Bausch Health / CABTREO Gel
Clindamycin, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide in one approved gel. Its fixed formula has product-specific trial evidence; the antibiotic precautions and expiry date belong in the decision too.
Worth buying for a specific person with a specific problem. Read who.
ASSESSED ON 15% OF THE MODEL. 5 CRITERIA LEFT UNSCORED — SEE SCORING FOR WHY.
Treatment requires an individual prescription. Confirm the full cost and follow-up arrangements before paying.
Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, niacinamide and urea for blemishes and congestion. From $42 / month advertised.
VIEW Pore FavorREAD OUR REVIEWThe verdict
CABTREO offers an identifiable finished product rather than a patient-specific ingredient menu. Its two vehicle-controlled trials support its acne indication, with no claim here that it outperforms a different prescription combination.
The practical tradeoffs include a fixed ratio of ingredients, antibiotic precautions and the time allowed after dispensing. Approval does not remove the need for an individual treatment and follow-up plan.
- Exact three-active formula is publicly specified.
- Product-specific controlled trials and dispensing instructions are available.
- Individual ingredients cannot be adjusted independently.
- Contains clindamycin and has relevant bowel-disease contraindications.
- No universal pharmacy price was verified.
Every active, assessed
- Clindamycin phosphate1.2% (equivalent to 1% clindamycin)
Prescription treatment component
- BENCHMARK
- Exact product, indication and vehicle
- ASSESSMENT
- An antibiotic component; do not confuse the salt percentage with the base.
- Adapalene0.15%
Prescription treatment component
- BENCHMARK
- Exact product, indication and vehicle
- ASSESSMENT
- A fixed retinoid concentration in this combination.
- Benzoyl peroxide3.1%
Prescription treatment component
- BENCHMARK
- Exact product, indication and vehicle
- ASSESSMENT
- Included within the finished gel; additional products need clinician review.
| ACTIVE | CONC. | BENCHMARK | ASSESSMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clindamycin phosphatePrescription treatment component | 1.2% (equivalent to 1% clindamycin) | Exact product, indication and vehicle | An antibiotic component; do not confuse the salt percentage with the base. |
| AdapalenePrescription treatment component | 0.15% | Exact product, indication and vehicle | A fixed retinoid concentration in this combination. |
| Benzoyl peroxidePrescription treatment component | 3.1% | Exact product, indication and vehicle | Included within the finished gel; additional products need clinician review. |
Scoring
- EVIDENCE FOR THE ACTIVEWEIGHT 30%NOT ASSESSED
Ingredient background is discussed separately. No performance score is assigned to an untested service or to a prescription that varies by patient.
- FORMULATION INTEGRITYWEIGHT 20%NOT ASSESSED
The exact dispensed preparation, manufacturer or patient-specific base was not inspected.
- DISCLOSUREWEIGHT 15%95/100
The label specifies ingredients, strengths, trial methods, contraindications and storage. This score concerns label disclosure only, not the probability of a treatment response.
- TOLERANCE IN USEWEIGHT 15%NOT ASSESSED
No patient panel or personal treatment course. Cannot infer tolerability from ingredient names or testimonials.
- TEXTURE & WEARWEIGHT 10%NOT ASSESSED
No product-in-hand testing.
- COST PER APPLICATIONWEIGHT 10%NOT ASSESSED
Published fees are compared in the text. Actual dispensed quantity, application amount and usable duration are needed for this criterion.
Open the review comparison tray →
The product and the evidence
CABTREO is approved for acne from age 12. Its label reports two 12-week vehicle-controlled trials. Success required clear or almost-clear skin plus at least a two-grade improvement: 49.6% versus 24.9% in Trial 1 and 50.5% versus 20.5% in Trial 2. These are group outcomes against vehicle, not a guarantee of clearance and not a head-to-head comparison with TWYNEO.
One pump reduces one kind of complexity
A fixed combination can simplify which products belong together, but it also ties their concentrations to one another. If one component causes a problem or is no longer needed, ask how the prescriber would change the plan. Compare that flexibility with separately prescribed treatments, rather than assuming that more ingredients always means a better choice.
The antibiotic needs a review plan
AAD guidance pairs topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide to reduce resistance; CABTREO already contains both. Ask about the planned review date and what maintenance could look like if acne improves. Do not add another antibiotic or benzoyl-peroxide product solely because a generic routine checklist mentions it.
The date on the pharmacy label matters
The CABTREO label specifies a ten-week expiration when dispensed, storage at room temperature up to 25°C, and no freezing. It instructs patients to stop if diarrhea occurs. Irritation, sun sensitivity and fabric bleaching are other relevant precautions. Confirm the pharmacy's date and read the complete patient information; this is not the full safety list.
What the score means
We scored the completeness of the public label. We did not test a pump, assign a clinical-success score or estimate applications per container. Obtain a pharmacy quote for the exact size, and compare usable treatment time as well as grams.
Who this is for
- Someone whose clinician is considering a fixed topical combination for acne.
- You have ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis or antibiotic-associated colitis: the label lists these contraindications.
- You are seeking a wrinkle treatment on the basis of the acne trials.
Treatment requires an individual prescription. Confirm the full cost and follow-up arrangements before paying.
Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, niacinamide and urea for blemishes and congestion. From $42 / month advertised.
VIEW Pore FavorREAD OUR REVIEWThis is an editorial assessment of published information about aprescription product. It is not a diagnosis, not a prescription and not a substitute for your own prescriber. Hydroquinone and tretinoin are drugs. Decisions about them belong with a clinician who has seen your skin.
Sources
- S-01DailyMed — CABTREO prescribing information Label revised March 2025: exact strengths, acne indication, two vehicle-controlled trials, contraindications and ten-week dispensing expiration. Checked 13 September 2026.
- S-02AAD — updated acne treatment guidelines Guideline summary recommends combining mechanisms and using benzoyl peroxide with topical or oral antibiotics to reduce resistance. Checked 13 September 2026.