acne

[charlotteswebb]

What are some good budget-friendly acne products that ACTUALLY work. I’ve tried almost every expensive cream and cleanser on the market and nothing has worked.

[WinglessOne]

@charlotteswebb  Might depend on what type of acne you have. Some types, like cystic acne, don’t respond well to the usual OTC ingredients/products and are best treated with a doctor’s help. Also, there are some skin conditions that mimic acne. 

Have you already tried all these ingredients? 

• Salicylic acid/BHA (2% strength is plenty enough for many folks) 
• Benzoyl peroxide 
• Adapalene (a retinoid you can buy OTC as Differin Gel, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene, etc.) 
• Azelaic acid (available OTC at 10% strength, but it's really prescription strength 15-20% that's been shown effective for acne) 
• Sulfur 

If products with those ingredients didn’t help, then it’s time to see a board certified dermatologist or other doctor to get your skin diagnosed. Treatment could include oral meds, a prescription retinoid, cortisone injection, etc., depending on your diagnosis. 

[charlotteswebb]

Benzoyl Peroxide doesn’t work for me at all, i’ve been using SA for 6 months now and hasn’t really done anything. I’m trying out azelic acid and i’m hopeful it’ll work; if not i’ll try sulfur!

[WinglessOne]

@charlotteswebb  Quick BIC tip: remember to @ the person you reply to so they'll get a notification. Otherwise they might never see your reply. 

Hmm, if benzoyl peroxide doesn't touch your acne, then I definitely recommend seeing a doctor (if you can) to find out which type of acne you have—or if it's really acne at all. I say that because benzoyl peroxide's very search-and-destroy about several kinds of acne. When someone says that ingredient and/or adapalene doesn't work on their acne, then I assume no other over-the-counter ingredients and products will work and that person probably needs something prescription strength. 

I do hope azelaic acid helps you. I still think you should see if a doctor if you can.