Topical Acne Treatments

TOPICAL ACNE TREATMENTS
Generic	Brand		Strength	Form	Dose
ANTIBACTERIAL/ANTIKERATINIZING
azelaic acid	Azelex	Rx	20%	crm	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Gently massage thin film to affected areas twice daily (AM and PM) to clean, dry skin. Wash hands after use. May decrease to once daily if persistent irritation occurs.
ANTIBACTERIAL/KERATOLYTIC
benzoyl peroxide	Benzac AC	Rx	5%, 10%	water-base gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply to cleansed area 1−2 times daily
	Benzac AC	Rx	5%, 10%	wash	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Wash affected area 1−2 times daily; rinse
	Benzac‑W	Rx	2.5%, 5%, 10%	aqueous-base gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply to cleansed area once daily, increase to 2−3 times daily as tolerated
	Benzac‑W	Rx	5%, 10%	wash	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Wash affected area 1−2 times a day; rinse
	Desquam‑X	Rx	5%, 10%	water-base gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Massage into cleansed area 1−2 times daily
	Desquam‑X	Rx	5%, 10%	water-based wash	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Wash affected areas 1−2 times daily; rinse
	Neobenz Micro	Rx	3.5%, 5.5%	crm	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply to cleansed area 1−2 times daily
	Neobenz Micro SD	Rx	5.5%	crm
	Neobenz Micro Wash	Rx	7%	wash	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Wash affected areas 1−2 times daily; rinse
	Riax	Rx	5.5%, 9.5%	foam	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin layer, and rinse thoroughly 1−3 times daily as tolerated. May reduce to once daily or every other day if dryness or peeling occurs.
KERATOLYTIC
salicylic acid	Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash	OTC	2%	body wash	Children: Not applicable. Adults: Massage onto skin; rinse
salicylic acid	Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Gel Facial Wash	OTC	2%	gel	Children: Not applicable. Adults: Massage onto skin twice daily; rinse
SULFONE
dapsone	Aczone	Rx	5%	gel	Children <12yrs: Not recommended. Adults: Apply pea-sized amount to affected area twice daily (AM & PM). Wash hands after use. Reevaluate if no improvement after 12wks.
dapsone	Aczone	Rx	7.5%	gel	Adults and Children: <9yrs: Not established. ≥9yrs: Apply pea-sized amount to affected area once daily. Wash hands after use. Reevaluate if no improvement after 12wks.
ANTIMICROBIALS
clinda– mycin	Cleocin T	Rx	1%	soln⁵, pads⁵, lotion, gel	Children: Not established. Adults: Apply thin film twice daily
	Clindagel	Rx	1%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin film once daily
	Clindets	Rx	1%	pledgets⁵	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin film twice daily
	Evoclin	Rx	1%	foam³	Children: <12yrs: Not established. Adults: Apply once daily to clean, dry skin
erythro– mycin	—	Rx	2%	gel	Children: Not established. Adults: Apply thin film 1−2 times daily
	—	Rx	2%	soln, pads³	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply with applicator or pads to clean, dry skin twice daily
	Ery 2% Pads	Rx	2%	pledgets³	Children: Not applicable. Adults: Rub over cleansed area twice daily (AM & PM)
minocycline	Amzeeq	Rx	4%	foam³	<9yrs: Not established. ≥9yrs: Apply at the same time each day ≥1hr before bedtime. Rub gently into affected area(s); repeat as needed. Avoid bathing, showering or swimming for ≥1hr after application.
sodium sulfacet– amide	Klaron	Rx	10%	lotion	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin film twice daily to affected areas
RETINOIDS
adapalene	Differin	Rx	0.1%	crm⁶	Children: Not established. Adults: Apply thin film to affected areas once daily after washing. Reduce frequency or discontinue if prolonged or severe irritation occurs.
		OTC	0.1%	gel⁶
		Rx	0.3%	gel⁶
		Rx	0.1%	lotion
tazarotene	Fabior	Rx	0.1%	foam	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin layer to clean, dry affected area (face, upper trunk) once daily in PM. Women of childbearing potential: Begin therapy during normal menses.
tazarotene	Tazorac	Rx	0.05%*, 0.1%	crm, gel	Children: <12yrs: Not established. Adults: Apply thin film of 0.1% strength to lesions on clean, dry face once daily in the PM. Women of childbearing potential: Begin therapy during normal menses.
tretinoin	Altreno	Rx	0.05%	lotion⁴	Adults and Children: <9yrs: Not established. ≥9yrs: Apply thin layer to affected areas once daily. Reduce frequency or discontinue if severe irritation occurs.
	Atralin	Rx	0.05%	gel^2,4	<10yrs: Not recommended. ≥10yrs: Apply sparingly at bedtime to clean skin once daily. Adjust amount and frequency as tolerated.
	Avita	Rx	0.025%	crm, gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply sparingly to clean, dry skin once daily at bedtime. If irritation develops, adjust dose or frequency as tolerated and needed.
	Retin‑A	Rx	0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%	crm
			0.01%, 0.025%	gel¹
			0.05%	liq³
	Retin‑A Micro	Rx	0.04%, 0.08%, 0.1%	aqueous gel
trifarotene	Aklief	Rx	0.005%	crm	<9yrs: Not established. ≥9yrs: Apply a thin layer to affected areas once daily in the PM. Face: 1 pump actuation. Upper trunk: 2 pump actuations; may use 1 additional pump actuation for middle and lower back, if needed.
COMBINATION AGENTS
adapalene/ benzoyl peroxide	Epiduo Forte Gel	Rx	0.3%/ 2.5%	gel	Children: Not established. Adults: Apply thin film to affected areas of face and/or trunk once daily after washing. Use a pea-sized amount for each area of the face.
adapalene/ benzoyl peroxide	Epiduo Gel	Rx	0.1%/ 2.5%	gel	<9yrs: Not established. ≥9yrs: Apply thin film to clean affected areas (face, trunk) once daily. Use a pea-sized amount for each area of the face. Reduce frequency or discontinue if prolonged or severe irritation occurs.
clinda– mycin/ benzoyl peroxide	Acanya	Rx	1.2%/ 2.5%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply pea-sized amount in a thin layer to clean, dry face once daily. Wash hands after use.
	Benzaclin	Rx	1%/5%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply twice daily
	Duac	Rx	1%/5%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply to clean, dry skin once daily in the evening
	Onexton	Rx	1.2%/ 3.75%	gel	Children: Not established. Adults: Apply a pea-sized amount once daily
clinda– mycin/ tretinoin	Ziana	Rx	1.2%/ 0.025%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply thin film to clean, dry face once daily at bedtime
erythro– mycin/ benzoyl peroxide	Benzamycin	Rx	3%/5%	gel	Children: Not recommended. Adults: Apply to clean, dry skin twice daily
NOTES
*Only 0.1% indicated for mild to moderate acne vulgaris ¹contains cetearyl alcohol ²contains parabens ³contains alcohol ⁴contains benzyl alcohol ⁵contains isopropyl alcohol ⁶alcohol‑free Not an inclusive list of medications and/or doses. Please see drug monograph at www.eMPR.com, contact company for full drug labeling and/or consult your healthcare provider. Contains FDA‑approved doses only for Rx products. (Rev. 3/2020)

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