! I had a very, very severe reaction on my skin and ended up worse than with my acne. The allergic reaction showed two days after the first application, disgrace! Now, three days after the first very, very small application (of a very expensive cream, mind you), all of my face and neck are full of red blotches similar to a first-degree burn! I have to miss days from work until this reaction passes because I cannot even go out in the sun as the itchiness flares up! So if you care for your skin, DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT!"