Patient Leaflet Updated 29-May-2026 | Zentiva
Adapalene / Benzoyl Peroxide Zentiva 0.1%/2.5% gel
Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Zentiva 0.1%/2.5% gel
1. What Adapalene/Benzoyl gel is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Adapalene/Benzoyl gel
3. How to use Adapalene/Benzoyl gel
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Adapalene/Benzoyl gel
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The name of your medicine is Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Zentiva 0.1%/2.5% gel (called Adapalene/Benzoyl gel throughout this leaflet). Adapalene/Benzoyl gel is used for the treatment of acne.
This gel combines two active ingredients, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide which work together but in different ways:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Adapalene/Benzoyl gel.
You should not use the gel on areas where you have cuts, scrapes, sunburn or eczema.
Make sure the gel does not get into your eyes, mouth or nostrils, and other very sensitive areas of the body. If this occurs wash these areas immediately with plenty of warm water.
Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and UV lamps.
Avoid getting the gel on your hair or coloured fabrics as it may bleach them.
Wash your hands thoroughly after you have used this medicine.
Do not use other acne products (containing benzoyl peroxide and/or retinoids) at the same time with Adapalene/Benzoyl gel.
Avoid using Adapalene/Benzoyl gel at the same time with cosmetics that are irritant, drying or exfoliate the skin.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
Pregnancy
DO NOT use Adapalene/Benzoyl gel if you are pregnant or if you are planning to have a baby. Your doctor can give you more information.
If you become pregnant while using this medicinal product the treatment must be discontinued and you should inform your doctor as soon as possible for a further follow-up.
Breast feeding
Adapalene/Benzoyl gel can be used during breast-feeding. To avoid contact exposure of the infant, application of this medicine to the chest should be avoided.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Not relevant
Adapalene/Benzoyl gel contains propylene glycol
This medicine contains 40 mg of propylene glycol (E1520) in each gram of gel which is equivalent to 4.00% w/w.
Adapalene/Benzoyl gel contains benzoic acid, a degradation product of benzoyl peroxide, which may cause local irritation.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
This medicinal product is only intended for use in adults, adolescents and children aged 9 years and over. This medicine is for external use only.
Apply a thin film of gel evenly over acne affected areas once a day at bedtime, avoiding the eyes, lips and nostrils. The skin should be clean and dry before application. You should wash your hands thoroughly after you have used Adapalene/Benzoyl gel.
Your doctor will tell you how long you will need to use this medicinal product.
If you feel that the effect of Adapalene/Benzoyl is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you experience persistent irritation when using this medicine, contact your doctor. Your doctor may recommend you to apply a moisturizer, to use the gel less often or to stop for a short time, or to stop using the gel altogether.
If you use more gel than you should on your skin, you will not get rid of your acne quicker, but your skin may become irritated and red.
Please contact your doctor or the hospital:
Your doctor will advise you on action to be taken.
Do not apply a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop using the product and seek immediate medical attention if you develop throat tightness or swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue, feel faint, or have difficulty breathing. Stop using the product if you develop hives or itching of the face or body. The frequency with which these side effects occur is not known.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
If skin irritation appears after application of this medicinal product , it is generally mild to moderate, with local signs as redness, dryness, scaling, burning and pain of skin (stinging pain), which peak during the first week and resolve without additional treatment.
Application site burns are in general superficial, but more severe cases involving blistering have been reported.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and tube. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C.
After first opening of the tube, use the product within 6 months.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.
Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use.
These measures will help protect the environment
Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Zentiva 0.1%/2.5% gel is a homogeneous opaque gel of white to very pale yellow colour.
Pack size of 1 tube of 30 g, 45 g or 60 g.
The gel is packed in white HDPE/LLDPE plastic tubes with a white HDPE head, having an aluminium peel-off seal and closed with a white polypropylene screw-cap.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
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This leaflet was last revised in June 2025
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