Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAzelaic AcidRetinoidsAntibioticsCombination MedicationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Azelaic Acid
Retinoids
Antibiotics
Combination Medications
Frequently Asked Questions
While over-the-counter (OTC) acne products can be effective, prescription topical acne treatment may be recommended if you have stubborn acne and/or moderate-to-severe breakouts. These medications include azelaic acid, retinoid, antibiotic, and combination creams and gels.
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These work in different ways—reducing inflammation, killing acne-causing bacteria, and encouraging the shedding of dead skin cells, for example. Whether or not you need a prescription topical acne treatment, and which one may be best for you, depends on the severity of your acne.
This article looks at how these topical acne treatments are used, as well as some specific concerns regarding use on sensitive skin.
Prescription Topical Acne Treatments
Azelaic acid is a prescription cream or gel for mild tomoderate acne. It is also sold under the brand names Azelex and Finacea.
Azelaic acid has the added benefit of improvingpost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the discoloration left after an acne lesion has healed.
Azelaic Acid and Sensitive SkinAzelaic acid should be used with caution in people with sensitive skin due to side effects such as redness, burning, and irritation. It can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Azelaic Acid and Sensitive Skin
Azelaic acid should be used with caution in people with sensitive skin due to side effects such as redness, burning, and irritation. It can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Topical Retinoids
Topical retinoids are a group of medications derived from synthetic vitamin A. They promote skin cell turnover, keeping your pores unclogged and preventingcomedones. They’re used to treat mild to moderate breakouts, as well as severe acne.
They are also effective anti-aging treatments. Topical retinoids are often used to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, making them a popular treatment choice for people withadult-onset acnewould like this additional benefit.
Topical retinoids are extremely popular and effective. The most common topical retinoids used to treat acne are:
*Adapalene is more accurately described as a retinoid-like compound, but it’s often included in the topical retinoid group because it works in the same way.
A flare-up of acne is common during the first few weeks of topical retinoid treatment. Your skin should clear with continued used of the product.
How to Use Tretinoin Cream
Topical Antibiotics
These topical acne treatments are generally prescribed for moderate tosevere acne. The most common topical antibiotics used for this purpose are:
Topical antibiotics aren’t used as often today as they were in years past because they can contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and some users may experience side effects.
To counteract this problem, topical antibiotics should be used along with another acne treatment medication, like a topical retinoid orbenzoyl peroxide.
Monotherapy with topical antibiotics are used for only a short time period (12 weeks).
Topical Antibiotics for Acne
Topical Combination Medications
Topical combination medications are those that contain up to three acne-fighting ingredients. You get the benefits of both medications with just one application.
These medications can kill acne-causing bacteria, normalize the shedding of dead skin cells, keep pores clear, and reduce the number of comedones, depending on the combination acne medication that your dermatologist prescribes.
There are plenty of topical combination medication options, including:
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cabtreo (clindamycin phosphate, adapalene, and benzoyl peroxide), the first-ever triple-combination topical gel for treating acne in people ages 12 and older.
Combination medications that include a topical antibiotic offer a key benefit: Often, less of the antibiotic is needed to kill acne-causing bacteria than if the treatment were used alone.
Additionally, studies have shown that using a combination therapy increases adherence to treatment and may, therefore, increase effectiveness.
A Word From Verywell
There are many prescription medication options available to treat acne. Talk to your dermatologist about which one(s) will work the best for your breakouts. Prescription medications can work quickly. You may start noticing improvement in just a few weeks.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou’ll need to talk about acne treatment with your healthcare provider during pregnancy. It’s unclear if medications such as Epiduo are safe to use when pregnant.That’s true of other topical acne treatments that contain retinoids, as well as azelaic acid.Learn MoreTreating Acne During PregnancyYes, research suggests that anti-inflammatory properties of topical vitamin C can help improve acne and reduce oil production in the skin. Talk to your healthcare provider about using vitamin C for acne before you begin.Learn MoreVitamins for Skin HealthBenzoyl peroxide is an effective acne treatment and is unlikely to make it worse. However, it can have several side effects, including skin dryness, slight redness, itching, flaking skin, and minor peeling.Learn MoreAcne Treatments Without Benzoyl Peroxide
You’ll need to talk about acne treatment with your healthcare provider during pregnancy. It’s unclear if medications such as Epiduo are safe to use when pregnant.That’s true of other topical acne treatments that contain retinoids, as well as azelaic acid.Learn MoreTreating Acne During Pregnancy
You’ll need to talk about acne treatment with your healthcare provider during pregnancy. It’s unclear if medications such as Epiduo are safe to use when pregnant.That’s true of other topical acne treatments that contain retinoids, as well as azelaic acid.
Learn MoreTreating Acne During Pregnancy
Yes, research suggests that anti-inflammatory properties of topical vitamin C can help improve acne and reduce oil production in the skin. Talk to your healthcare provider about using vitamin C for acne before you begin.Learn MoreVitamins for Skin Health
Yes, research suggests that anti-inflammatory properties of topical vitamin C can help improve acne and reduce oil production in the skin. Talk to your healthcare provider about using vitamin C for acne before you begin.
Learn MoreVitamins for Skin Health
Benzoyl peroxide is an effective acne treatment and is unlikely to make it worse. However, it can have several side effects, including skin dryness, slight redness, itching, flaking skin, and minor peeling.Learn MoreAcne Treatments Without Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is an effective acne treatment and is unlikely to make it worse. However, it can have several side effects, including skin dryness, slight redness, itching, flaking skin, and minor peeling.
Learn MoreAcne Treatments Without Benzoyl Peroxide
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.França K, Keri J.Psychosocial impact of acne and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(4):505-509. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175645Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, Du plessis J, Gerber M.Treatment modalities for acne.Molecules. 2016;21(8). doi:10.3390/molecules21081063Food and Drug Administration.Epiduo Forte.Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS.A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;4(2):56–71. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.10.006Harvard Medical School.Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?Sevimli dikicier B.Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: efficiency, side effects, and adherence rate.J Int Med Res. 2019;47(7):2987-2992. doi:10.1177/0300060519847367
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.França K, Keri J.Psychosocial impact of acne and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(4):505-509. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175645Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, Du plessis J, Gerber M.Treatment modalities for acne.Molecules. 2016;21(8). doi:10.3390/molecules21081063Food and Drug Administration.Epiduo Forte.Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS.A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;4(2):56–71. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.10.006Harvard Medical School.Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?Sevimli dikicier B.Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: efficiency, side effects, and adherence rate.J Int Med Res. 2019;47(7):2987-2992. doi:10.1177/0300060519847367
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
França K, Keri J.Psychosocial impact of acne and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(4):505-509. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175645Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, Du plessis J, Gerber M.Treatment modalities for acne.Molecules. 2016;21(8). doi:10.3390/molecules21081063Food and Drug Administration.Epiduo Forte.Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS.A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;4(2):56–71. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.10.006Harvard Medical School.Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?Sevimli dikicier B.Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: efficiency, side effects, and adherence rate.J Int Med Res. 2019;47(7):2987-2992. doi:10.1177/0300060519847367
França K, Keri J.Psychosocial impact of acne and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(4):505-509. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175645
Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, Du plessis J, Gerber M.Treatment modalities for acne.Molecules. 2016;21(8). doi:10.3390/molecules21081063
Food and Drug Administration.Epiduo Forte.
Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS.A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;4(2):56–71. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.10.006
Harvard Medical School.Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?
Sevimli dikicier B.Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: efficiency, side effects, and adherence rate.J Int Med Res. 2019;47(7):2987-2992. doi:10.1177/0300060519847367
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