Sudden breakouts are incredibly frustrating. And even if you eat a healthy diet, wear makeup that won't clog your pores, change your pillowcase regularly, and use acne-fighting skincare products (such as cleansers that contain ingredients like salicylic acid), you can still wake up to the unpleasant discovery that a pimple has pushed its way to the surface of your skin.
The good news: Topical spot treatments can quickly and effectively aid in the skin's healing process, shrinking existing pimples and preventing acne scars from forming. But with so many products on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which zit-zapping formulas are the most effective, so we turned to skincare professionals to get their expert opinions. Here, six powerful acne spot treatments that dermatologists swear by.
Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel
New York City-based dermatologist and author of
Skin Rules ($15;
amazon.com) Debra Jaliman, MD
, recommends this drugstore find to help unclog pores and prevent future breakouts. Because it contains glycerin, it also helps with dryness.
Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel
San Francisco-based dermatologist William Kwan, MD, swears by this treatment—and its powerful ingredients. "It has a combination of glycolic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA)," he explains. "These are helpful to exfoliate the comedone and heal the acne." Dr. Kwan also likes that this gel contains licorice extract, which helps lighten dark spots left behind by past blemishes.
Differin has become a fan favorite since
it was approved by the FDA for over-the-counter purchase last year.
One such fan: Bruce Katz, MD, a New York-area dermatologist. "It is prescription strength without a prescription, and works to unblock pores and treat acne better than any other OTC product," he says.
ProactivMD Adapalene Gel 0.1%
S. Manjula Jegasothy, MD, founder of the Miami Skin Institute, recommends this gel for fast-acting results. "It's ideal for comedonal acne, which manifests as stubborn blackheads and whiteheads," Dr. Jegasothy explains.
Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment
"It provides the right balance of benzoyl peroxide, a favorite acne treatment ingredient among dermatologists, in a base that won’t irritate the skin—or the wallet," says Mary Gail Mercurio, MD, professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Oxy Vanishing Spot Treatment Acne Medication
Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist from Montclair, New Jersey, describes this spot treatment as being consistently effective and readily available. "It has 10% benzoyl peroxide, and most people can tolerate it well," she says. To shrink a breakout, she recommends applying it up to twice a day for three to four days.
