Should I continue to use aczone or differin after my acne has cleared and I'm satisfied with results?

Question

I use aczone in the morning and Differin in the evening. I take spironolactone am/pm. I have been doing this routine since summer 2014. When I have stopped the routine, I have had breakouts in the past. I'm wondering if these medications are preventative or if I don't need to continue taking some topicals due to improved results.

Melissa Chiang, MD, FAAD · Answer

Unless your skin has changed, if you stop your medications, you will again have breakouts.  If a patient is doing well, I try to wean the oral medication first.  I try to maintain the patient's skin with topicals.  Of note, Differin is a retinoid, and it has many beneficial effects on the skin (anti-aging) in addition to preventing acne.

Rebecca Baxt, MD · Answer

It's great that your acne has cleared up! It is unlikely that it is cured. If you were my patient I would probably try to keep you on the topicals and taper off the spironolactone but I don't know your complete history. This is a conversation should have with your board-certified dermatologist.

Should I continue to use aczone or differin after my acne has cleared and I'm satisfied with results?

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