Acne Medication

For mild acne or early breakouts, many patients begin with nonprescription products. The key is to start simply, use products regularly, and give the skin time to adjust rather than changing treatments too quickly.

Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide helps reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin and can also help keep pores from becoming blocked. It is commonly used for red, inflamed pimples and may be found in cleansers, gels, creams, and spot treatments.

Dryness, peeling, or irritation can occur, so many patients do best by starting slowly and avoiding too many drying products at once.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid helps loosen dead skin cells inside the pore, which can be useful for blackheads, whiteheads, and bumpy clogged pores. It is often found in cleansers, pads, toners, and spot treatments.

Sulfur-based products

Sulfur may help absorb excess oil and gently reduce buildup on the skin, making it a reasonable option for some patients with mild acne or sensitive skin. It is usually best viewed as a supportive option rather than a complete treatment plan for persistent or inflamed acne.

Adapalene (Differin)

Adapalene is a topical retinoid available without a prescription in certain strengths. Retinoids help improve skin cell turnover so pores are less likely to become clogged.

Adapalene is often used for long-term acne control because it helps prevent new breakouts from forming, but dryness, redness, or flaking can occur during the first few weeks.

Prescription topical medications may be recommended when acne keeps returning, does not improve with nonprescription care, becomes inflamed, or begins leaving dark marks or scars. These treatments can target clogged pores, bacteria, inflammation, and oil production more directly.

Prescription retinoids

Prescription retinoids such as tretinoin, tazarotene, and trifarotene help reduce clogged pores and support more even skin cell turnover. They are often used as a foundation treatment because they address one of the earliest steps in acne formation.

Topical antibiotics

Topical antibiotics can help reduce bacteria and calm inflammation in red, swollen acne bumps. They are usually paired with another acne medication, such as benzoyl peroxide, to improve results and reduce the chance of bacterial resistance.

Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid can help reduce inflammation, improve clogged pores, and fade the dark marks that may remain after acne heals. It is often considered when patients need a gentler option or have skin that is easily irritated.

Clascoterone (Winlevi)

Clascoterone is a topical prescription medication that helps reduce the effect of certain hormones in the skin that can contribute to excess oil production and inflammation. It may be considered for adolescents and adults with acne patterns that suggest oil-driven or hormonally influenced breakouts. Dr. Seena Monjazeb will determine whether it fits your treatment plan.

When acne is more widespread, painful, cystic, scarring, or not improving with topical treatment, oral prescription medication may be appropriate. These options require medical guidance because they work throughout the body and must be matched to the patient’s health history and acne severity.

Oral antibiotics

Oral antibiotics may be used for inflamed acne to reduce bacteria and calm deeper redness or swelling. They are typically used for a limited time while topical treatments begin working for longer-term control.

Hormonal medications

Hormonal acne often appears along the lower face, jawline, chin, neck, chest, or back and may flare around menstrual cycles or other hormonal changes. For appropriate patients, certain birth control pills or spironolactone may help reduce hormone-related oil production and breakouts.

Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin may be recommended for severe, cystic, scarring, or treatment-resistant acne. It targets several major acne drivers at once, including oil production, clogged pores, inflammation, and acne-related bacteria. Because isotretinoin requires careful monitoring and has important safety requirements, it is prescribed and followed closely by Dr. Monjazeb.

There is no single acne treatment that is right for everyone. The best plan depends on the type of acne, severity, skin sensitivity, age, medical history, and whether the main concern is breakouts, pain, scarring, dark marks, or long-term prevention.