Experience with adult acne - Duac

[Katfluff]

Hi everyone

After suffering from acne since I was a teenager and recently turning 30 I decided to head to the docs for some medication.

My skin is so awful at times that I cancel plans or call in sick at work because I feel so self conscious about it.

I was prescribed duac gel which I apply on a night. I'm on day 4 and oh my goodness, my face burns so much. Imagine the worst sunburn you've ever had but all over your face! The burning and itching is keeping me up at night and my skin is so dry (it's usually incredibly oily).

I know the above are stated side effects but wondering if anyone else has been on duac before and whether the side effects eventually ease off?! Although it's been 4 days I do definitely think it's working so I'm hoping the pain is worth it!

Never thought I would still be battling spots at 30

It’s a shame no one replied to you OPas I’m having the exact same issue! I’m a few days in and my face is SO sore, I’m wondering whether to continue. Did you carry on with it and was it worth it?

Duac is crap. I'm sure it must work for some people but I found it crap. Clarina by Himalaya Herbals was good. Also got some benzoyl peroxide cream e.g. Panoxyl which was helpful.

Duac is the only thing thing works for me. Yes to incredibly oily skin and yes to itchy peeling with Duac but by God it works!! Hang in there OP the itchiness and burning do taper off. The thing I like about Duac is the spots just dry up and leave minimal scarring. Good luck!

I used Duac a few years ago for a couple of months when for some reason my skin really flared up. My doctor recommended to only put it on for half an hour or so to start with and then build up from there. I built up the time I left it on for over a few weeks and I didn't really get any redness or dryness. I did use an oil free moisturiser daily. I could see the improvement within a few days and my skin was clear within a few weeks. Hope your skin improves soon.

Maybe I’ve gone in too heavy with the duac, I put quite a thick layer on initially. I will drop down to every other night and see how that goes, and a very thin layer indeed. I have tried Clarina, it did nothing for me. I’ve only moved on to Duac as Zineryt has become ineffective for me, my skin must have got used to it.

My whole face is red and burning though, really hope this phase passes soon!

My son has used this and his chin and nose are inflamed and quite bumpy. It has really set him back any ideas on how to reduce the redness and get his skin back to normal?

Please keep going back the GP as there is lots they can do. My child has had Duac, months of Lymecycline anti biotics which haven’t worked consistently and has been prescribed something else today and has also had a referral to dermatology altho the wait list is long.

Thank you I am contacting the doctor tomorrow morning. His confidence is so low now it has pushed him backwards. I didn’t want him taking strong chemicals I now know why!

It’s horrible when their skin is sore and inflamed- they feel self conscious. My daughter is scrupulous with her hygiene and skincare but never seems to reap the rewards. Fingers crossed for what she’s just been prescribed. Friends just don’t understand- they ask if she has tried Simple and Cetaphil etc etc - she’s literally tried everything! La Roche Posay blemish range made it better for a while as did Eucerin and Neutragena. She has just bought some bits from the Superdrug Me+ range that seems to be helping. The trouble is things seem to lose their effectiveness over time.