To avoid common side effects and get the most from your acne topicals medication, please review the following carefully:
- Benzoyl peroxide containing medications may stain / bleach clothing, sheets, towels, and hair.
- When applying topical medications to the face, use the “4-dot” method:
- Take a small pea-sized amount (total) of the cream / gel on your fingertip and place dots of the medication in each of these 4 locations of your face: mid-forehead, left cheek, right cheek, chin.
- With fingertips smooth / spread the dots of medication into a thin layer over your whole face. You do not need more than one small pea-sized amount of cream / gel for the whole face.
- Avoid eye area when applying topical acne medications to the face. The delicate skin around the eyes can be easily irritated by acne medications.
- Topical medications may lead to dryness where you use them. This almost always improves as your skin gets used to the medication (about 2-3 weeks). To help improve dryness as your skin adjusts to the medication:
- Wait 15-20 minutes after washing before applying the topical medication.
- Limit use of medication to every 2-3 days, for 2-3 weeks. Then gradually work up to everyday use (unless other length of time are directed by your nurse practitioner).
- Moisturize as needed. You can apply an oil-free moisturizer over the medication or if you are very dry, you can mix moisturizer with the medication 50:50 before applying.
- If you are too dry, take a few days off and start fewer times per week using the advice above.
- VERY IMPORTANT: Prescription topical acne medications are typically not meant to be used as a “spot treatment”. Unless advised otherwise by your nurse practitioner, apply topical medications to the whole face. The reason is that acne medications do a better job of preventing future acne than clearing existing acne.
If you have any questions or concerns:
If you have any questions about acne topicals that are used for the treatment of skin conditions including their common side effects, our nurse practitioner would be happy to help you. Please message us on the Patient Portal and we will get back to you within 24-48 hours.
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