When you are trying to treat acne, it can be difficult to know where to start. Should you try topical antibiotics, retinoids, or benzoyl peroxide? What about all three?
Cabtreo is one of the latest prescription topical treatments that tackles acne with a three-pronged approach. But how does it work, and is it right for you? Let’s check it out.
What is Cabtreo Gel?
Cabtreo gel is a prescription-strength topical gel that packs a trio of acne-fighting ingredients: clindamycin (1.2%), adapalene (0.15%), and benzoyl peroxide (3.1%). Together, these active ingredients tackle acne from multiple angles: fighting bacteria, keeping pores clear, and reducing inflammation.
How Does Cabtreo Work?
Pimples form when excess oil production mixes with dead skin cells, which get stuck and clog your pores. These clogged pores create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. As the bacteria multiply, your immune system responds, causing inflammation. That’s when you start to notice inflammatory acne like papules and pustules, or even the more painful nodules and cysts.
Cabtreo is designed to help treat existing acne while also preventing future breakouts by addressing these causes of acne: clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation. Each ingredient contributes to keeping your pores clear and free of bacteria:
Clindamycin Phosphate
Clindamycin is a topical antibiotic that is often prescribed for treating inflammatory acne, particularly papules and pustules. It works by targeting C. acnes, the bacteria responsible for inflaming clogged pores and contributing to breakouts. By reducing the bacteria on the skin, clindamycin helps reduce the size and redness of existing breakouts and lowers the risk of new pimples developing.
Adapalene
Adapalene is a type of topical retinoid that is commonly used to treat acne. It helps to keep your pores clear by speeding up cell turnover—basically, it helps your skin shed dead cells faster, so they don’t mix with oil and clog your pores. This process helps prevent new pimples from forming and can even clear out existing ones.
Another perk of adapalene is that it also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help calm the redness and swelling that comes with inflamed pimples.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Known for its ability to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce oil production, benzoyl peroxide is a tried-and-true ingredient for treating acne. First, benzoyl peroxide works to kill acne-causing bacteria (C. acnes) that like to hang out in clogged pores, where they thrive in the low-oxygen environment. Benzoyl peroxide breaks down and releases oxygen into your pores, creating a hostile environment for the bacteria.
Benzoyl peroxide also helps to reduce excess oil on your skin, which means fewer clogged pores and breakouts.
How to Use Cabtreo (Without Irritating Your Skin)
One of the biggest concerns when starting a new acne treatment is potential irritation, especially when you’re dealing with strong ingredients like the ones in Cabtreo. The key to successfully using any new acne treatment is introducing it slowly into your routine and being mindful of how your skin reacts.
Here are some tips for using Cabtreo without irritating your skin:
Start Slowly
Start by applying it every other night or even just twice a week to give your skin time to adjust without becoming overly irritated or dry. Retinoids like adapalene can cause dryness or peeling, especially at the start. If your skin starts to sting or burn, try using the gel less frequently until it adjusts.
Use a Pea-Sized Amount
A little goes a long way with Cabtreo. After cleansing, apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin by dispensing a pea-sized amount onto your finger and evenly dotting it around your face, focusing on areas that tend to break out, before rubbing it in. Using too much can increase the risk of irritation without boosting effectiveness.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Benzoyl peroxide and adapalene can both be drying, so it’s crucial to follow up with a gentle moisturizer after your Cabtreo gel. Dryness and a damaged skin barrier can actually make acne worse in some cases. To avoid the dreaded peeling and flakiness, look for a good moisturizer that hydrates well without clogging your pores.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Lightweight Moisturizer for Damaged Skin Barrier with Amino Acids
Elta MD's Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer is a weightless lotion designed with acne-prone and sensitive skin in mind. It uses the brand's patented AAComplex of amino acids to restore the skin's natural barrier, which makes it one of our favorite moisturizers to use alongside a strong acne treatment. With hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and coconut extract, this lotion soothes and moisturizes dehydrated skin while calming irritation and redness.
- Lightweight with hydrating ingredients
- AAComplex restores skin barrier
- Great option when using harsh acne treatments
- Expensive
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan Lightweight Gel Moisturizer
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan from The Ordinary is their lightweight gel moisturizer. This clear, oil-free formula immediately refreshes and hydrates your skin and includes the brand's natural moisturizing factors, which include amino acids, urea, and PCA to mimic compounds in the skin's moisture barrier. Along with beta-glucan to hydrate and ceramides for barrier support, this moisturizer will protect your skin from water loss while staying lightweight.
- Great value for larger size
- Natural moisturizing factors, beta glucan, and ceramides fortify skin barrier
- May not be moisturizing enough for some skin types
Avoid Harsh Products
While using Cabtreo, try to avoid other strong or irritating products like exfoliating scrubs, acids, or additional acne treatments (unless advised by a dermatologist). Keep your routine simple and streamlined to reduce the risk of irritation.
Sun Protection
Both adapalene and benzoyl peroxide can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so daily sunscreen is a must. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapply throughout the day to protect your skin from UV damage while you treat your acne.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60
The Anthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen from La Roche-Posay is a fan favorite for a fast-absorbing, very lightweight sunscreen with a matte finish. If you usually hate the feeling of sunscreen on your face, this might be a good one for you to try. This chemical sunscreen is formulated for sensitive skin and also includes antioxidant protection to prevent sun damage. It contains alcohol to help it absorb quickly and is water-resistant for 80 minutes, making it a particularly good option for sweaty summer weather.
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing
- Water-resistant for 80 minutes
- Antioxidant protection
- Alcohol may be irritating for some skin types
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Colorescience is known for mineral SPF products, and Face Shield Flex is our favorite of their tinted sunscreens. What makes it stand out is the encapsulation of iron oxide pigments in the formula. So even though the sunscreen comes out white, it will "bloom" to the right color as you apply it to your skin, giving you an adaptable and buildable coverage. The six shades cover a range of skin tones, making it easier to find a match that will blend in with your skin. Colorescience's patented EnviroScreen® Technology protects from UVA and UVB rays as well as blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation.
- Six shades with adaptable medium coverage
- Water-resistant for 40 minutes
- Protects from blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some people
Be Patient
Results can take a few weeks to show up, so don’t freak out if your acne seems worse before it gets better. This “purging” period is normal, as your skin adjusts to the new routine.
What Does Cabtreo Cost?
Cabtreo is a name-brand prescription that currently does not have a generic option, so pricing can vary depending on where you purchase it and whether it’s covered by your health care plan.
If you have insurance, check with your provider to see if Cabtreo gel is covered under your prescription plan, as this could significantly lower your out-of-pocket cost. If it is not covered, some pharmacies or online platforms (such as GoodRx) offer discounts or coupons, so it’s worth shopping around. You can also work with your dermatologist to find a different prescription acne treatment that would be covered by your insurance.
Over-the-Counter Alternatives to Cabtreo
Although it can be easier to use an all-in-one system like Cabtreo, if getting a prescription doesn’t fit your budget, or if you’re looking for alternatives that might suit your skin better, there are other options to consider. While clindamycin is an antibiotic that’s prescription only, you can find adapalene at 0.1% and many options for benzoyl peroxide available over the counter in drugstores.
If you’re looking for a customizable option, try pairing adapalene with a benzoyl peroxide product. This gives you flexibility in adjusting concentrations based on what your skin can handle. Even without the clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene are two powerful ingredients on their own that will kill acne-causing bacteria while preventing your pores from getting clogged.
Over-the-Counter Adapalene
Adapalene is a popular over-the-counter retinoid that you can find at many drugstores as a gel in 0.1% strength, which is just slightly less than the amount of adapalene in Cabtreo. Adapalene gel as your sole treatment is a good option if your acne is primarily caused by clogged pores and you don’t need the antibacterial effects of clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Treatment
From La Roche-Posay's Effaclar line, which is designed for acne-prone skin, comes their adapalene 0.1% treatment gel. Adapalene is a prescription-strength retinoid available over the counter in the U.S. in 0.1% strength. It works by increasing cell turnover to help prevent acne and can be used to treat blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, and pimples. La Roche-Posay's version comes in an effective fragrance-free gel that you apply in a thin layer to your face or body once a day.
- Maximum over-the-counter strength
- Non-greasy gel-like texture
- Expensive
If you also have inflammatory acne (the traditional red pimples), you can try combining adapalene gel with one of the benzoyl peroxide options below.
Over-the-Counter Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is widely available in cleansers, leave-on treatments, and spot treatments. If you’re new to using benzoyl peroxide products, try using a benzoyl peroxide face wash in the evenings and let it sit on your skin for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing to avoid it bleaching fabrics. You can then follow with a pea-sized amount of adapalene gel to get a similar treatment to Cabtreo.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide, LHA, and Niacinamide
Effaclar Duo Acne Cleanser is part of La Roche-Posay's acne-focused Effaclar line. It gets its name from its dual-action approach of treating breakouts and clearing pores to prevent new acne from forming. This face wash thoroughly cleanses the skin to remove excess oil while targeting acne-causing bacteria with 4% benzoyl peroxide and exfoliating with 0.1% lipo-hydroxy acid, a derivative of salicylic acid. It is also infused with La Roche-Posay's soothing prebiotic thermal water.
- Balanced strength
- Lipo-hydroxy acid to exfoliate
- Niacinamide and thermal water to soothe
- More expensive than other options
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some skin types
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Cleanser with 2.6% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide
Cetaphil's benzoyl peroxide cleanser in their Gentle Clear line is a great option for anyone trying to maintain the difficult balance between effective acne treatment and sensitive skin. It's designed to start showing visible results in just one week while also helping to maintain your skin barrier. With 2.6% micronized benzoyl peroxide, it can work on bacteria where it's needed without overloading your skin. Added licorice root and zinc in a creamy formula help to soothe sensitive skin and also reduce oil production.
- Gentle strength
- Licorice root and zinc reduce oil and soothe sensitive skin
- May not be strong enough for some skin types
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, and Ceramides
CeraVe is known for their effective yet gentle skincare products and their 4% benzoyl peroxide cleanser is a great example of this. It starts as a creamy texture but transforms into a foam that can cleanse oil and impurities on your skin while benzoyl peroxide goes to work against bacteria deep in your pores. The addition of niacinamide calms skin while hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate and ceramides restore and maintain your moisture barrier.
- Balanced strength
- Niacinamide to calm
- Ceramides for skin barrier
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some skin types
If you have already tried a benzoyl peroxide face wash and are looking for something stronger, you can try a leave-on treatment with a low to medium strength of benzoyl peroxide. You can apply it either in the morning and use adapalene at night, or you can use both ingredients in the evening. Just be mindful that fabrics that come in contact with benzoyl peroxide can get bleached.
Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Clearing Treatment with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Paula's Choice Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 5% benzoyl peroxide is designed as an extra-strength treatment for stubborn acne. It will help fight existing pimples and also work to prevent future breakouts while also soothing with allantoin and bisabolol. This lotion can be applied two times a day after cleansing and is lightweight enough to be used under makeup. For sensitive skin, try the 2.5% version first.
- Lightweight lotion with matte finish
- Leave-on benzoyl peroxide for stubborn acne
- Allantoin and bisabolol to soothe
- 5% benzoyl peroxide may be too strong for some skin types
So, should you consider Cabtreo to treat acne? Cabtreo offers a potent combination of ingredients that treat acne from multiple angles, making it a great option if you’re dealing with inflammatory acne. If you have acne that hasn’t responded to over-the-counter treatments, you can talk with a dermatologist to see if Cabtreo gel would work for your specific skin type and concerns.
