When trying acne treatments, there are many different options to choose from. For mild cases you might look to over-the-counter face washes and creams, or even natural remedies. But if you’re experiencing persistent acne, you might want to explore prescription acne treatments that are clinically proven to reduce pimples and improve acne scarring and pigmentation.

Prescription acne treatments come in both topical and oral varieties, where the oral tablets are taken on a regular basis to help fight bacteria that turns whiteheads and blackheads into red, inflamed and sometimes pus-filled pimples. Topical acne treatments can be topical antibiotics like clindamycin, topical retinoids like tretinoin or adapalene or a combination of multiple acne-fighting medications like retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.

No matter what kind of topical acne treatment you’ve been prescribed, it’s important to understand how to use it properly in order to reach the best results. That’s why we’ve put together these short instructions on how to apply acne cream and treatments to help you beat acne and feel good about the skin you’re in. Choosing the best pimple cream is most essential there.

Wash and dry the affected area of your skin

While many of us get pimples on our faces, particularly in our T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), you can get acne on any part of your body. Other common places to get acne include your neck, shoulders, back, chest and butt. No matter where your breakouts occur, the first step is always to wash and dry the affected area of your skin. Depending on how severe your acne is, you may consider using a gentle cleanser free from harsh irritants and exfoliants.

All Rosemary acne subscription plans come with recommendations from your doctor about the best cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreens to use for your unique skin needs.

Squeeze a pea sized amount of product onto your finger

One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to treat acne is using too much of the prescription-strength product. Because you’ve been prescribed a topical lotion or cream that has clinically proven acne-fighting prescription ingredients in it, it’s super important to not use too much. Even if you have acne over large sections of your skin, always start with just a pea sized amount of product on your finger.

Dab the acne cream on the affected areas

Next, use your finger to gently dab it onto the affected areas. You may want to apply directly onto the blemishes themselves, carefully distributing the pea sized amount over the whole area. If you have large sections of acne, such as on your back, space out where you’re dabbing the pea sized amount so that you are using a small amount of product for the whole area.

Massage the acne treatment through

Once you’ve evenly distributed the pea sized dollop over your acne, gently massage and spread it over the whole affected area. You’ll end up with a very thin layer of the acne cream over the affected area, not just on the individual blemishes. Because acne starts inside your pores, it’s helpful to have the medication spread thinly and evenly over the whole area you’re breaking out to help prevent acne from forming.

Paul Petersen