Treatment suggestions

[Cai16]

So I am a 16 yr old, nb (non-binary) and I have acne prone skin. Well here's the deal... I don't have a mother... Not that big of a deal right? Wrong. I don't know or don't usually care for a bunch of things others do bc I was raised poor and basically had no one to guide me. But as it relates to acne. I am a very clean person when it comes to personal hygiene. But I don't like having to wash stuff off my face. To me it's a hassle to put stuff on, just to wash it off, get it in my eyes, not breathe for 2 minutes, search for the towel blind, then put more stuff on. Ik I should but I don't. I've tried. It's just out of the way for me and I find it unfruitful. So here's my question.. does anyone know of any product that you don't have to wash off or apply to a wet face that helps treat acne. Actually treats it. Not just moisturizing or drying or toning or anything like that. I just need it to get rid of the acne. Thanks to all who help. - Friendly neighborhood Nb (Cai)

[WinglessOne]

Hi @Cai16 ! The answer depends partly on what type of acne you have, and what product(s) you've already tried. If it's cystic acne (bumps deep under the skin that never come to a head and are probably painful to touch), I recommend seeing a board certified dermatologist if you can. A primary care doctor can also help. 

Otherwise, here are some typical leave-on go-tos for acne: 

Spoiler

• Salicylic acid (BHA) - you can use a leave-on BHA exfoliant instead of a wash-off BHA cleanser or mask. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner for Clear Skin 4 oz/ 118 mL is a cult favorite for good reason. My reactive/inflammation-prone skin prefers Paula's Choice CLEAR Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid 4 oz/ 118 mL . Also consider the less expensive The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Blemish + Blackhead Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL . Wash your face with any gentle cleanser, then apply a BHA leave-on. Then you can move on to other steps in your skincare routine. Some folks' skin tolerates BHA daily, or even twice daily. You might wanna start off using it just 1-3 times a week (better yet, patch test it) to make sure your skin will tolerate it, and increase usage frequency as desired. PC makes a few other BHA products at different strengths, including Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA 9 Treatment 0.3 oz/ 9 mL which I love as a spot/area treatment. 
  
  
• Azelaic acid - attacks acne-causing bacteria and targets post-inflammatory hypertension (PIH, such as dark marks left by acne). This ingredient plays nice with many others. It might make your skin itchy the first few times you use it, and it might cause some purging (sudden new acne popping up) that should subside within 4-6 months. My favorite is Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster for Redness Relief 1 oz/ 30 mL but I've also used The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin and FaceTheory Lumizela A10 Serum with good results. Those are all 10% strength. A doctor can prescribe 15-20% strength if necessary. 
  
  
• Vitamin A (retinoids) - this family of ingredients includes retinoic acid (tretinoin, which is Rx-only), retinaldehyde/retinal, retinol, adapalene (available by Rx or OTC as Differin Gel, La Roche-Posay Effaclair Adapalene Gel, and a few others), and others. Retinoids can have annoying side effects like excessive skin dryness, peeling, and sensitive-to-touch skin. My skin won't tolerate tretinoin, so I use retinaldehyde instead (more for hyperpigmentation than anything else). If you choose to go the retinoid route, I can recommend a few starter products later, or you can always pick up Differin or La Roche-Posay's gel from your local drugstore (if you're in the US). Start of using this stuff sloooowly: just 1-2 times a week for a few weeks, then increase to 3 times a week, and so on until you're at a comfy-for-you frequency. Oh, and retinoids, especially adapalene, are known to cause temporary purging in some folks, so don't be alarmed if that happens. 
  
  
• Benzoyl peroxide - infamously destroys acne-causing bacteria. Also infamous for staining the heck out of every fabric it touches: pillowcases, towels/washcloths, pajamas, sheets, etc. And some people's skin won't tolerate this ingredient. If yours will, you can try a leave-on like Paula's Choice CLEAR Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 2.25 oz/ 67 mL . (I know I'm recommending lots of PC products; I swear I don't work for the brand. 😂 There are plenty of other leave-on benzoyl peroxide products out there; I just can't think of one right now.) If you use benzoyl peroxide, don't layer it with a retinoid. 

For more personalized recommendations, see a doctor. Heck, you can even ask a local pharmacist. But a doc, especially a dermatologist, can diagnose your acne and come up with a treatment plan tailored to your particular skin. 🙂