What's the best acne treatment?

My Proactiv acne routine isn't working well enough for acne.  My acne is pretty bad and painful.  Are there acne treatments that are best to get rid of it for good? I heard laser acne treatments may be best.

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6 answers to “What's the best acne treatment?”

A: Best Acne Treatment

Bruce Katz, MD

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... more

A: So many acne treatments, so little time

D.J. Verret, MD

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... more

A: The face, chest, and back have the highest amount of oil...

Erik Austin, DO, MPH

The face, chest, and back have the highest amount of oil glands, so we normally get acne in these areas. The oil glands are regulated by hormones in the body, so when hormone levels fluctuate, the oil glands produce more oil, thus clogging skin pores, leading to inflammation, and eventually resulting in... more

A: Blue light therapy is a treatment that uses light to...

Mary Lupo, MD

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... more

A: Utilize atopical antibiotic in the morning and alternate...

Neil Sadick, MD

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.

A: Adult acne is very common and there are several ways...

David Goldberg, MD

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... more

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