|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
||||||
| WHAT IS EPIDUO™ GEL? | ||||||
| Epiduo™ Gel is the first and only once-daily topical combination acne treatment that contains two acne-fighting ingredients: adapalene ( a synthetic retinoid) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). Adapalene is a medication similar to vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself. Benzoyl peroxide has an antibacterial effect and it also has a mild drying effect, which allows excess oils and dirt to be easily washed away from the skin. Each gram of Epiduo™ Gel contains 1 mg adapalene and 25 mg of benzoyl peroxide in an aqueous-based gel. | ||||||
| WHAT IS ACNE? | ||||||
Acne
is a disorder of the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands) located at the
base of the hair follicle resulting in plugged pores and outbreaks of varying
degrees of acne lesions commonly referred to as pimples and zits.
Acne lesions occur most commonly on areas that have the highest concentration
of sebaceous glands: face, neck, upper back, chest and shoulders.
When these oil glands become overactive and plug up the primary lesion
of acne, comedones, commonly referred to as a blackheads (open comedones)
or whiteheads (closed comedones) develop. Comedones are non inflammatory
lesions characteristic of Grade I acne. The classic "pimple" develops
as the bacteria (Propionibacterium
acnes)
beneath the skin thrive on this oil and produce redness and pus, Grade
II - Grade III. As this infection spreads into the deeper layers
of the skin pustules and cysts can develop, Grade IV.
 |
||||||
| WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ACNE? ADULTS & TEENAGERS! | ||||||
| Acne is the most common skin disease affecting over 70 million people worldwide, over 17 million in the United States. Acne is not just an adolescent condition. Acne usually begins around puberty due to an increase in hormonal levels and usually tends to resolve within 10 years, but there is an increasing number of people, mostly women, wo are being troubled by acne later in life. Acne affects nearly 85% of all adolescents and teens are troubled with acne. Nearly 5 million American adults suffer from acne and women are twice as likely as men to develop adult acne. In women, an increase in hormones prior to their menstrual cycle tends to make acne worse. | ||||||
| WHY DO I NEED TO TREAT ACNE? | ||||||
| Although acne is not a serious life threatening condition, if not treated acne can cause permanent scarring. Grade III and IV Acne with deep pustules and cysts result in scarring. | ||||||
| WHO QUALIFIES FOR AN ONLINE EPIDUO™ GEL CONSULTATION? | ||||||
If
you are 18 years or older, not pregnant or breast feeding, and have been
diagnosed by a physician with acne vulgaris - Grade I, II or III you are
eligible for an online Epiduo™ Gel physician consultation.
 If
you have Grade IV acne you need to see your physician or dermatologist |
||||||
| HOW DOES EPIDUO™ GEL WORK TO TREAT ACNE? | ||||||
Epiduo™
Gel is applied directly to the face or the affected area and it works
by combining the effects of two powerful ingredients, adapalene and benzoyl
peroxide, reducing controlling improper skin buildup and reducing
the inflammatory component of acne, clearing clogged pores and it has an
antibacterial effect. Acne forms when hormones trigger an abnormal
accumulation of skin cells and an overproduction of oil in skin pores.
The pores (hair follicle) become clogged, forming a plug, and enable bacteria
to grow and comedones (whiteheads & blackheads) and papules and pustules
and nodules (pimples) develop. It works by controlling the improper accumulation
of skin cells that plug the pores and helping skin cells shed normally
rather than allowing them to accumulate in pores. Epiduo™ Gel is
effective at clearing up pimples, whiteheads and blackheads by clearing
the pores of oil-blocking skin cells.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Epiduo™
Gel in addition to being the only FDA-approved topical acne medication
to contain the unique and powerful combination of adapalene and benzoyl
peroxide in a single product it also:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
| Epiduo™
Gel is applied to the skin just once a day either in the morning
or in the evening before bedtime. Epiduo™ Gel must be used
consistently as there is no instant or immediate cure for acne. Epiduo™
Gel is approved to be used on the faced and or body. But do NOT apply
to mucous membranes, lips or eyes.
Step 1: Wash the affected area with a mild, gentile, non-soap cleanser such as a Cetpahil cleanser. Avoid harsh astringents and scrubs. Step 2: Pat dry with a soft towel to remove excess water. Never rub harshly. Step 3: Apply a pea-size amount of Gel. Spread a thin film evenly over the entire face, avoiding the eyes, lips, angles of the nose, and mucous membranes. Try not to touch the treated areas. Epiduo™ Gel can also be used on the trunk as well as the face. Step 4: Wash your hands With proper care and treatment, acne can be controlled and scarring may be prevented. Use Epiduo™ Gel exactly as prescribed. Applying excessive amounts or using the formulation more than once a day will not produce better results and may cause severe redness, peeling and discomfort. |
||||||
| WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS A DAY? CAN I JUST USE MORE EPIDUO™ GEL THE NEXT DAY? | ||||||
| Epiduo™ Gel is formulated for only once-daily use. It works best and has the lowest risk of possible side effects if used only once daily and "less is more." Use only a pea sized drop. Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to apply the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do NOT use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose. If you miss a day do not use larger amounts the next day as this increases the risk of irritation and will not speed up the healing process. | ||||||
| DOES EPIDUO™ GEL WORK WELL ON DARK SKIN? | ||||||
| Yes. Epiduo™ Gel is safe and effective on all skin colors. | ||||||
|
|
||||||
| Epiduo™ Gel affect cell accumulation and reduces the inflammatory response within the pores. During the first 1 - 2 weeks of treatment, your acne may appear to get worse. Don't despair. This is expected and just means that the medication is working on pimples that you may not yet see. Continue using the product. It can take up 8 - 12 weeks before you start to see improvement and with continued use further improvement is expected. How long it takes to clear your pimples will depend on the severity of your acne. Larger pimples or more severe cases of acne may take longer to clear than milder cases. Use Epiduo™ Gel consistently even after your acne goes away on areas where outbreaks usually occur for prevention. If your acne does not start to improve within 12 weeks, check with your own doctor. | ||||||
| HOW DOES EPIDUO™ GEL DIFFER FROM RETIN-A & OTHER RETINOIC ACIDS? | ||||||
| Epiduo™
Gel is the only FDA-topical medication that combines the synthetic retinoid
with benzoyl peroxide. It is a formulation of adapalene which is a new
synthetic retinoid analogue that has demonstrated greater effectiveness
than the highest strength of topical Retin- A gel or other retinoid topical
products. In addition Epiduo™ Gel is MUCH GENTLER to your skin
than other retinoid products with significantly less skin dryness and skin
irritation. Adapalene functions in a manner similar to that of retinoid
products but with greater effectiveness and less irritating side effects.
Retinoid therapy has been recognized for more than 20 years to be excellent
acne therapy, but its usage has been limited in many patients due to it's
side effects. Epiduo™ Gel has been shown to be more effective with
better tolerance and less side effects
Benefits of Epiduo™ Gel:
|
||||||
| WHAT FACTORS PLAY A PREDISPOSING OR EXACERBATING ROLE IN ACNE? | ||||||
| Heredity
plays a very important role. Acne is a hereditary disease.
Most people with acne know someone in the family that also had it at sometime.
If both parents had severe acne, you too will have significant acne.
If nobody in your family has bad acne, chances are you will not get severe
acne. The acne skin that has overactive sebaceous glands with increased
cellular and oil production is inherited and these are the precise factors
that EPIDUO™ GEL work against and controls.
Hormones play a role and during adolescence those prone to acne will begin to break out. Usually the acne outbreaks subside within 10 years but may continue on into adulthood. Women are especially prone to outbreaks during the hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle. It is the male hormone in both males and females that is the cause the sebaceous oil gland to become overactive and result in acne outbreaks. Stress: During stressful times such as school exams, deadlines etc the male hormone in both males and females rise resulting in increased acne flare-ups. Bacteria: The bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, which grows beneath the skin thrives on the oil in the sebaceous gland and plays an important role in the changes of noninflammatory acne to inflammatory acne. |
||||||
| DO DIET or BAD HABITS CAUSE ACNE OUTBREAKS? MYTH or FACT? | ||||||
| From
the beginning of time poor diet and a number of bad habits have been blamed
as the leading causes for acne outbreaks. But the truth is that they
have little or nothing to do with it. And while proper nutrition,
exercise and plenty of sleep are great for general health, they do not
have anything to do with preventing or curing acne.
Myth: People who don't wash enough get acne. If your skin is clean it won't break out. FACT: This is not true. Over-washing may actually irritate you skin. The blackheads are pores clogged with oil and an accumulation of skin cells within the pore, not dirt. Bacteria that reside under the skin (not on the surface of the skin) in the pores cause the inflammation of the hair follicles that contribute to the formation of pimples. Myth: What you eat plays a big part in how your skin looks. For example, chocolate and greasy, fired "fast foods" cause your skin to break out or make your complexion worse. FACT: Food is neither the cause nor the cure for acne, yet many acne sufferers have followed difficult diets for years. For the most part, the food that you eat has little to do with acne outbreaks. The notion that chocolate or greasy, fried fast foods lead to greasy skin is incorrect. The oils you ingest has nothing to do with oil manufactured in your skin by the sebaceous gland. Although chocolate and greasy foods causing acne is a myth, it is possible for an individual to have a unique sensitivity to a certain food. If you believe a particular food causes your acne to flare up, avoid it for at least 60 days and see if your acne improves. |
||||||
| CAN EPIDUO™ GEL BE USED ALONG WITH OTHER SKIN MEDICATIONS OR PRODUCTS? | ||||||
|
|
||||||
| WHAT KIND OF CLEANSER SHOULD I USE WHILE USING EPIDUO™ GEL? | ||||||
| Acne is not caused by dirt, and too much vigorous washing can dry your skin or even aggravate your acne. Cleansing twice a day is sufficient with a mild, NONSOAP, fragrance-free cleanser such as Cetaphil® Cleansing Bars or Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansers. Do not use medicated soaps and cleansers that have a strong drying affect. | ||||||
| CAN I WEAR MAKEUP WHILE USING EPIDUO™ GEL? | ||||||
| Yes, you can wear makeup. Do NOT use oil-based makeup or cosmetics that have an abrasive, drying or peeling action. Make sure than when you buy cosmetics, moisturizers or any other skin products they are labeled as "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." This means that they are not likely to cause whiteheads or blackheads. | ||||||
| WHILE USING EPIDUO™ GEL SHOULD I USE A MOISTURIZER ? | ||||||
| Since acne medication including EPIDUO™ GEL can be drying, it may be helpful to use a moisturizer. Use a mild, fragrance-free, non-oily, non-irritating moisturizer that is noncomedogenic. Make sure your moisturizer does NOT contain alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids, retinoid, retinol, vitamin A, trinitoin, or any other drying or irritating agent. Cetaphil® Moisturizers are a possible choice. | ||||||
|
|
||||||
| When using EPIDUO™ GEL, you must avoid all sun exposure possible because EPIDUO™ GEL makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Do NOT sunbathe. Do NOT use tanning beds or sunlamps. When using EPIDUO™ GEL you must ALWAYS take proper precautions to protect sun exposed skin using sunblock, hats and protective clothing. Never apply EPIDUO™ GEL to sunburned skin! | ||||||
| IS EPIDUO™ GEL SAFE FOR LONG-TERM USE? | ||||||
| Clinical data supports the safety and efficacy of Epiduo™ Gel over a period of 12 months. | ||||||
| WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS of EPIDUO™ GEL? | ||||||
| Epiduo™
Gel is gentle on the skin, but a percentage of patients do experience some
skin irritation which is reversible when the treatment is discontinued
or reduced in frequency. The most common side effects are erythema
(redness), drying, scaling, irritation, pruritis (itching), burning, stinging
and acne flare-up. Most of these reactions are not severe and occur
during the first month of treatment and resolve with continued use.
A very small percentage of patients experience a feeling of stinging,
pruritis or burning immediately after application. During the initial weeks
of therapy if these adverse effects are too bothersome, you may try decreasing
the frequency of use and as your tolerance improves increase frequency
to recommended once a day usage.
If severe
irritation occurs, blistering, crusting or swelling discontinue use and
check with your physician.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|