Duac Once Daily Gel

Duac Once Daily Gel is a prescription-only acne treatment combining benzoyl peroxide with the antibiotic clindamycin.

  • Combines benzoyl peroxide (5% or 3%) with clindamycin 1% in one once-daily gel
  • For mild to moderate acne vulgaris, particularly inflamed spots, from age 12
  • Applied once daily in the evening — improvement may be seen from 2–5 weeks
  • Start a short online consultation — a UK prescriber reviews every request before it is approved and dispatched
  • GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (1126145) — discreet, tracked delivery

£20.99

Duac Once Daily Gel tube — benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin 1% prescription acne gel
Duac Once Daily Gel — clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide combination gel for mild to moderate acne

Duac Once Daily Gel is a prescription-only acne treatment that combines two active ingredients — benzoyl peroxide and the antibiotic clindamycin — in a single gel applied once a day. It is licensed for mild to moderate acne vulgaris, particularly inflamed spots, in adults and adolescents aged 12 and over. At Bury Healthcare Online you can request Duac gel by completing a short online consultation, which is reviewed by a UK prescriber before any medicine is approved and dispatched.

What is Duac gel?

Duac (made by GlaxoSmithKline, trading as Stiefel) is a white to slightly yellow gel available in two strengths: clindamycin 10 mg/g with benzoyl peroxide 50 mg/g (1%/5%) and clindamycin 10 mg/g with benzoyl peroxide 30 mg/g (1%/3%). Your prescriber will recommend the strength that suits your skin. It is sometimes searched for as “Duac cream”, but Duac is a gel — there is no cream version. Because it contains an antibiotic, Duac is a prescription-only medicine (POM) in the UK.

What is Duac used for?

Duac Once Daily Gel is used on the skin to treat mild to moderate acne vulgaris, and it is particularly effective against inflammatory lesions — the red, tender papules and pustules that make acne sore and noticeable. It also acts on blackheads and whiteheads (comedones). Duac is licensed for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and above; it is not recommended for children under 12. Many people notice an improvement from around weeks 2–5 of treatment, and a course should not normally exceed 12 weeks of continuous use.

How does Duac work?

The two active ingredients attack acne in complementary ways. Benzoyl peroxide is mildly keratolytic — it helps unblock pores by loosening the plugs of dead skin that trap oil — and it kills Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes, the bacterium implicated in acne. It also reduces excess sebum. Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that stops acne bacteria multiplying in the follicle. Using benzoyl peroxide alongside clindamycin also reduces the chance of the bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotic. In clinical trials the combination cleared more lesions than either ingredient used alone.

How to use Duac gel

Apply Duac once daily in the evening to the entire affected area — not just individual spots. Wash the skin gently with a mild cleanser, dry it fully, then smooth on a thin film of gel. If it does not rub in easily, you are using too much. Wash your hands after applying. The gel is left on the skin overnight; it is not a wash-off treatment.

Some peeling and redness is common in the first few weeks. If your skin becomes dry or flaky, a non-comedogenic moisturiser can help, or your prescriber may advise reducing how often you apply the gel for a short period. Using more gel than directed will not clear acne faster — it only increases irritation. Do not use Duac for more than 12 weeks continuously unless a prescriber advises otherwise.

Keep the gel away from your eyes, mouth, lips, other mucous membranes and broken skin, and rinse well with water after any accidental contact. Benzoyl peroxide can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid sunbeds and use sunscreen when strong sun cannot be avoided. If you also use a retinoid such as tretinoin or adapalene, apply the two products at different times of day, and do not combine Duac with erythromycin-containing products.

Duac side effects

The most common side effects affect the skin where the gel is applied and are usually mild: redness, peeling and dryness are very common, and a burning sensation is common, especially during the first weeks. Less commonly, itching, tingling, dermatitis or a temporary worsening of acne can occur. If you develop severe redness, stinging or itching, stop using the gel and speak to your prescriber or pharmacist.

Rarely, enough clindamycin can be absorbed to cause antibiotic-type effects. Stop using Duac and seek medical advice straight away if you develop prolonged or significant diarrhoea or abdominal cramps, as this can indicate antibiotic-associated colitis. Seek urgent help for any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Suspected side effects can be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Who should not use Duac?

Do not use Duac if you are allergic to clindamycin, lincomycin, benzoyl peroxide or any of the gel’s other ingredients. Tell the prescriber during your consultation if you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease (regional enteritis or ulcerative colitis) or colitis linked to previous antibiotic use, if you have very dry or atopic (eczema-prone) skin, or if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding — Duac is only used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding after a careful risk–benefit assessment, and it should not be applied to the breast area.

How to store Duac gel

Duac is kept refrigerated (2–8°C) at the pharmacy. Once dispensed to you it should be stored below 25°C, not put back in the freezer, and discarded two months after dispensing — write the date on the tube when it arrives. One practical warning: benzoyl peroxide can bleach hair and coloured fabric, so let the gel dry before contact with clothing and consider a white pillowcase while you are using it.

How to get Duac online

  1. Start your consultation — click Start Consultation and answer a short medical questionnaire about your skin and health.
  2. Prescriber review — a UK-registered prescriber checks that Duac is safe and suitable for you. If it is not approved, you receive a full refund.
  3. Discreet delivery — approved orders are dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and sent by tracked delivery.

Our pharmacy also dispenses other prescription skin and ear treatments after an online consultation, including Trimovate cream, Fucibet cream and dexamethasone ear spray (formerly Otomize).

Important safety information

This page is a summary and does not replace the patient information leaflet (PIL) supplied with your medicine — please read it before use. Always tell the prescriber about your medical history, current medicines and any allergies during your consultation. If your acne is severe, scarring, or has not improved after a full course, speak to your GP or pharmacist; call NHS 111 for urgent advice.

Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is Duac gel?
Duac Once Daily Gel is a prescription-only acne treatment combining benzoyl peroxide (5% or 3%) with the antibiotic clindamycin (1%). Applied once daily in the evening, it treats mild to moderate acne vulgaris in adults and adolescents aged 12 and over.
Is Duac a cream or a gel?
Duac is a gel, not a cream. Many people search for “Duac cream”, but the licensed UK product is Duac Once Daily Gel — a white to slightly yellow gel applied in a thin film once a day.
How long does Duac take to work?
An effect on spots may be seen as early as 2–5 weeks into treatment, with inflamed lesions often improving first. A full course is usually assessed at up to 12 weeks — Duac should not be used continuously for longer than 12 weeks.
How long do you leave Duac gel on your face?
Duac is a leave-on treatment. Apply a thin film to clean, fully dried skin in the evening and leave it on overnight — do not wash it off. Wash your hands after applying.
Is Duac good for acne?
Yes — in clinical trials Duac reduced total acne lesions significantly more than clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide used alone, and it is particularly effective against inflamed spots in mild to moderate acne. Like all acne treatments it needs consistent daily use.
Can you buy Duac over the counter in the UK?
No. Duac contains the antibiotic clindamycin and is a prescription-only medicine (POM) in the UK. At Bury Healthcare Online you complete a short online consultation and a UK prescriber reviews your request before the gel can be dispensed.
What are the side effects of Duac gel?
Redness, peeling and dryness at the application site are very common and usually mild; burning is common. Stop and seek advice for severe irritation, and stop immediately and seek medical advice if you develop prolonged diarrhoea or abdominal cramps, which can rarely indicate antibiotic-associated colitis.
What happens when you stop using Duac?
Acne can gradually return after stopping, because treatment controls rather than permanently cures it. If your skin has cleared, your prescriber may suggest a maintenance plan (often a non-antibiotic treatment) to keep pores clear. Do not simply restart old tubes — the gel is discarded two months after dispensing.
Does Duac bleach clothes and hair?
It can. The benzoyl peroxide in Duac may bleach hair and coloured fabrics, so wash your hands after applying, let the gel dry before dressing, and keep it away from towels, pillowcases, furniture and carpets you care about.
Why does Duac gel need to be kept in the fridge?
Benzoyl peroxide slowly breaks down at room temperature, so pharmacies store Duac at 2–8°C to preserve its potency. Once dispensed, keep your tube below 25°C, do not freeze it, and discard it two months after dispensing.

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