Latest posts
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Types of Acne: Blackheads to Cysts, and How Severe Yours Is
The main types of acne are non-inflamed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflamed lesions (papules, pustules, nodules and cysts). Severity runs from mild to severe; comedones and mild pimples often respond to OTC care, while nodules and cysts need a dermatologist.
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Teen Acne: What’s Normal, What Works, and When to See a Doctor
Teen acne affects about 85% of people aged 12 to 24. For most, a benzoyl peroxide wash plus over-the-counter adapalene, used daily for at least two months, is the evidence-backed start. See a doctor for painful nodules, scarring, or acne that’s affecting mood.
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Teen Acne Routine on a Budget: Cheap Drugstore Basics That Work
A budget teen acne routine needs four things: a gentle cleanser, 2.5% benzoyl peroxide or adapalene 0.1% gel, an oil-free moisturizer and SPF 30 sunscreen. Buy by active ingredient, not brand. Skip scrubs, toners and extra products, and give it 6 to 8 weeks.
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Tea Tree Oil for Acne: What the Evidence Really Shows
Tea tree oil may modestly help mild to moderate acne: a 5% gel beat placebo in a small trial and worked more slowly than benzoyl peroxide in another. The evidence is low certainty, and it can cause allergic rashes, so never use it neat.
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Sulfur for Acne: How It Works and What the Evidence Says
Sulfur is an over-the-counter acne ingredient (3% to 10% in the US) with antibacterial, antifungal and peeling effects. It’s usually mild, but the 2024 AAD guideline found too little evidence to recommend it, so it works best as a gentle spot treatment, not a core treatment.
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Spironolactone for Acne: Evidence, Side Effects & What to Ask
Spironolactone is a prescription anti-androgen pill used off-label for acne in adult women. In the 2023 SAFA trial it beat placebo, especially by 24 weeks, and the 2024 AAD guideline recommends it conditionally. It must not be used in pregnancy, so discuss it with a clinician.
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Simple Acne Routine: A 3-Step Morning and Night Plan
A simple acne routine has three steps twice a day: a gentle cleanser, one proven treatment (adapalene or benzoyl peroxide), and an oil-free moisturizer, with SPF 30+ sunscreen each morning. Apply the treatment to the whole area and give it at least 6 to 8 weeks.
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Should You Pop Pimples? Risks, and What to Do Instead
You generally shouldn’t pop pimples. Squeezing can push debris deeper into the skin and raise the risk of scars, dark marks and infection. Instead, use a warm compress or ice, dab on benzoyl peroxide, and leave it alone. Dermatologists can safely drain or inject large, painful spots.
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Salicylic Acid vs Benzoyl Peroxide: Which Is Better for Acne?
Salicylic acid is better for blackheads and whiteheads because it unclogs pores; benzoyl peroxide is better for inflamed pimples because it kills acne bacteria, and it has stronger evidence. Many people use both, starting slowly, since the combination is more drying.
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Salicylic Acid for Acne: How It Works and What the Evidence Says
Salicylic acid is an oil-soluble exfoliant (BHA) sold OTC at 0.5% to 2% that helps unclog pores, so it works best on blackheads and whiteheads. The 2024 AAD guideline recommends it conditionally, based on low-certainty evidence, so pair it with stronger-evidence treatments for inflamed acne.