Acne Care Costs

If treating your teen’s acne sends you into sticker shock, keep something in mind. It’s more important to find a good regimen and stick with it than to get the most expensive ‘miracle cure’ on the market.

No solution, no matter how good, will clear up acne overnight. Teenagers are impatient by nature, understandably more so when they’re disappointed at what they see in the mirror, so encouraging them to have healthy and consistent habits can go a long way.

That said, a good acne-care regimen doesn’t have to be expensive. A large number of treatments that can be purchased without a prescription can be very helpful in treating acne. Many of the most effective methods rely on benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient alone or in combination with another acne fighting ingredient.  Benzoyl peroxide has been used in acne treatment for more than 40 years and it’s one of the only over the counter ingredients that targets bacteria, as well as the other factors that cause acne. 

Treatments incorporating benzoyl peroxide can include gels, creams, lotions and cleansers. In non-prescription form they offer concentrations of 2.5%, 5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide.  Studies have shown that when used properly, treatments with lower concentrations of are just as effective as higher concentrations; however may cause fewer of the common side effects we see, such as dryness or redness, which can usually be managed with the addition of an oil free moisturizer.  Prescription medications typically contain higher concentrations of benzoyl peroxide.

A basic, affordable routine to start treating acne should include a combination of mild cleansing and gentle exfoliation that incorporates key acne fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or sulfur, followed by an oil-free moisturizer, in case you experience dryness. These products are readily available without a prescription; however, if you’re unsure about which products might work best for your teen, consult a dermatologist for guidance.

Models used for illustrative purposes only.