What's the Best Acne Treatment?

Blue light therapy is a treatment that uses light to kill the acne causing bacteria. Perfect for those allergic to topical and oral antibiotics. Acne needs to be treated two ways: - Unclog the pores - Kill the bacteria that causes the inflammation. Ideally it should be treated with both modalities. Blue light is just half the answer. Cooltouch is a laser light source that shrinks the oil gland and results in decreased bacteria counts as well. Patients do best when also using a retinoid (... more

As you can see from the many different answers, there is no best treatment for acne. There is no one treatment that works best for every patient. A partnership between an experienced dermatologist and an experienced cosmetic surgeon is often necessary to arrest the acne process and treat the scarring associated with previous outbreaks. The first step in the process is to stop acne outbreaks. This is best treated by consultation with a dermatologist. The next step is to erase the painful... more

Utilize atopical antibiotic in the morning and alternate a retinoid with a benzoyl peroxide derived at night. Blue light/red light combination LEDs are helpful to diminish acne causing bacteria and diminishing inflammation.

Adult acne is very common and there are several ways adults can handle this issue. First, patients can take pills such as antibiotics and/or Accutane to eliminate or reduce acne breakouts. A second option is laser treatment. This approach can be highly effective without the pill-associated internal complications. Most patients require approximately five to seven monthly treatments to see the desired improvement, with periodic re-treatments required as acne flares. An added benefit is... more

There is no single "best" acne treatment, other than accutane, that is. The treatment usually depends on the severity of acne and what you've tried in the past. Options include creams, pills, laser, blue light therapy/PDT, and chemical peals. Only your dermatologist can help determine the best treatment for you.

The best acne treatment is different for each person. It depends on what kind of acne you have (inflammatory vs. blackheads vs. both) and how bad it is (mild vs. severe). It also depends on your skin type, what you have tried before, and many other factors. As far as laser treatments being the "best" acne treatments - I would disagree. I use laser to treat acne, but I use it as second-line treatment. It works as well as pills and creams but is much... more

The only permanent cure for acne is Accutane. There are other treatments which will quell acne, but such solutions are temporary. Proactiv is a rather weak solution if the acne is as severe as you indicate. It contains only 2 1/2 per cent Benzoyl Peroxide with Glycolic acid ( curious since sal acid is the better hydroxy acid for acne). Certainly antibiotics should be considered, as should stronger BP formulas, BP/clindamycin products, topical dapsone, Retinoids, maybe even azelaic... more

It would be great is there was a simple answer to this question. There are many options out there but it has to be customized to your type of acne and your skin type. I know this can be frustrating; it’s definitely not a one size fits all answer. Your options can range from benzoyl peroxide to antibiotics to accutane. Even though certain regimens work for people you know, may not work for you. See your dermatologist!