Doxycycline and Epiduo gel combination
"An effective combination treatment for mild to moderate acne that targets the causes and symptoms of acne. The gel unblocks pores, while the combination of treatment prevents future outbreaks. Take one antibiotic tablet in the morning, and apply Epiduo gel in the evening."
What are doxycycline and Epiduo gel?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that kills acne-causing bacteria. Epiduo gel contains two active ingredients, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, to kill bacteria and unblock pores.
How do they work?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that works to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Epiduo is a topical gel for treating acne, meaning you use it on your skin. It contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide.
Adapalene works to break down blackheads and whiteheads, reduces inflammation and helps prevent the formation of new spots. Benzoyl peroxide softens and gently removes the dead outer layer of skin, as well as killing acne-causing bacteria.
How to use doxycycline and Epiduo gel
Take doxycycline once a day with a meal and drink lots of water. You shouldn’t lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking it, to avoid irritating your digestive system. Swallow while sitting or standing, and not too close to bedtime.
Before going to bed, apply a thin layer of Epiduo gel to clean, dry skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the gel, as it’s likely to irritate eyes, and bleach hair or fabrics, like towels and bed linen.
Treatment results
This combination of acne medications can be effective at treating small bumps filled with pus (pustules) as well as larger and more painful lumps (nodules and cysts). It may take 6-8 weeks before you notice a change in your acne and see that the Epiduo gel is working.
It’s worth persevering, as continued use of Epiduo gel can help to improve the appearance of acne as well as preventing future outbreaks.
Side effects of doxycycline and Epiduo gel
Both medications are likely to make your skin more sensitive to sunlight during use. So, try to protect yourself from the sun, use oil-free SPF 50 sunscreen, and avoid sunbeds or sun lamps.
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects from doxycycline. These include nausea, stomach pain, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat and dizziness when standing up. Epiduo can also cause side effects, the most common being a mild burning sensation, redness, dryness and blistering of the treated area.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the doxycycline and Epiduo gel patient information leaflets. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
Antibiotic doxycycline kills the bacteria that cause acne
Epiduo gel breaks down blackheads and whiteheads
Continued use can help improve appearance of acne
What are doxycycline and Epiduo gel?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that kills acne-causing bacteria. Epiduo gel contains two active ingredients, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, to kill bacteria and unblock pores.
How do they work?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that works to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Epiduo is a topical gel for treating acne, meaning you use it on your skin. It contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide.
Adapalene works to break down blackheads and whiteheads, reduces inflammation and helps prevent the formation of new spots. Benzoyl peroxide softens and gently removes the dead outer layer of skin, as well as killing acne-causing bacteria.
How to use doxycycline and Epiduo gel
Take doxycycline once a day with a meal and drink lots of water. You shouldn’t lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking it, to avoid irritating your digestive system. Swallow while sitting or standing, and not too close to bedtime.
Before going to bed, apply a thin layer of Epiduo gel to clean, dry skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the gel, as it’s likely to irritate eyes, and bleach hair or fabrics, like towels and bed linen.
Treatment results
This combination of acne medications can be effective at treating small bumps filled with pus (pustules) as well as larger and more painful lumps (nodules and cysts). It may take 6-8 weeks before you notice a change in your acne and see that the Epiduo gel is working.
It’s worth persevering, as continued use of Epiduo gel can help to improve the appearance of acne as well as preventing future outbreaks.
Side effects of doxycycline and Epiduo gel
Both medications are likely to make your skin more sensitive to sunlight during use. So, try to protect yourself from the sun, use oil-free SPF 50 sunscreen, and avoid sunbeds or sun lamps.
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects from doxycycline. These include nausea, stomach pain, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat and dizziness when standing up. Epiduo can also cause side effects, the most common being a mild burning sensation, redness, dryness and blistering of the treated area.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the doxycycline and Epiduo gel patient information leaflets. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Select a medication and complete our simple, confidential online consultation
A clinician will review your answers and, if suitable, prescribe treatment
Choose next-day delivery, or click & collect from your local pharmacy
Doxycycline and Epiduo gel combination FAQs
-
Can I take doxycycline and Epiduo gel while pregnant or breastfeeding?
You shouldn't take doxycycline or use Epiduo gel while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you think you could be pregnant, we advise taking a test before you start this treatment.
-
Where can I buy doxycycline and Epiduo gel?
You’ll need a prescription to buy doxycycline and Epiduo, if you’re using an online service.
One of our clinicians can prescribe these medications after an online consultation where we make sure they’re right for you. It only takes a few minutes.
-
Doxycycline and Epiduo gel warnings
Doxycycline
Taking doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn than normal. So you should avoid strong sunlight or UV light, for example from sunbeds.
Tell your clinician before taking doxycycline if you have diarrhoea or usually get it when you take antibiotics, or have ever had stomach or intestine problems.
If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhoea during or after using doxycycline, tell your clinician immediately as you may need to pause the treatment.
You should also make sure your clinician knows that:
- You have kidney or liver problems.
- You have myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes unusual tiredness and weakness of certain muscles, particularly in the eyelid).
- You have porphyria (a rare disease of blood pigments).
- You have, or have ever had, systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes and fever).
- You’re taking oral retinoids.
Epiduo gel
- Never apply Epiduo to areas of skin where you have cuts, scrapes, sunburn or eczema.
- Be careful not to get the gel in your eyes, mouth or nostrils or other sensitive areas of the body.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or other sources of UV light like sunbeds or sun lamps.
- Wash your hands thoroughly whenever you use the gel.
-
Do doxycycline and Epiduo gel interact with any other medications?
So our clinicians can prescribe an effective and safe acne treatment, you’ll need to let us know which prescription and over-the-counter medicines you’re taking regularly. This includes any medications for other skin conditions like eczema.
Doxycycline can make other medications less effective, from certain contraceptive pills to indigestion remedies. While using Epiduo gel, you should avoid:
- Acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide
- Medications that contain retinoids, such as adapalene
- Cosmetics that irritate, dry or exfoliate your skin
-
Alternative acne treatments
Our clinicians can prescribe a range of acne treatments including different oral antibiotics, other gels and creams, and tailored combinations of these. If you’re a woman with hormonal acne, treatment could include the contraceptive pill co-cyprindiol (widely known as Dianette or Clairette).
Delivery and collection information
-
Standard delivery (Free)
Packages will be delivered within 2-3 working days of your order being approved.
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver the next working day.
-
Next day delivery (£4.95)
Mainland UK
- Orders approved before 5pm Monday-Friday will arrive the next day (Tuesday - Saturday).
- Orders approved up to 11am Saturday will arrive on Sunday.
- Orders approved after 11am Saturday and all-day Sunday will arrive Tuesday.
Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands, Channel Islands and other offshore UK destinations:
- Please allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for offshore UK destinations
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver to you the next working day.
-
Click and Collect (Free)
If your order is approved by 5pm Monday-Friday, you should be able to pick it up the same day from selected pharmacies - provided they have your treatment in stock.
We suggest you ring your chosen pharmacy before you go to collect your treatment, just to make sure they have it in stock and ready.
