Duac gel

Duac Once Daily Gel is a topical acne treatment that targets the skin condition at its source to eliminate symptoms such as blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammation. Applying Duac gel once daily in the evening can help restore your skin to its natural state and prevent future breakouts. It is primarily prescribed to treat mild to moderate acne.

We can prescribe 1%/5% Duac acne gel at 121doc following a successful consultation.

Duac gel works by killing acne-causing bacteria and unblocking pores. It does this through its two active ingredients:

• Clindamycin: an antibiotic that kills essential proteins in the acne bacteria to stop it from multiplying.
• Benzoyl peroxide: releases oxygen to kill acne bacteria, unclogs pores by exfoliating dead skin cells, and reduces inflammation.

This dual-action formula not only kills the bacteria causing your acne, but also exfoliates your skin to leave it smooth and prevent scarring.

Duac Gel is highly effective for treating acne, helping most users significantly reduce their symptoms. One study involving 73 patients treated with Duac gel found the following:

• By week 1: 31.5% of patients saw at least a 30% improvement in non-inflammatory lesions and 39.7% in inflammatory lesions.
• By week 2: 53.4% of patients saw at least 30% improvement in non-inflammatory lesions and 72.6% in inflammatory lesions.
• By 12 weeks: Total lesion count was reduced by 69.8%

Most patients should see some improvement within 2-5 weeks of using Duac acne gel daily. Best results are usually seen by week 12 with consistent use.

Do not use Duac gel for longer than 12 weeks at a time. Your doctor will instruct you on how long to use it. If it doesn’t work by 12 weeks, speak with your doctor about alternative acne treatments. Using Duac gel for longer than 12 weeks at a time can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is where acne bacteria learns to resist the treatment, making it less effective.

If you use Duac acne treatment for the entire course prescribed, you shouldn’t experience a rebound effect with your skin. However, if the root cause of your acne (e.g. hormones, oil production) hasn’t been addressed, you may gradually see symptoms return. If you experience skin irritation while using Duac gel, this should subside shortly after stopping treatment.

To be prescribed Duac gel from 121doc, you must be over 18 years of age and complete a short online consultation, which allows a doctor to ensure the treatment is safe for you.

Do not use Duac gel if you are allergic to any ingredient found in this medicine, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, avoid the following:

• any other acne treatments
• abrasive soaps and cleansers
• soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect
• products containing large amounts of alcohol or astringents
• using it on broken skin or eczema

Use enough Duac gel to cover the whole area while leaving nothing left on the skin. Once rubbed in, the gel should absorb easily into the skin. Here’s a rough guide detailing how much to use:

• For your face only: apply one fingertip of Duac gel to the affected area.
• For your face and back: apply two and a half fingertips to the affected area.

Make sure you cover the entire area affected by acne, not just individual pimples. If the amounts above aren’t enough, you can use a slightly larger amount. If there is some gel still on your skin after rubbing it in, you’ve used too much.

For the face, apply one fingertip of gel to start with and cover the whole area. This should be enough to absorb into the entire affected area with nothing left over. Apply Duac in the evening and avoid washing your face until the morning to give the gel enough time to fully absorb into the skin.

There are some potential side effects associated with Duac gel, but most are mild and temporary. The most common Duac gel side effects include:

• redness
• peeling
• drying
• headache
• burning
• pain
• sensitivity to sunlight

This is not an exhaustive list. For a full list of Duac gel’s side effects, consult the patient information leaflet.

Yes, it is generally safe to drink alcohol while using Duac Once Daily gel. However, you should be cautious of using skin products containing alcohol, as these may irritate the skin when used on the same area Duac gel is used on and reduce effectiveness.

No, Duac gel for acne is not a steroid. It is an anti-acne preparation containing an antibiotic (clindamycin) and an antibacterial agent (benzoyl peroxide) that kills acne bacteria at the source and prevents further breakouts. It is, therefore, safe for people who cannot use steroidal acne treatments.

Yes, you can wear makeup over Duac gel, but it must be non-greasy, water-based makeup, and should only be applied once Duac has completely dried. Also, ensure Duac is not applied over makeup, as this can interfere with the treatment and cause the acne to worsen.

No, you cannot get Duac acne gel without a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Safety is our top priority at 121doc, and our doctors will only prescribe treatment if you meet the criteria outlined in your online consultation.

A prescription from a trusted healthcare provider like 121doc ensures:

• safety during treatment
• effective results
• monitoring of side effects