Treating Acne Without a Prescription

While acne medications prescribed by your dermatologist are usually highly effective, they are also expensive and not always fully covered by medical insurance. 

If you are not able to treat your acne with prescriptions, it is still possible to achieve a blemish-free complexion using regular drug store products. Following this simple skincare routine two times per day will help to clear your skin in a few weeks.

The first step in your skincare routine should be washing your face with a gentle cleanser, such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. 

• To cleanse your face, first wash your hands. This step is often forgotten but is essential for those who suffer from acne. 
• When you wet your face, use your hands, or if you're in the shower, stand directly under the water flow. 
• Do not use a washcloth, as these can contain bacteria that will worsen your acne. Then apply a small amount of cleanser and gently massage into your face. 
• Do not scrub vigorously. It may feel tempting to scrub your acne; however, this can aggravate your symptoms, so it is best to keep your touch gentle and spend no more than about 10 seconds in one area. 
• Then rinse your face with your hands or directly under the shower head. 
• Finally, dry by tapping your face gently with a clean towel. 

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam

Once your face has dried completely, apply a pea-size amount of a topical treatment containing Benzoyl Peroxide, such as Clean & Clear Persa Gel 10. 

• Benzoyl Peroxide may irritate your skin for the first few days of use. However, unless you experience a severe reaction, you should continue to use it. The irritation will cease after a few days. 
• You can reduce irritation by using Benzoyl Peroxide only once per day. 
• It is important to note that Benzoyl Peroxide can bleach fabrics, so be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying. 

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Booster

Finally, after the Benzoyl Peroxide treatment has completely dried, apply a gentle, oil-free moisturizer such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with clean hands. 

• It can seem counter intuitive to apply a moisturizer to oily or acne-prone skin. However, Benzoyl Peroxide can dry your skin, and a gentle moisturizer can help prevent natural overcompensation by reducing sebum production. 
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer also contains SPF 15 to help protect your skin from sun damage.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Compensating Soothing Moisturizer

In addition to this skincare routine, there are additional steps you can take to improve your complexion.

• You should wash your pillowcase frequently using a gentle detergent. 
• Replace your hand lotion and hand soap with products that are fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin. 
• Watch your diet closely to see if you break out after eating certain foods. 
• Replace your cosmetics with those that are designed for sensitive skin. 
• Use your facial cleanser to wash your makeup brushes weekly. 
• Switch to a gentle, fragrance- and dye-free shampoo and conditioner. 
• Wash your face after you exercise. 
• Finally, refrain from touching your face as much as possible. 

As your skin clears, continue following your skincare routine to keep blemishes at bay. Following these simple steps make it possible to successfully treat acne in teens and adults without expensive medications.