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What are the Most Popular Topical Acne Medications


If you are interested in obtaining a online acne consultation, it is a good idea for you to understand a little about the various types of medications available. This way, when engaging in your online acne consultation, you will be able to more effectively discuss your options with the doctor. The dosage, approximate cost, and side effects of some of the more popular topical acne medications are outlined in the following chart:

Selected Topical Acne Medications for the Treatment of Acne

Acne Medications

Formulation

Cost* (quantity/weight)

Dosage

Side Effects

Retinoids

 

 

 

 

Adapalene (Differin)

Gel 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated

Same as tretinoin but less severe

 

Cream 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

 

 

 

Pledget 0.1%

$79 (60 count)

 

 

 

Solution 0.1%

$79 (30 mL)

 

 

Tazarotene (Tazorac)

Gel 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

Once daily

Same as tretinoin but more severe

 

Gel 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Cream 0.025%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Cream 0.05%

$47 (20 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$55 (20 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.01%

$33 (15 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.025%

$34 (15 g)

 

 

 

Solution 0.05%

$71 (28 mL)

 

 

Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro)

Gel 0.04%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Gel 0.1%

$42 (20 g)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antibiotics

 

 

 

 

Clindamycin (generic)

Gel 1%

$32 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Lotion 1%

$60 (60 mL)

 

 

 

Solution 1%

$23 (30 mL)

 

 

 

Swab 1%

$46 (60 swabs)

 

 

Erythromycin

Gel 2%

$18 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Solution 2%

$8 (60 mL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Azelaic acid (Azelex)

Cream 20%

$49 (30 g)

Twice daily

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation,

 

 

 

 

pruritus; rarely, hypopigmentation

Benzoyl peroxide (various)

Gel: 2.5%, 5%, or 10%

$24 (90 g)

Once or twice daily

Erythema, peeling, contact dermatitis, dryness

 

Wash: 2.5%, 5%, or 10%

$25 to $30 (227 mL)

 

 

Sulfacetamide (Klaron)

Lotion 10%

$104 (118 mL)

Twice daily

Itching, redness, irritation, and rare severe hypersensitivity reactions; contraindicated for those with sulfa allergies

Sulfacetamide/sulfur (Sulfacet-R)

Lotion 10%/5%

$51 (25 g)

Twice daily

Same as sulfacetamide

Retinoids

 

 

 

 

Adapalene (Differin)

Gel 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated

Same as tretinoin but less severe

 

Cream 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

 

 

 

Pledget 0.1%

$79 (60 count)

 

 

 

Solution 0.1%

$79 (30 mL)

 

 

Tazarotene (Tazorac)

Gel 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

Once daily

Same as tretinoin but more severe

 

Gel 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Cream 0.025%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Cream 0.05%

$47 (20 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$55 (20 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.01%

$33 (15 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.025%

$34 (15 g)

 

 

 

Solution 0.05%

$71 (28 mL)

 

 

Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro)

Gel 0.04%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Gel 0.1%

$42 (20 g)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antibiotics

 

 

 

 

Clindamycin (generic)

Gel 1%

$32 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Lotion 1%

$60 (60 mL)

 

 

 

Solution 1%

$23 (30 mL)

 

 

 

Swab 1%

$46 (60 swabs)

 

 

Erythromycin

Gel 2%

$18 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Solution 2%

$8 (60 mL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Azelaic acid (Azelex)

Cream 20%

$49 (30 g)

Twice daily

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation,

 

 

 

 

pruritus; rarely, hypopigmentation

Benzoyl peroxide (various)

Gel: 2.5%, 5%, or 10%

$24 (90 g)

Once or twice daily

Erythema, peeling, contact dermatitis, dryness

 

Wash: 2.5%, 5%, or 10%

$25 to $30 (227 mL)

 

 

Sulfacetamide (Klaron)

Lotion 10%

$104 (118 mL)

Twice daily

Itching, redness, irritation, and rare severe hypersensitivity reactions; contraindicated for those with sulfa allergies

Sulfacetamide/sulfur (Sulfacet-R)

Lotion 10%/5%

$51 (25 g)

Twice daily

Same as sulfacetamide

Retinoids

 

 

 

 

Adapalene (Differin)

Gel 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

Once or twice daily, but can be once every other day if not well tolerated

Same as tretinoin but less severe

 

Cream 0.1%

$42 (15 g)

 

 

 

Pledget 0.1%

$79 (60 count)

 

 

 

Solution 0.1%

$79 (30 mL)

 

 

Tazarotene (Tazorac)

Gel 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

Once daily

Same as tretinoin but more severe

 

Gel 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.05%

$74 (30 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$78 (30 g)

 

 

Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Cream 0.025%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Cream 0.05%

$47 (20 g)

 

 

 

Cream 0.1%

$55 (20 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.01%

$33 (15 g)

 

 

 

Gel 0.025%

$34 (15 g)

 

 

 

Solution 0.05%

$71 (28 mL)

 

 

Tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro)

Gel 0.04%

$42 (20 g)

Once daily, but can use once every other day if not tolerated

Dryness, scaling, erythema, burning, irritation, and photosensitivity

 

Gel 0.1%

$42 (20 g)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antibiotics

 

 

 

 

Clindamycin (generic)

Gel 1%

$32 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Lotion 1%

$60 (60 mL)

 

 

 

Solution 1%

$23 (30 mL)

 

 

 

Swab 1%

$46 (60 swabs)

 

 

Erythromycin

Gel 2%

$18 (30 g)

Twice daily

Local irritation; stains clothes

 

Solution 2%

$8 (60 mL)

 

 

* Average wholesale cost, based on Red Book, Montvale, N.J.: Medical Economics Data, 2003. Adapted from Zaenglein AL, Thiboutot DM. Acne vulgaris. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JJ, Rapini RP, eds. Dermatology. New York: Mosby, 2003:533-4

Please feel free to click on “Request a Consult” for more information on these and other acne medications that may be right for you or to initiate an online acne consultation today!

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Due to the limitations of online doctor consults, the doctors at KoolDocs.com will not, do not and cannot prescribe any and all Narcotics (for pain) and/or Controlled Substances nor do the doctors at KoolDocs.com treat, consult and/or prescribe medication for medical emergency conditionsthat require you to call 911.
The following is a List of Medications that KoolDocs.com DOES NOT prescribe.
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