The best acne treatments for teens, according to dermatologists

Acne affects an estimated 80 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 30 at some point in their lives, according to The National Institutes for Health. It’s most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and affects boys a bit later (ages 16 to 19 years old).

Luckily, most cases are entirely curable, says Dr. Mona Gohara, a dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut. To help teens find the right products for their skin, I spoke to dermatologists about the most effective ways to manage breakouts and what to look for in an acne treatment. I also rounded up products that align with their recommendations, including options NBC Selected editors use and love.

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Below, I gathered expert-recommended face washes, spot treatments, retinoids, pimple patches and more that can help improve teen acne. All of the following products are noncomedogenic (meaning they won’t clog pores) and include gentle or acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene.

Differin Gel is on our list of the 100 best acne treatments and a favorite among our editors . NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin started using it for her hormonal and cystic acne as a teenager since it is the only OTC retinoid that does not require a prescription. “It helped reduce my acne in a few days when I used it as a spot treatment, which, as a high schooler, was perfect because it made me less insecure about my skin,” she says.

This treatment has 0.1% adapalene, which regulates cell turnover along the pores to reduce clogging, experts say. “If there’s one thing to pick to do for your acne, start using Differin Gel at bedtime,” says Dr. Samer Jaber, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City. Wash with a gentle cleanser, dry your skin fully and apply a pea size of Differin onto the entire face, according to the brand.

Avoid using Differin Gel, as well as any other retinoid, as a spot treatment. “That would be way too irritating — it meant to be used all over [the face],” says Gohara.

This spot treatment is a favorite of both Gohara and Jaber because it can reduce the size and redness of pimples in a few hours, according to the brand. It has 10% benzoyl peroxide, which inhibits the growth of the bacteria that causes acne, experts say

This Panoxyl foaming wash has 10% benzoyl peroxide, the highest concentration available without a prescription. This was also one of Malin’s favorites as a teen: “It helped reduce the frequency of breakouts, but since I have sensitive skin, I used it every other day instead of every day.” It works to clean and unclog pores and contains moisturizing ingredients to help combat dryness, according to the brand.

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“Foam-based cleansers are best for those with oily skin,” says Jaber, who recommends this one from CeraVe. The cleanser has 4% benzoyl peroxide to fight acne-causing bacteria, hyaluronic acid to preserve the skin’s natural moisture and niacinamide, which helps to calm irritation, experts say. It’s fragrance-free, noncomedogenic and can remove any excess oil, dirt or makeup from the skin, according to the brand.

As a teenager, I used this expert-recommended acne face wash everyday for my hormonal breakouts. It has 2% salicylic acid to fight acne and remove dirt, oil, grime and bacteria from the skin. If you’re using a salicylic acid cleanser for the first time, use it every other day to start, experts say.

Pimple patches, which adhere to the skin and usually have hydrocolloid gel to absorb excess oil and dirt from pimples, are great for both reducing the size of breakouts and helping to avoid picking at and popping them, says Gohara. This Hero Cosmetics pimple patch won an NBC Selected Wellness Award because it’s translucent and easily blends into the skin, according to our editors. You can use these overnight or throughout the day, and the patch will turn white as it draws out the gunk and sebum from your pimples.

This quick-drying formula may be a good option if your skin doesn’t tolerate benzoyl peroxide, experts say. It has salicylic acid to fight acne and calamine to calm irritation. I’ve used this treatment since high school and I’m still impressed by how quickly it gets rid of a pimple (usually overnight). I simply dip a cotton swab into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle and dab it directly onto a breakout. The lotion dries quickly but leaves a pink, chalky residue, so I recommend using this product at night.

One of our favorite cystic acne treatments, this expert-recommended La Roche-Posay adapalene gel helps unclog pores, increase cell turnover and fight more severe acne. The gel is fragrance- and oil-free, according to the brand. Keep in mind adapalene can be irritating, so make sure to introduce this gel into your routine slowly (about once a week) to avoid redness and inflammation, according to my experts.

Noncomedogenic products like this La Roche-Posay face wash won’t block pores, says Dr. Adnan Mir, a dermatopathologist at Dermpath Diagnostics in Port Chester, New York. The foaming cleanser comes recommended by Gohara because it’s both noncomedogenic and contains zinc pidolate, which has astringent, anti-inflammatory properties shown to improve acne.

Avéne’s gentle, no-rinse cleanser has vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, so it’s hydrating enough to keep your skin barrier healthy without clogging your pores, says Gohara. It also removes makeup, dirt and oil and adds moisture back into the skin, according to the brand.

These First Aid Beauty facial pads are made for sensitive skin because they can gently exfoliate using an alcohol-free (non-drying) formula, according to the brand. Recommended by Gohara, these pads have hyaluronic acid and white tea extract to hydrate and protect your skin. For best results, the brand suggests using twice a day, right after cleansing.

For teens that play sports, exercise or are always on the move, this hypochlorous acid spray can kill existing, acne-causing bacteria on your face and help soothe irritated skin, experts say. The facial spray has three ingredients: electrolyzed water to cleanse; hypochlorous acid to reduce bacteria; and mineral concentrate for hydration.

Traditional face towels can harbor bacteria and dead skin if you use them multiple times, which can cause further breakouts, according to my experts. These single-use towels are a great alternative. I’m a germaphobe when it comes to anything that touches my face, so I go through regular face towels very quickly. Now, I use these to dry my face both morning and night, which means I don’t have to reuse a face towel that collects germs.

This clarifying toner, which our editors tested and recommended in our guide to the 100 best acne products, has salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which both Gohara and Jaber recommend to treat breakouts. The toner exfoliates skin and removes excess oil and dirt that can clog pores, according to the brand.

Using a cleansing brush can help ensure you’re washing your skin thoroughly without harsh scrubbing, according to experts in our guide to facial cleansing tools. The Foreo Luna 3 has gentle nylon bristles and 12 different intensities to help remove dirt and oil from the skin, according to the brand. NBC Selected editorial director Lauren Swanson has used it for years: “There’s one purple face mask that I love, but it won’t wash away unless I use this brush,” she says. “The tiny bristles really get my skin clean without harming it.”

Forea also has the Luna 4, which has 16 intensity levels, five massage modes and a companion app. If you travel frequently, consider the mini version. All three models are made of silicone, so they’re water-resistant and easy to clean.

Experts recommend looking for the following ingredients and products, all of which I kept in mind to curate our list:

• Face cleansers: Look for a face wash labeled noncomedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores or lead to more breakouts. Your daily face wash should include ingredients like salicylic acid (an exfoliant that removes dead skin and unclogs pores) and benzoyl peroxide (a topical antiseptic that kills acne-causing bacteria), experts say. These ingredients may come with some side effects, including irritated and flaky, dry skin, so you should use them only a couple of times a week to start and gradually increase use as your skin adjusts, says Jaber.
• Spot treatments: These help target a specific pimple and should be applied directly on the breakout, never to your entire face, experts say. Similar to an acne-fighting cleanser, look for ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. For more stubborn cystic acne, consider a retinoid like adapalene, which is available over-the-counter and helps unclog pores and regulate cell turnover, according to dermatologists I spoke to.
• Retinoids: Vitamin A-derived retinoids are a popular acne treatment across ages. Both prescription retinoids (like tretinoin and tazarotene) and OTC options (like adapalene) help unclog pores and get rid of dead skin by increasing cell turnover, experts say. Keep in mind retinoids can be irritating and drying, especially if you have sensitive skin. Introduce them slowly and start by applying them only once a week, says Gohara.
• Gentle exfoliants: Although teen skin typically self-exfoliates, you can still use non-abrasive chemical exfoliants to get rid of breakouts. These include alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic and lactic acid) and salicylic acid. Stay away from harsh scrubs, which can worsen acne and inflammation. Like retinoids, exfoliants can be irritating and drying, so start slow when incorporating them into your routine.

You can tackle acne and pimples in two ways: washing your face with appropriate cleansers and spot-treating breakouts. By finding the root cause, whether that’s hormones, stress or genetics, you can find the best solution.

You can tackle acne and pimples in two ways: washing your face with appropriate cleansers and spot-treating breakouts. By finding the root cause, whether that’s hormones, stress or genetics, you can find the best solution.

• Wash your face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser. Remove any makeup before bed and wash your face every day (twice a day if you have oily skin or if your face gets dirty throughout the day, like after a workout, says Jaber).Importantly, look for a gentle, noncomedogenic face wash. “Cleansers with ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be very helpful for those with acne, but be careful as they can be irritating and drying,” says Jaber.
• Spot treat your pimples. All three dermatologists I spoke to recommend spot treating pimples from the second they start to develop until they’re just about gone. Use a spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide (a topical antiseptic) or salicylic acid (an exfoliant that removes dead skin and unclogs pores).

Frequently asked questions

Fueled by fluctuating hormones that increase oil production in the skin, breakouts happen when that oil (also known as sebum) combines with dead skin cells, clogs pores and traps bacteria, which then causes inflammation, experts say.

Indeed, both whiteheads and blackheads are clogged sebaceous glands, says Mir. (The black color is due to the oil reacting with oxygen, not due to dirt.) “People with acne have glands that make more oil and are more easily plugged,” he says.

Though it affects teens, there’s actually no standard age or period of time when this “oil surge” calms down, says Gohara. “It’s completely genetic. Some people never get it, [and] for some people, it lasts five years,” she says.

Both teen boys and girls are nearly equally susceptible to hormonal acne, according to a 2023 study in the National Library of Medicine. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to have acne as adults.

Acne is usually caused by hormonal changes, which are most common during the teenage years. An estimated 85% of teens get acne, usually starting at age 11 for girls and a couple of years later for teen boys, according to UC Davis Health. Acne can last through the teen years and into the early 20s (though it’ll usually clear up around your mid- to late-20s).

There are three main types of acne: comedonal, inflammatory acne and cystic acne. Teens and adults commonly have a mix of the three types. Below, Gohara shares the differences between the three:

• Comedonal acne is commonly known as whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones). This type of acne usually shows up on the forehead, jawline and chin, though they can also form on the chest, back, shoulders and neck.
• Inflammatory acne are the pimples that are pink or red, swollen and ones people are more compelled to pop.
• Cystic acne results in pus-filled cysts that form deep underneath the skin. Cystic acne is usually more painful than normal bumps and can cause scarring, depending on the severity.

Here are a few things you might be doing daily that can actually make acne worse:

• Washing your face too often: Believe it or not, washing your face too frequently can leave you susceptible to more breakouts. “One of the mistakes I commonly see with teens is they really want to get their skin better, and so they over-wash their skin,” says Jaber. That can dry out skin, which can actually make breakouts worse, he says.
• Piling on the trendy products: “Teens tend to turn to their favorite influencer and start putting what I call ‘the kitchen sink approach’ on their face, which can stoke the acne fire,” says Gohara. Acne breakouts can take five days or more to disappear, so it’s important for teens to stick to a basic routine and give their skin time to heal, she says.
• Over-exfoliating or scrubbing: Exfoliating can be beneficial if you notice small breakouts, but don’t overdo it: Teenage skin already sluffs dead skin cells on its own, so using scrubs with abrasive beads can be extremely irritating, says Mir. Gohara recommends using a gentle, alcohol-free chemical exfoliant (like pads with glycolic or salicylic acid) once a week. Other non-abrasive chemical exfoliants include retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid (though Gohara recommends introducing these slowly and using them once a week to avoid excess irritation).
• Popping pimples: Though it isn’t the absolute worst thing a teen can do if the pimple has come to a head, all of the dermatologists I spoke to warn against popping pimples. “Picking and popping pimples can lead to scarring, because you increase inflammation,” says Mir. “Once in a while a dermatologist will do it, and some people feel a compulsion to pick and pop, but it’s something that we like to discourage.”

If you have severe acne or cysts that leave scars, or if breakouts don’t respond to a regular routine of gentle cleansing, exfoliation and spot treatment, a consultation with a dermatologist might be in order, says Gohara. “Some people need something stronger to manage their acne, like an oral antibiotic,” she says. That includes Accutane, also known as Isotretinoin, which is an oral prescription medication that helps treat severe acne and cysts.

Though acne tends to flare due to hormonal fluctuation, which can be during your period, around puberty, pregnancy and with certain medical conditions like type 1 diabetes, all acne has both a hormonal and bacterial component to it, says Gohara. Oil glands (called sebaceous glands) on the skin are triggered by hormones, which causes the glands to produce even more oils.

“We have normal bacteria in our skin, and that excess oil is basically like Thanksgiving for these little bacteria,” says Gohara. “[The bacteria] settles in the oil gland, and they start feeding off of those extra oils and creating inflammation.”

Yes, retinoids in both prescription form like tretinoin and OTC versions like adapalene are the gold standard when it comes to treating acne for all ages, says Gohara. Teens can use retinoids to treat more severe cases of acne, including cystic acne. They help unclog pores and increase cell turnover, which replaces dead skin cells with younger, healthier ones, experts say.

Yes, you should wear sunscreen every day, regardless if you have acne or not. However, several key acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, experts say. Make sure you wear sunscreen every day when using any acne products.

Taking a break from makeup is the best way to let your skin repair and prevent further breakouts, experts say. If you need some coverage, consider a noncomedogenic tinted sunscreen or acne-safe foundation. Wearing an acne-safe primer underneath can help provide a protective barrier between your skin and makeup.

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Adnan Mir is the former committee chair for the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. He is a dermatopathologist at Dermpath Diagnostics in Port Chester, New York.
• Dr. Mona Gohara is a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut.
• Dr. Samer Jaber is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City.

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected who has covered a variety of acne and skin care topics, including products for rosacea, keratosis pilaris and cystic acne treatments. For this article, I spoke to three dermatologists to narrow down the best treatments for teen acne, and highlighted their recommendations for the best products to consider.

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