• Confidential assessment
  • Reviewed by doctors
  • Same-day collection from your local pharmacy

Product features

  • Oral antibiotic lymecycline kills the bacteria that cause acne

  • Antibacterial Epiduo gel unblocks pores to help stop acne forming

  • Helps improve your skin’s appearance

What are lymecycline and Epiduo gel?

Lymecycline is an antibiotic that kills bacteria. Epiduo gel is a topical treatment, meaning you apply it to affected skin.

How do they work?

Lymecycline 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 lymecycline and Epiduo gel

Take lymecycline once a day with water, preferably in the morning.

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 is likely to be most effective at treating larger and more painful lumps (nodules and cysts). You may have to wait 6-8 weeks to 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 prevent future outbreaks.

Side effects of lymecycline and Epiduo gel

As with all medications, some people may experience side effects from lymecycline. These include nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, and stomach pain.

Epiduo gel may cause redness, dryness, skin peeling and a mild burning sensation. And because it contains benzoyl peroxide, it’s 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.

For full information on side effects and correct use, please see the lymecycline and Epiduo gel patient information leaflets. And if you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.

Medication

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Lymecycline and Epiduo gel acne treatment FAQs

  • Can I use lymecycline and Epiduo gel while pregnant or breastfeeding?

    You shouldn't take lymecycline 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 lymecycline and Epiduo gel?

    You’ll need a prescription to buy lymecycline and Epiduo gel, 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. This only takes a few minutes.

  • Lymecycline and Epiduo gel warnings

    Lymecycline

    It’s important to let your clinician know if you have:

    • Hepatic impairment or renal insufficiency (failure of liver and kidney function)
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes or fever)
    • Myasthenia Gravis (a disease that weakens the muscles). 

    Taking more than the prescribed dose of lymecycline could cause liver problems. You should also avoid direct exposure to sunlight or other strong UV light sources, for example sunbeds.

    If you get skin discomfort that could be due to lymecycline you should stop taking it and speak to your doctor or clinician.

    Epiduo gel

    Your clinician will share any warnings or precautions with you before using 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.
    • Try not to get Epiduo on your hair or coloured fabrics including towels and bed clothes as it can bleach them.
    • Wash your hands thoroughly whenever you use the gel. 

  • Does lymecycline 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.

    Lymecycline 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, the most effective 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.