# Any good OTC acne treatment recommendations besides benzoyl peroxide? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571 "2005-12-29T14:37:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/1 "2005-12-29T14:37:08Z")
Benzoyl peroxide works pretty well for me, but I’m tired of sweating it into my shirts and seeing the collars getting discolored and “bleached”. Any other otc treatments that work but don’t ruin clothes? ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/2 "2005-12-29T15:01:34Z")
Find treatments with Retin-A in them. I don’t know the current OTC availability, but I thought there might be a few out there these days. Otherwise spend the cash and get the prescription. Retin-A works wonders. 2 weeks of extra zits while it gets prepped, then your face really clears up. Plus it keeps you looking young as it also helps smile lines, crow’s feet, etc. It works, just do it. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/3 "2005-12-29T15:48:27Z")
There’s a little roll-on glass tube of stuff (withc hazel & tea tree oil +) which Burts Bee’s makes or you can find at a health food store. It’s very good for those with an occasional pimple. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/4 "2005-12-29T16:12:13Z")
> [@Tomcat](#): > > Find treatments with Retin-A in them. I don’t know the current OTC availability, but I thought there might be a few out there these days. Otherwise spend the cash and get the prescription. Retin-A works wonders. 2 weeks of extra zits while it gets prepped, then your face really clears up. Plus it keeps you looking young as it also helps smile lines, crow’s feet, etc. It works, just do it. > > -Tcat I hope you’re right. I’ve been on it about a month. I can’t say my skin looks a whole lot better yet, but it is peeling like mad and I suppose that’s got to be a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/5 "2005-12-29T16:36:50Z")
Retin-A didn’t work for me the first time I tried it when I was in college. I think it was a combo of my skin being way too delicate + the Montreal winds. I had to switch to Differin at that time (adalplene gel). I tried Retin-A again around the age of 24 and it worked miracles. These days I switch on/off with Retin-A and Differin. AFAIK, it’s still prescription because I have one. Differin would definitely not stain your clothes…its’ a clear gel. But again, it’s prescription. I would suggest going to a derm for the Diff prescription. Retin-A will have the same effect as the benzoyl peroxide because the cream textures are mostly the same. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/6 "2005-12-29T17:10:13Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > I would suggest going to a derm for the Diff prescription. Retin-A will have the same effect as the benzoyl peroxide because the cream textures are mostly the same. Not necessarily. Benzoyl Peroxide acts as a bleaching agent, chemically. Don’t know if the same is true for Retin-A. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/7 "2005-12-29T17:20:21Z")
I have had it discolour my pillows, though. And I have dark skin and it get rids of my acne spots, the prime reason I love it so I’m pretty certain it has a bleaching effect. It is an acid after all. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/8 "2005-12-29T17:37:59Z")
Salicylic (aka Beta Hydroxy) Acid. It’s an exfoliant and anti-bacterial, and it has to be the correct concentration and pH. I use [Paula’s Choice](http://www.cosmeticscop.com). People with an allergy to aspirin shouldn’t use it. I use 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide at night and 2% Beta Hydroxy during the day, partially for the exact reasons you specify as well as BP being a little too harsh for me to use twice a day. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/9 "2005-12-29T17:59:34Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > I have had it discolour my pillows, though. And I have dark skin and it get rids of my acne spots, the prime reason I love it so I’m pretty certain it has a bleaching effect. It is an acid after all. Er… Well, Bleach™ is Basic, but acid damage can cause discoloration too… ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/10 "2005-12-29T18:02:11Z")
I didn’t state the chemical composition of bleach as being an acid. I stated that Retin-A, which contains an acid, has a bleaching effect. In that sense, I meant it causes discolouration. :rolleyes: The lengths you people go to in order to one-up posters. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/11 "2005-12-29T18:05:40Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > The lengths you people go to in order to one-up posters. The lengths you people go to to jump to conclusions about others’ motivations. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-otc-acne-treatment-recommendations-besides-benzoyl-peroxide/337571/12 "2005-12-30T15:25:24Z")
> [@Heart On My Sleeve](#): > > Salicylic (aka Beta Hydroxy) Acid. It’s an exfoliant and anti-bacterial, and it has to be the correct concentration and pH. I use [Paula’s Choice](http://www.cosmeticscop.com). People with an allergy to aspirin shouldn’t use it. > > I use 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide at night and 2% Beta Hydroxy during the day, partially for the exact reasons you specify as well as BP being a little too harsh for me to use twice a day. > > Good luck! This sounds like a good plan, I’ll try it. Thanks! Thanks everybody for the info.