Acne Medicine Prescription

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?

I’d like to think I lead a pretty clean lifestyle. I eat a plant-based diet, compost my food scraps, and recycle on the regular. Up until the end of 2019, I also had a clean skincare routine. I would even tell anyone who asked that my line-up of natural products was what cured my acne. And, I truly believed that...until I went off of my oral contraceptives for the first time in six years to look for a more natural alternative. About one month after going off the Pill, my skin started majorly changing and I realized that my birth control had played a role in keeping my skin clear.

Which

Suddenly, the only thing that was consistent about my complexion was that it was inconsistent. The first thing to change was the texture—small, skin-toned bumps surfaced along my cheeks. Then, deep, painful, cystic pimples would pop up in random places on the regular. I kept going with my clean skincare routine, hoping that my face was just going through a phase. But after about a year, and what felt like a decade, of dealing with this and it not improving, I decided to see a dermatologist and bring in the big guns…prescriptions.

Differin Gel Adapalene Retinoid Acne Treatment

My dermatologist asked if she could put me on spironolactone, an oral medication used to lower blood pressure that has also been found to help control hormonal acne. I turned it down, as I didn’t want to be on yet another pill that was going to suppress the acne. While I didn’t love the idea of topical acne prescriptions—it didn't feel like the clean approach I was aiming for in the rest of my life–I was desperate. It felt like a little less intense of an alternative to ingesting something.

Glycerin and ceramides are moisturizing ingredients that allow this cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping or irritating the skin,  says Dr. Marchbein. 

Benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medication, strongly fights against blackheads and more inflammatory breakouts, says Dr. Marchbein. Meanwhile, antibiotic clindamycin calms redness and inflammation.

Oral Acne Medications: What You Need To Know

The active ingredient here is ivermectin, and it works as an anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic cream that fights something called demodex mites found in oil glands and hair follicles in those with rosacea, says Dr. Marchbein.

This oil-free moisturizer uses thermal spring water and squalane to hydrate the skin,  says Dr. Marchbein. But it doesn't feel heavy or leave skin oily.

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives, says Dr. Marchbein. They're excellent at unclogging pores and reducing the stickiness of cells that cause comedones—the precursor to other acne lesions.

Clean & Clear Persa Gel 10 Acne Medication, 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, 1 Oz (pack Of 4), 4

Since azelaic acid is much more mild than other topicals, it can usually be applied twice a day without irritation, says Dr. Marchbein.

The active ingredient in this is dapsone, and I prescribe it as an anti-inflammatory for adult female acne, says Dr. Marchbein It's gentle on the skin, so I love pairing it with retinoids, which are often drying and irritating.

I’ve been on this regimen for about three months now, and while it’s definitely doing its job at making my skin more consistently clear (šŸ™Œ), I’ve been coping with the internal struggle of not using more clean ingredients. And honestly, I get embarrassed to tell people that I’m on prescription topicals. Clean beauty bullies are a real thing!

Adult Acne Skincare Products: 13 Derm Recommended Picks To Try

So, I went on a quest to see what the experts thought and asked dermatologists, as well as estheticians and Chinese medicine practitioners, for their thoughts on prescription topicals and what I could do to start to take a more natural approach again without causing a major acne flare up. Here’s what I learned.

“My philosophy is that the right medicine at the right dosage at the right time is what creates healing, ” says Sandra Lanshin Chiu, acupuncturist, herbalist, and founder of Lanshin in NYC. “If you need to get on prescription medications, do it. Sometimes you have to think about what’s best for your mental health at that moment and then figure out from there how to get to a routine that you feel even better about.”

What

“I don’t believe prescription topicals work better than many over the counter products, ” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta Skincare based in Miami. “Dermatologists often rely on peer-reviewed studies of products, and these expensive studies are more commonly done on prescription products—hence why many derms rely on prescriptions to clear acne.”

Best Pimple Creams Of 2023, According To Top Dermatologists

She says you can typically find the ingredients used in prescriptions in over the counter products. While they may be a lower dosage, it’s a good alternative if you want to stick to clean ingredients beyond just the actives.

Once you’re ready to start looking for cleaner alternatives to incorporate into your routine, it’s important to make sure you're still choosing ones that are right for your skin type. Luckily, there are many natural alternatives to common derm-approved ingredients like bakuchiol for retinol, willow bark for salicylic acid, and a sugarcane derived lactic acid.

“Don’t forget that your skin is still acne-prone, ” cautions Dr. Ciraldo. “While your regimen may have you in the clear now, you always need to select products that won’t agitate your underlying acne-prone skin.” A few potentially irritating ingredients she suggests staying away from: artificial fragrances, sulfates, and ethyl alcohol, “which is very drying and can make your skin overproduce oils to compensate for the lack of moisture.”

Winlevi Is The First Fda Approved Acne Drug Since Accutane, Here's What You Need To Know

All of the experts I spoke with agreed that you should take it slow. “Even if you switch out your whole regimen with ingredients and products that are made specifically to treat acne, your skin will likely still freak out, as it’s just too much change all at once, ” explains Brian Goodwin, an esthetician, herbalist, and international educator at Eminence Organic Skin Care.

“For some, stopping the use of prescription topicals altogether can lead to the re-emergence of acne, ” explains Lanshin. “Don’t panic—that just means that the prescription topical was suppressing the acne, but not actually healing it.” She suggests consulting with your dermatologist, esthetician, or naturopathic doctor to ensure that you have a plan of action to keep your acne under control while you're weaning yourself off of the topicals. That way, you don’t end up back at square one, desperate for acne relief.

A

Armed with this knowledge, I feel less guilty about my topical prescriptions—I won't be on them forever, and sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. At the same time, I've started to incorporate some cleaner products into my routine. My biggest takeaway: Everyone is different, especially when it comes to skin, and the best answer is simply the one that you feel most comfortable with.

D Acne I 20mg Capsule 10's

Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Women’s Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and Byrdie.com. She’s an expert at testing products and is always on the hunt for the best tinted moisturizer.

How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars For Good How To Get Rid Of Your Chest Acne For Good The Best Face Masks For Acne, According To Derms Does Acupuncture For Acne Really Work?

15 Best Foundations for Acne Prone Skin How to Cover Up Every Type of Acne These Supplements Might Help Cure Your Acne ‘Can Self-Love Actually Cure Acne? It Did For Me’

Common Acne Medication Offers New Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis

JLo's Latest Lingerie Snaps Are *Fire* Save on These 5 Barbiecore Products Right Now Best Electric Razors For Women In 2023, Per Derms The Best Dark Spot Remover For Every Skin TypeMe Being Me, brought to you by ® (trifarotene) Cream, 0.005%: Don’t let acne breakouts affect the vibe you project, whether you’re video chatting for work or play.

Cream is an innovative topical single agent retinoid cream proven safe and effective for acne on your face, shoulders, chest, and back.

Best

Cream contains the retinoid molecule trifarotene, which helps the skin replace its old skin cells at a faster speed, exfoliating away the old cells in the process and helps prevent new acne from forming.

Acne Medication Benzoyl Peroxide Gel Maximum Strength

Cream starts to work quickly and is proven to be effective in treating acne on the face as well as the chest, shoulders, and back.

The active ingredient in Cream, trifarotene, works by specifically targeting the retinoic acid receptor gamma (RAR-Ī³), the most prevalent receptor in the skin, to reduce inflammation and target other important factors that cause acne.

Cream is a prescription retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 9 years of age and older.

Prescription Acne Medication: Side Effects To Watch Out For

Yes, the FDA has approved Cream as a prescription acne medication in 2019. Trifarotene, the active ingredient in Cream, is the first new retinoid molecule to receive FDA approval for the treatment of acne in more than 20 years.

CAREConnect Patient Savings Card works like an Cream coupon, offering instant savings on your prescriptions and refills. To start saving, click here.* You will be redirected to download your patient savings card.

Common

Check with your insurance provider to learn more. You

Ageless Prescription Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Gel