# R-74 — 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.

- **Canonical:** https://www.30plusskin.care/reviews/cabtreo-acne-gel-review
- **Site:** 30+/SKIN — Skincare, published as a spec sheet.
- **Issue:** ISSUE NO. 13 / REV. 2026.10
- **Standing terms:** INDEPENDENT · AFFILIATE-FUNDED · NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

---

## Verdict

- **Stance:** CONDITIONAL — Worth buying for a specific person with a specific problem. Read who.
- **Weighted score:** 95/100 across 15% of the scoring model
- **Score scope:** DISCLOSURE ONLY
- **Category:** APPROVED PRESCRIPTION / THREE-ACTIVE ACNE GEL
- **Price:** Pharmacy quote — PER DISPENSED PUMP · COVERAGE VARIES
- **Container size:** 20 G OR 50 G
- **Prescription:** yes
- **Compounded:** no
- **Assessment basis:** DESK REVIEW
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-13
- **Manufacturer page:** https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9468da0f-9978-4c58-8135-0274c3415084

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.

## Actives, as published

| Active | Concentration | Role | Benchmark | Assessment | Flagged |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Clindamycin phosphate | 1.2% (equivalent to 1% clindamycin) | Prescription treatment component | Exact product, indication and vehicle | An antibiotic component; do not confuse the salt percentage with the base. | no |
| Adapalene | 0.15% | Prescription treatment component | Exact product, indication and vehicle | A fixed retinoid concentration in this combination. | no |
| Benzoyl peroxide | 3.1% | Prescription treatment component | Exact product, indication and vehicle | Included within the finished gel; additional products need clinician review. | no |

## Scoring

| Criterion | Weight | Score | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EVIDENCE FOR THE ACTIVE | 30% | not scorable | Ingredient background is discussed separately. No performance score is assigned to an untested service or to a prescription that varies by patient. |
| FORMULATION INTEGRITY | 20% | not scorable | The exact dispensed preparation, manufacturer or patient-specific base was not inspected. |
| DISCLOSURE | 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 USE | 15% | not scorable | No patient panel or personal treatment course. Cannot infer tolerability from ingredient names or testimonials. |
| TEXTURE & WEAR | 10% | not scorable | No product-in-hand testing. |
| COST PER APPLICATION | 10% | not scorable | Published fees are compared in the text. Actual dispensed quantity, application amount and usable duration are needed for this criterion. |

_A criterion that cannot be assessed from published information is not guessed at. Its weight is removed from the denominator, and the coverage figure above says how much of the model survived._

## Strengths

- Exact three-active formula is publicly specified.
- Product-specific controlled trials and dispensing instructions are available.

## Weaknesses

- Individual ingredients cannot be adjusted independently.
- Contains clindamycin and has relevant bowel-disease contraindications.
- No universal pharmacy price was verified.

## Suits

- Someone whose clinician is considering a fixed topical combination for acne.

## Avoid if

- 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.

## The full assessment

### 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.

**COMPARE THE COMBINATION**

- [R-75 Mayne Pharma TWYNEO Cream](/reviews/twyneo-tretinoin-benzoyl-peroxide-review) — CONDITIONAL 80/100 — An antibiotic-free approved retinoid/BPO combination with a different formulation.
- [R-72 Curology Custom Formula Rx](/reviews/curology-custom-formula-rx-review) — CONDITIONAL 75/100 — A custom formula may have a different antibiotic plan.

### 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.

## Where to buy

| Retailer | Price | Link | Note | Commission-bearing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bausch Health | Pharmacy quote | https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9468da0f-9978-4c58-8135-0274c3415084 | PER DISPENSED PUMP · COVERAGE VARIES | no |

Treatment requires an individual prescription. Confirm the full cost and follow-up arrangements before paying.

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## Sources

- [DailyMed — CABTREO prescribing information](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9468da0f-9978-4c58-8135-0274c3415084) — Label revised March 2025: exact strengths, acne indication, two vehicle-controlled trials, contraindications and ten-week dispensing expiration. Checked 13 September 2026.
- [AAD — updated acne treatment guidelines](https://www.aad.org/news/updated-guidelines-acne-management) — Guideline summary recommends combining mechanisms and using benzoyl peroxide with topical or oral antibiotics to reduce resistance. Checked 13 September 2026.

## Related records

- [PROFILE Bausch Health](/brands/bausch-health)
- [L-17 Adult acne prescription combinations: what the ingredients change](/ledger/adult-acne-prescription-combinations)
- [L-19 Prescription skincare expiry and storage: compare usable treatment time](/ledger/prescription-skincare-expiry-storage)
- [A-16 Benzoyl Peroxide](/actives/benzoyl-peroxide)

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