Duac Gel - Bleached skin - Please help!!

[CharlieLala]

Hi all I'm really hoping someone can help me with this!

Our GP prescribed duac gel for my DD (13) t-zone acne, she has been using this most evenings for a year! I was told it could take 6-12 weeks until you see results but not to stop using after 12 weeks. (I know I should have found this out myself)

This summer due to lockdown we have spent a lot of time outside and she has a tan, i use factor 50 or 30 on her, a couple of weeks ago I noticed her skin is going really patchy. It has started to get her reallg down and so tonight I have been googling and I think this gel has bleached her skin. Does anyone have any experience of this? Will this be a permanent thing? How can I help get her lovely skin back, she is so upset and I feel like such a bad parent for letting this happen. Just to add she has a very olive skin tone and so the white patches of skin are so obvious.

Please if anyone has any advice I would be so grateful

Her skins gone patchy only AFTER you added in the suncream. So that is #1 suspect. Make sure the suncream is PABA free as putting suncream with PABA on Duac treated skin can cause discolouration of the skin. This is most likely cause.

It looks like skin discolouration is a less common side effect so contact the GP on Monday.

Duac contains benzoyl peroxide. Whenever I used it it bleached bed clothes etc and my skin in summer. It was temporary. I do think it’s probably related- esp if she’s using a lot of duac. I would talk to GP about an alternative. Has she tried anything else? NICE guidelines suggest topical retinoid first line I think.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/acne-vulgaris/management/primary-care-management/

I think retinoids are just first on the list more than the most recommended. I’ve been through the whole lot from benzo to roaccutane and never been offered retinoids which is a shame as it’s anti aging.

@CharlieLala Has she been putting too much on? It’s only a thin layer but kids can be a bit liberal.

As a thought DUAC comes in different strengths. Maybe a lower % benzoyl peroxide would work to maintain the clear skin.

Thank you all for the replies.

Her duac is 5%. To start with I was putting it on for her, and so she did know to only use a small amount but due to her age and knowing best she wanted to do it herself! But again I know that's my fault, I should have continued applying it myself.

I will call the gp on Monday for advice, my main concern was that we have caused lasting damage, maybe when the tan fades her patches will be less obvious?! Also duac was literally the first thing the gp recommended. I think her skin is hormonal, she is so aware of her looks and comparing herself to others, she really is beautiful but has such low self esteem and I really don't know why.

Most acne is hormonal though isn’t it? Teenage acne is hormonal because her body is reacting to oestrogen and progesterone in higher amounts.

The sun was quite strong this summer and she would have needed reapplication of sun block plus no sitting in direct light when your using topicals like this or retinoids or glycolic.

Was she getting through the tube faster than you?.

Yes that's true I suppose it is. No to be honest she hasn't got through it that quickly, I checked the date on the tube and I collected the prescription in May, and she has maybe used a 3rd of it.

We did reapply suncream but maybe not often enough.

What's unusual though is that her forehead is that area with most acne, but she has no patches there but lots on her cheeks when she used it there a lot less often.