Duac Reviews

Duac is a gel that is composed of two different medications that is applied topically for use in the treatment of acne. This week we discuss Duac, what it is and whom it may be suitable for

The internet has probably been one of the best inventions in the last century, right up there with Uber Eats and Tiktok. Whilst the internet can give everyone a voice, it does not mean you should listen to every voice on the internet. Everyone and anyone can claim to be a medical professional on the internet, but at least some have the degree to prove it. This can cause some confusion for patients when they search for accurate reviews. You want a realistic, unbiased review on what you would expect to feel when you are on a new medication - both the positives and the negatives. Which is why here at CloudPharmacy we have already done that hard work for you, trailing through the agony aunts and fake professionals to give you a legitimate review on all things Duac.

What is Duac Gel and What is it Used For?

Duac Gel is a topical antibiotic agent that is used for the treatment of acne, more specifically inflammatory acne vulgaris. Containing two drugs, clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide, and it can come in a 1% clindamycin and 3% benzoyl peroxide strength or 1% clindamycin and 5% benzoyl peroxide strength. The typical dose of Duac is to apply twice a day. Duac works by reducing the number of acne pimples on the face. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that stops the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide can also stop the growth of bacteria as well as reduce oil production in the skin, helping keep your pores open.

Before using this medication, make sure that you have washed your face. Apply a thin layer of this medication to the affected areas of the skin as directed by your doctor. Be careful to avoid your eyes, mouth, inside your nose, and any areas of broken skin and wash your hands after each use. It is important to store the Duac in the fridge when you are not using it to keep it cool.

Common side effects can include dry skin, redness, burning, itching, skin irritations and peeling. However, if these symptoms persist or if they get worse it is important to seek medical help and speak to your local pharmacist or GP.

To help combat the dry skin you can apply a moisturiser and lip balm regularly (the best type of moisturiser is an oil-free face moisturiser for sensitive skin). Try to take shorter showers, using warm water rather than hot. For red and peeling skin - try using the gel less often, or take a few days break from Duac until the irritation goes away.

Very rarely, this medication can cause a severe intestinal condition called C. difficile. This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Tell your doctor right away if you develop: diarrhea that doesn't stop, abdominal or stomach cramps, and bloody stools. If you do seem to have these symptoms do not treat them with anti-diarrhoea medication like Immodium but seek medical attention urgently.

Duac is a very effective medicine for reducing acne with a massive 73% patient satisfaction rating taking into account efficacy, side effect profile, and ease of use.By using trusted website like Drugs.com, we are able to identify legitimate positives of being on Duac, for example:

• It works quickly, with some great success stories from patient even within a few weeks treatment
• It’s non-greasy and can be applied easily
• It doesn’t have many side effects, and the vast majority are self limiting
• It avoids the need for oral medication.

However, we have also found that:

• It will initially dry out the skin and cause redness, however this tends to subside
• Each tube needs to be used within 28 days (this is due to the fact that it needs to be stored within the fridge).

Overall, it is an effective treatment for acne. However, like most disease therapies there are a multitude of treatments available for acne. So how does it stack up against some other creams that are currently on the market?

Duac Gel Reviews Online

Overall, we’ve found that customers have left largely positive reviews which detail how Duac Gel has helped them  tackle and treat their acne, as well as outlining just how easy it is to use and apply.

Some key takeaways from Duac Gel reviews left online via Truspilot and other platforms include the following:

• Duac gel began to show signs of reducing blackheads, cysts, small pimples and overall redness within 3 days.
• Duac gel helped to increase overall confidence due to the reduction in acne; some people even found the product to be 'life changing'
• Many patients experienced side effects for the first 2 weeks of us such as dryness and redness, however the side effects soon subsided and applications after this period of time proved to be side effect free.
• Patients found that duac is competitively priced and somewhat more affordable when compared to other acne treatments.
• Application of Duac gel was found to be very easy and non-invasive.

Overall, online customer reviews for Duac gel are incredibly positive. This treatment is held in high regard by thousands of users around the world for its efficacy, value for money, and ease of use.

Duac Gel vs Acnecide

Acnecide is a topical medication for acne containing 5% Benzoyl peroxide gel and is available in pharmacies to purchase as well as available on prescription - Duac however is only available via prescription. Whilst Acnecide is only available as a 5% gel, it does not have the additional benefits of clindamycin within the medication. Acnecide is more used as a starting point to help clear acne, if it proves to provide some benefit but does not completely clear the acne, by adding in the clindamycin to Duac it will give it a stronger attack and better scope to fight against the acne. 

Duac Gel vs EpiDuo

Epiduo is also another prescription only medicine (POM) so it is within the same class as Duac. However the active ingredients within Epiduo are different as it contains 0.3% Adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Epiduo has a benefit of a once daily dosing in comparison to the twice daily dosing of Duac. However it has been reported that Epiduo has been known to dry out your skin a lot more than Duac.

Duac Gel vs Zineryt

Zineryt is a topical lotion that is used in the treatment of acne. Zineryt contains to active ingredients, erythromycin and zinc acetate. A randomised, single-blind clinical trial comparing both duac and zineryt found that Duac had an earlier onset of action, with faster reduction in lesions compared to zineryt. After 1 week of use, roughly 31% of patients saw a reduction in acne when using Duac vs roughly 17% of patients whom were using Zineryt. The study concluded that both products are very effective in treating acne, however Duac may be better for compliance because people saw results earlier on.