What are the different types of acne?

According to dermatologists, there are three main types of acne: Comedonal acne, also known as whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones), is a type of acne that usually shows up on the forehead, jawline and chin, though you might also find them on your chest, back, shoulders and neck. Inflammatory acne shows up as pimples that are pink or red and swollen (these are the ones people are tempted to pop). Cystic acne involves pus-filled cysts that form deep underneath the skin. This type of acne is usually more painful than normal pimples and can cause scarring, depending on the severity.

What ingredients should you look for in an acne treatment?

When shopping for an acne treatment, the experts I spoke to recommend looking for the following key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide helps inhibit the growth of the bacteria that causes acne. It also helps reduce oil production and removes dead skin cells that clog pores, according to my experts. Most benzoyl peroxide products have a 10% strength, but experts say that higher strengths have never been proven to be better for acne. Alpha hydroxy acids , like lactic, mandelic and glycolic acids, are chemical exfoliants that gently remove dead skin cells, which can help address hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, congested pores and more. Beta hydroxy acids include salicylic acid , which exfoliates skin, removes excess oils and unclogs pores, says Dr. Eileen Deignan , a board-certified dermatologist and chief of dermatology at Emerson Hospital. However, it can be drying, especially for sensitive skin; you should only use salicylic acid products every other day or a couple of times a week at first until your skin gets used to it, says Dr. Tracy Evans , a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology. Adapalene is the first OTC retinoid treatment approved for acne, adapalene can treat mild to moderate acne and blackheads. It usually comes in 0.1% and 0.3% strengths and helps regulate the turnover of cells lining the pores to reduce clogging, says Deignan. However, it can dry out your skin, so you should use an oil-free moisturizer and gentle cleanser. You should also use it primarily at night since it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. Azelaic acid is a much milder acne-fighting ingredient (as compared to others), so it may be a more suitable option if you have sensitive skin, experts say. It works to unclog pores and even lighten brown spots and old acne marks, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Bordone . You can get prescription-level azelaic acid at 15% and 20% strengths, but you can also find it in OTC products at a 10% strength. Sulfur is an acne-fighting ingredient that helps exfoliate skin and remove excess oil.

How do you treat acne?

You can tackle acne in two ways: preemptively washing your face with acne-fighting cleansers, and spot treating breakouts. But most importantly, you should first find out the cause of your acne, whether it’s hormones, stress or genetics. Wash your face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser: Specifically, use a noncomedogenic cleanser, which means it won’t clog pores. 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. Spot treat pimples: Derms recommend spot treating pimples from the second they start to develop until they’re just about gone. Use a product that has ingredients like adapalene, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, among others listed above. Be gentle on your skin. Experts recommend always being gentle when washing your face and applying products. “Avoid scrub washes and mechanical scrubbing devices because they tend to cause more irritation and exacerbate acne, not help it,” says Deignan. Use sunscreen. You should wear a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater every day regardless, but a lot of acne-fighting ingredients thin the top layer of the skin, so it makes you more susceptible to sunburns, experts say. Sunscreen also helps prevent dark spots after a breakout and helps fade pigmentation.

The 100 Best Acne Treatments and Products, Tested and Reviewed

Millions of people deal with breakouts, and it sometimes feels like there’s about a million products with the promise of clearing them up. Of course, finding what works best for your skin takes a lot of trial and error and, whether you struggle with painful cystic acne or get the occasional breakout, trying lots of different products can be scary (and sometimes makes the problem worse). That’s why we put hundreds of acne products to the test, including treatments that are made to specifically target pimples, and products that won’t make them worse.

Our NBC Select editors spent three months testing products across multiple categories, including acne cleansers, body washes, spot treatments and toners. That means closely analyzing countless ingredient lists, powering through redness and irritation, and keeping tabs on how our skin (and breakouts) reacted over time.

After gathering feedback from our 12 testers (including editors with acne-prone skin who made passionate recommendations), I compiled a list of the best 100 products we tried.