Reader Question: Acne Regimen Effectiveness

For the past 4 days, I’ve begun a new face cleaning regimen using a gel cleanser with 4% glycolic acid, a toner with 8% glycolic acid, my prescribed Dalacin topical treatment, and finished off with a clarifying lotion containing 5% sodium ascorbyl phosphate and 2% niacinamide. I have also been taking Cyesta-35 birth control for the past two weeks, and Minocin for almost two months. This image resembles my acne the most – http://dermnetnz.org/acne/img/s/acne6-s.jpg

How soon can I expect to see significant results? Your feedback is very much appreciated.

- Kathleen

Thanks for the question, Kathleen.

First of all, it’s impossible for me (or anyone) to reliably predict when a regimen is going to show results, or if it is going to work for you at all.

With that being said, I generally recommend that when someone gets on a new routine, they stick with it for at least 1-2 months. That means strictly, with no items added or removed. The only exception would be if you start experiencing some sort of allergic reaction, and then it’s obviously wise to make a change.

But otherwise, it can take that long for results to start showing, and sometimes longer. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, acne lesions typically form under the skin 2-4 weeks before you actually see them, so a medication that is stopping new acne from forming is going to take that long to show real results. The other thing you’ll be struggling with is that your skin will have to take time to get used to the new products. You’re using glycolic acid, as well as a product with benzoyl peroxide. While both of these are great at treating acne, the skin can take some time to get used to them and may appear red and irritated for some time. As long as you are moisturizing this redness will eventually go away.

This is really the best answer I can give, and I hope it helps you.