Benzoyl peroxide is a topical treatment that kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin, helping to keep pores unclogged.

It is usually applied once or twice a day to the acne-affected area. You should see results quickly, but sometimes it takes 4 to 6 weeks of treatment to become apparent.

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in grains like barley, wheat, and rye. It helps clear acne by slowing the growth of acne bacteria and reducing inflammation in the skin. 

It is usually applied twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. You may start seeing improvement in your acne after 4 weeks of treatment.

Photodynamic therapy is a more intense form of light therapy that includes first topically applying a photosensitizing agent that makes the skin more sensitive to light, and then applying medical-grade light therapy to the skin. It is thought to work primarily by reducing the size and activity of skin oil (sebaceous) glands.

The procedure is usually performed multiple times (up to 5) in weekly or biweekly intervals. Results are usually seen 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure and your skin will continue to improve after your last session.

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought to clear acne primarily through its ability to permanently reduce skin oil (sebum) production.

Isotretinoin is available in capsule form and is usually taken twice a day. Your physician will prescribe an initial dose, and this dose may increase or decrease depending on the response to treatment and side effects.

Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover.

Tretinoin is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Prescription adapalene is available in 0.1% and 0.3% strength. 

Adapalene is topically applied usually once a day before going to bed to all acne-affected areas of the skin, and not just on individual pimples themselves.

Tazarotene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Tazarotene is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

Trifarotene, sold under the brand name Aklief^®, is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

It is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

Tretinoin / Benzoyl Peroxide (Twyneo®) is a topical medication combining two active ingredients: (1) tretinoin, a retinoid, and (2) benzoyl peroxide, an antimicrobial and peeling agent. Tretinoin works by promoting skin cell turnover to prevent acne formation, while benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and helps clear pores.

It is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

Light therapy involves the application of red and/or blue light and works by helping kill acne bacteria as well as potentially reducing the production of skin oil (sebum).

It is usually performed twice weekly over 4 to 6 weeks.

Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female body. Less male hormones normally lead to less acne. 

Oral contraceptives contain an estrogen component (ethinyl estradiol) that is combined with progestin hormones, such as drospirenone (Yasmin® or Yaz®), norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen®) or norethindrone (Estrostep®). 

Oral contraceptives are taken once a day with a meal. Make sure to take the pill at the same time every day.

Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Non-prescription adapalene is available only in 0.1% strength.

Adapalene is topically applied usually once a day before going to bed to all acne-affected areas of the skin, and not just on individual pimples themselves.

Widely available in over-the-counter skin care products in 0.5 - 2% strength, salicylic acid helps shed skin cells as well as reduce inflammation in the skin.

It's generally recommended to apply a salicylic acid-containing product 1-2 times per day, depending on your skin's tolerance and the product type.

Chemical peels are strong acids applied by a professional in high percentages to the skin for a few minutes at a time. They remove the top layer of skin cells and are thought to help promote the growth of fresh new skin cells.

Chemical peels are usually performed 4 to 10 times in 2-week intervals. Results are usually temporary, therefore it is not normally recommended for chronic acne.

Laser therapy is thought to work by inhibiting the activity of skin oil (sebaceous) glands, killing acne bacteria, and reducing inflammation.

It is usually performed about 5 times in 2 to 4-week intervals.

Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present in both males and females that lead to more acne, and spironolactone helps reduce androgens.

It is usually taken once or twice a day, around the same time(s), preferably with a meal.

Sulfur may help dry and peel the skin as well as reduce acne bacteria.

It is usually applied 1-2 times per day.

This topical treatment is a combination of sodium sulfacetamide, which is a type of topical antibiotic called a sulfa antibiotic that helps stop the growth of acne bacteria, and sulfur, which may help dry and peel the skin as well as reduce acne bacteria.

It is usually applied 1-2 times a day.

This topical medication is a combination of resorcinol, which helps remove the build-up of skin cells, and sulfur, which may also help dry and peel the skin as well as reduce acne bacteria. 

It is usually applied 2 times a day, in the morning and the evening.

Often known by its brand name, Aczone^®, dapsone is a topical medication called a sulfone antibiotic that works primarily by suppressing the growth of acne bacteria and decreasing inflammation in the skin.

It is normally applied once a day.

Usually known by its brand name Epidu®, this topical treatment is a combination of adapalene, which is a type of medication called a retinoid that reduces inflammation in the skin and helps promote skin cell turnover, along with benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin. 

It is usually applied once a day before going to bed.

Often known by its brand names Acanya^Ⓡ or Benzaclin^Ⓡ, this topical treatment is a combination of clindamycin, which is a topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop bacteria growth and reduce skin inflammation, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin. 

It is usually applied twice a day.

Often known by its brand name Benzamycin®, this topical treatment is a combination of erythromycin, which is a topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop bacteria growth and reduce skin inflammation, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin.

It is usually applied 2 times a day.

Clindamycin is a topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop bacterial growth and also helps reduce skin inflammation.

It is normally applied twice a day.

Minocycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should be used only short term (max. 3 months).

It is usually taken once a day with food, at the same time every day.

Tetracycline is an oral antibiotic that works by systemically fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation.

It is normally prescribed at a dose of 300 mg once or twice a day. The dose is often reduced once acne is notably improved.

Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should be used only short term (max. 3 months).

It is usually prescribed at a dose of 50 to 100 mg once or twice per day.

Sarecycline, sold under the brand name Seysara^®, is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should be used only short term (max. 3 months). Sarecycline is distinguished by its narrow spectrum of activity, aiming to minimize the impact on the body's beneficial bacteria.

It is usually taken once daily.

Erythromycin is a topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop bacterial growth and reduce skin inflammation.

It is usually applied twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Clascoterone, sold under the brand name Winlevi^®, is a topical cream that works by blocking the effects of male hormones that in the skin contribute to acne development. It's the first topical treatment of its kind to be FDA-approved for acne and offers a new mechanism of action compared to other acne treatments.

It is usually applied twice daily, in the morning and in the evening.

Topical minocycline, sold under the brand name Amzeeq^®, is a broad-spectrum topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop the growth of various types of bacteria in the skin and also helps reduce skin inflammation.

It is usually applied once daily, before going to bed.

Heat therapy is an unproven therapy that is advertised to work by killing bacteria in the skin and promoting healing.

In a medical setting, stronger devices are used and the procedure is usually performed multiple times (up to 8) every other week or every 4 weeks. When using at-home heat devices, weaker devices are used and these devices can be used more frequently.