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What are the Most Popular Topical Acne Medications
If you are interested in obtaining a online acne consultation, it is a good idea for you to understand a little about the various types of medications available. This way, when engaging in your online acne consultation, you will be able to more effectively discuss your options with the doctor. The dosage, approximate cost, and side effects of some of the more popular topical acne medications are outlined in the following chart:
Selected Topical Acne Medications for the Treatment of Acne
Acne Medications | Formulation | Cost* (quantity/weight) | Dosage | Side Effects |
Retinoids |
|
|
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Adapalene (Differin) | Gel 0.1% | $42 (15 g) | Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated | Same as tretinoin but less severe |
| Cream 0.1% | $42 (15 g) |
|
|
| Pledget 0.1% | $79 (60 count) |
|
|
| Solution 0.1% | $79 (30 mL) |
|
|
Tazarotene (Tazorac) | Gel 0.05% | $74 (30 g) | Once daily | Same as tretinoin but more severe |
| Gel 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.05% | $74 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
Tretinoin (Retin-A) | Cream 0.025% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Cream 0.05% | $47 (20 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $55 (20 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.01% | $33 (15 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.025% | $34 (15 g) |
|
|
| Solution 0.05% | $71 (28 mL) |
|
|
Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro) | Gel 0.04% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Gel 0.1% | $42 (20 g) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antibiotics |
|
|
|
|
Clindamycin (generic) | Gel 1% | $32 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Lotion 1% | $60 (60 mL) |
|
|
| Solution 1% | $23 (30 mL) |
|
|
| Swab 1% | $46 (60 swabs) |
|
|
Erythromycin | Gel 2% | $18 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Solution 2% | $8 (60 mL) |
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Other |
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|
|
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Azelaic acid (Azelex) | Cream 20% | $49 (30 g) | Twice daily | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, |
|
|
|
| pruritus; rarely, hypopigmentation |
Benzoyl peroxide (various) | Gel: 2.5%, 5%, or 10% | $24 (90 g) | Once or twice daily | Erythema, peeling, contact dermatitis, dryness |
| Wash: 2.5%, 5%, or 10% | $25 to $30 (227 mL) |
|
|
Sulfacetamide (Klaron) | Lotion 10% | $104 (118 mL) | Twice daily | Itching, redness, irritation, and rare severe hypersensitivity reactions; contraindicated for those with sulfa allergies |
Sulfacetamide/sulfur (Sulfacet-R) | Lotion 10%/5% | $51 (25 g) | Twice daily | Same as sulfacetamide |
Retinoids |
|
|
|
|
Adapalene (Differin) | Gel 0.1% | $42 (15 g) | Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated | Same as tretinoin but less severe |
| Cream 0.1% | $42 (15 g) |
|
|
| Pledget 0.1% | $79 (60 count) |
|
|
| Solution 0.1% | $79 (30 mL) |
|
|
Tazarotene (Tazorac) | Gel 0.05% | $74 (30 g) | Once daily | Same as tretinoin but more severe |
| Gel 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.05% | $74 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
Tretinoin (Retin-A) | Cream 0.025% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Cream 0.05% | $47 (20 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $55 (20 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.01% | $33 (15 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.025% | $34 (15 g) |
|
|
| Solution 0.05% | $71 (28 mL) |
|
|
Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro) | Gel 0.04% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Gel 0.1% | $42 (20 g) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antibiotics |
|
|
|
|
Clindamycin (generic) | Gel 1% | $32 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Lotion 1% | $60 (60 mL) |
|
|
| Solution 1% | $23 (30 mL) |
|
|
| Swab 1% | $46 (60 swabs) |
|
|
Erythromycin | Gel 2% | $18 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Solution 2% | $8 (60 mL) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Azelaic acid (Azelex) | Cream 20% | $49 (30 g) | Twice daily | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, |
|
|
|
| pruritus; rarely, hypopigmentation |
Benzoyl peroxide (various) | Gel: 2.5%, 5%, or 10% | $24 (90 g) | Once or twice daily | Erythema, peeling, contact dermatitis, dryness |
| Wash: 2.5%, 5%, or 10% | $25 to $30 (227 mL) |
|
|
Sulfacetamide (Klaron) | Lotion 10% | $104 (118 mL) | Twice daily | Itching, redness, irritation, and rare severe hypersensitivity reactions; contraindicated for those with sulfa allergies |
Sulfacetamide/sulfur (Sulfacet-R) | Lotion 10%/5% | $51 (25 g) | Twice daily | Same as sulfacetamide |
Retinoids |
|
|
|
|
Adapalene (Differin) | Gel 0.1% | $42 (15 g) | Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated | Same as tretinoin but less severe |
| Cream 0.1% | $42 (15 g) |
|
|
| Pledget 0.1% | $79 (60 count) |
|
|
| Solution 0.1% | $79 (30 mL) |
|
|
Tazarotene (Tazorac) | Gel 0.05% | $74 (30 g) | Once daily | Same as tretinoin but more severe |
| Gel 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.05% | $74 (30 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $78 (30 g) |
|
|
Tretinoin (Retin-A) | Cream 0.025% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Cream 0.05% | $47 (20 g) |
|
|
| Cream 0.1% | $55 (20 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.01% | $33 (15 g) |
|
|
| Gel 0.025% | $34 (15 g) |
|
|
| Solution 0.05% | $71 (28 mL) |
|
|
Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro) | Gel 0.04% | $42 (20 g) | Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated | Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity |
| Gel 0.1% | $42 (20 g) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antibiotics |
|
|
|
|
Clindamycin (generic) | Gel 1% | $32 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Lotion 1% | $60 (60 mL) |
|
|
| Solution 1% | $23 (30 mL) |
|
|
| Swab 1% | $46 (60 swabs) |
|
|
Erythromycin | Gel 2% | $18 (30 g) | Twice daily | Local irritation; stains clothes |
| Solution 2% | $8 (60 mL) |
|
|
* Average wholesale cost, based on Red Book, Montvale, N.J.: Medical Economics Data, 2003. Adapted from Zaenglein AL, Thiboutot DM. Acne vulgaris. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JJ, Rapini RP, eds. Dermatology. New York: Mosby, 2003:533-4
Please feel free to click on “Request a Consult” for more information on these and other acne medications that may be right for you or to initiate an online acne consultation today!
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