Q. What over the counter acne medications actually work?
A. I usually like to recommend the following three things that are essential to any skin care regimen in a patient with acne. A gentle cleanser, my favorite being CeraVe® moisturizing cleanser. For acne specifically I recommend benzoyl peroxide wash, with over the counter products made by many companies. Two high quality benzoyl peroxide washes are clean and clear and Neutrogena®. Lastly, I like topical Differin® gel (adapalene). These three things are the backbone to any acne care routine. It can take up to a month before acne starts improving, so it’s important to stay patient; however, if the acne persists we always have the ability to build on this regimen with prescription medications to improve results.