The Independent Pharmacy
Duac Gel (3% & 5%) - Effective Combination Acne Treatment

Duac Gel (3% & 5%) - Effective Combination Acne Treatment

StarStarStarStarStar
170 reviews
from £22.99
  • tickCombines two effective acne-fighting ingredients in one treatment
  • tickHelps reduce spots, blackheads and whiteheads
  • tickShows visible results within 2-5 weeks of regular use
  • tickOnly needs to be applied once daily
  • tickTreats existing spots and helps prevent new breakouts
  • Delivery truck
  • Calendar
  • Delivery box
    Fast, discreet delivery

    Delivered in secure, plain packaging with tracked delivery from just £2.95

  • Location pin
    100% UK-based pharmacy

    Our team of doctors and pharmacists, and our support staff, are all UK-based.

  • Conversation
    Free advice and support

    Have a question? Telephone support is always free; Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

  • Conversation
    We're rated 4.9 out of 5
    Based on over 24,000 reviews collected on Google and Reviews.io.

We maintain the highest possible regulation for a UK online pharmacy, ensuring your experience is safe, and confidential.

Logo for the Care Quality CommissionLogo for the General Pharmaceutical Council

Buy Duac Gel Online - Combination Acne Treatment

Duac Gel (3% & 5%) is one of the most popular acne treatments in the UK. The gel has a unique dual-action formula that’s designed to reduce spots and fight the bacteria causing your acne.

There are two strengths of Duac Gel, 3% and 5%. This percentage refers to the amount of benzoyl peroxide that’s contained in the product. Benzoyl peroxide attacks the acne-causing bacteria that live on your skin, promotes the shedding of dead skin cells and helps prevent blocked pores. Both Duac 3% and 5% contain 1% of clindamycin, the other main active ingredient in the gel.

If you’re prescribed Duac Gel to treat acne, you’ll need to apply the product to your skin once per day. Most patients see results in around two to five weeks, though this could vary depending on how severe your acne is.

Duac Gel is an effective acne treatment that could help to clear your skin and boost your confidence. As it’s only available on prescription, you’ll need to book an online consultation with a member of our team to get started on your journey to clearer skin.

Suitable for age: 18 Years +
Maximums per order:
  • Duac 5% Gel (30g)3
  • Duac 3% Gel3
  • Duac 5% Gel (60g)2
Consultation required?Yes

This treatment requires an online consultation for review by our medical team. The decision to supply the specific treatment and quantity requested will be based on whether our medical team are satisfied that it will be safe, appropriate, and effective.

Type of medicine
Antibiotic, Antiseptic and effective in getting rid of bacteria and dead skin cells that clog your pores
Works by
Killing the bacteria responsible for the spread of acne
Active ingredient
Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide
Effective within
3 Months
Pack size
30g and 60g
Strength
(3% & 5%)
Common side effects
Skin irritation such as burning sensation, peeling, itching, Dry or redness of the skin, Headache, Sensitivity to sunlight, Skin pain, Rash (dermatitis)
Manufacturer
Stiefel
Generic
Not available
Use with alcohol
No known issues

About Duac Gel

Duac Gel is an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. There are two strengths of Duac Gel, 3% and 5%. Duac Gel 3% contains 3% benzoyl peroxide, a medication that fights bacteria and helps to prevent pores becoming blocked. Duac Gel 5% contains 5% benzoyl peroxide. Both types of Duac Gel contain 1% clindamycin, an antibiotic that fights acne-causing bacteria.

How Does Duac Gel Work?

Duac Gel is a dual-action acne treatment. This means that it’s able to reduce the appearance of spots and kill the bacteria that cause spots in the first place. Both active ingredients in the gel, benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin, fight acne-causing bacteria.

Benzoyl peroxide also breaks down and encourages the shedding of dead skin cells. This helps to prevent your pores becoming blocked and reduces the number of spots that develop.

The dual approach of Duac Gel is designed to fight acne and prevent antibiotic resistance.

How To Use Duac Gel

Duac Gel is a topical treatment that’s applied once per day. Ideally, you should use the gel in the evening. Apply a thin film to clean, dry skin and cover the entire affected area.

Wash your hands before and after applying the gel and be careful to avoid contact with your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or areas of broken skin. If you do get Duac Gel in these sensitive areas, rinse with plenty of water. If your skin becomes irritated after applying Duac Gel, stop using the product and speak to a member of our clinical team.

Ingredients

The main active ingredients in Duac Gel are clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients are there to fight bacteria and promote the shedding of dead skin cells.

Other ingredients contained in the gel include carbomer, dimeticone, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, disodium edetate, glycerol, silica (colloidal hydrated), poloxamer 182, purified water and sodium hydroxide.

Side Effects

Duac Gel is generally well-tolerated. This means that most people don’t experience side effects. However, the gel can cause symptoms in some people, and it’s important to know what to watch out for.

The most common side effects of Duac Gel are redness, dryness and skin peeling. You may also experience a burning sensation in the affected area and find that skin exposed to Duac Gel is more sensitive to the sun.

In most cases, these symptoms will ease as your skin adapts to the medication. If your side effects don’t improve, or you’re concerned about any of the symptoms you’re experiencing, speak to one of our clinical team.

Warnings

When applying Duac Gel to your face, it’s important to avoid contact with your eyes, mouth, nose and other sensitive areas as this could cause irritation. Duac Gel could bleach your hair and may affect the colour of any fabrics it comes into contact with (such as bed sheets and clothes).

Duac Gel may make your skin more sensitive to UV light, so it’s important to take extra precautions when going out in the sun and use a high-factor SPF.

If you have a history of gastrointestinal conditions, such as colitis, it’s important to tell your clinician during your consultation as Duac Gel could aggravate your symptoms.

If you experience severe irritation or diarrhoea during treatment with Duac Gel, stop using the product and speak to a doctor or pharmacist about alternative options.

Please ensure you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before use.

Can You Use Duac Gel While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Around 50% of women experience acne while pregnant, especially during the first trimester. This is caused by the change of hormones during pregnancy that can trigger sebum production and result in clogged pores when the skin becomes oily. It can appear on the face, chest, or even as back acne.

While Duac Gel is an effective treatment option, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to consult with your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine as there may be other acne treatments that are more suitable.

Duac Gel (3% & 5%) FAQs

Related Treatments

We stock 35 other treatments for Acne

Visit our Acne page for treatments, advice and FAQs.

Ordering as easy as 1, 2, 3

  1. Magnifying glass
    1. Find the ideal treatment

    We can provide over 1085 leading medicines to treat over 89 conditions.

  2. Conversation
    2. Get a free consultation

    Our qualified healthcare professionals will assess your condition and needs.

  3. Delivery truck
    3. Enjoy speedy delivery

    And when the time comes to re-order, it'll only take a couple of clicks.

Andy Boysan

Authored by

Andy Boysan
Andy Boysan
BPharm
2047716
Director & Superintendent Pharmacist

Andy is a co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist and Director at The Independent Pharmacy.

Daniel Hurley

Reviewed by

Daniel Hurley
Daniel Hurley
MPharm IP
2078790
Pharmacist Independent Prescriber

Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.