The One Product You Should Use If You Have Acne-Prone Skin, According To Dermatologists

Many people are not blessed with naturally clear skin. For those of you who are, count your blessings! If you have acne-prone skin, you’re constantly trying new products to improve your complexion. However, there are so many acne products on the market, it can be hard to find the best one.

We spoke with Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and CEO and founder of Curology, to find out what the one over-the-counter acne-fighting skin care product is that he recommends. You’ll be happy to know that it’s sold at your local drugstore!

Before he disclosed his favorite product acne-prone skin, Dr. Lortscher warned, “Over-the-counter products can be helpful for those who struggle with facial and body acne, although it’s important to note that over-the-counter products can be hit or miss, as acne is very much multifactorial, with genetics, hormones, lifestyle, diet, environment, and more as potential contributing factors. Each person’s skin is unique, so it’s best to test these different ingredients to see which one best suits your skin.”

“Cleansers with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can be good options to fight acne,” said Dr. Lortscher. He recommends Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash as a salicylic acid cleanser.

If you already use a salicylic acid cleanser, there are plenty of other acne-fighting ingredients that you should look for in your skin care products.

“There are some good over-the-counter ingredients that help fight acne, including benzoyl peroxide, BHA (salicylic acid), and AHA (glycolic acid, lactic acid or similar). I advise starting with one ingredient, before adding another to evaluate how your skin tolerates the first ingredient without dryness or irritation,” said Dr. Lortscher.