Best Acne Spot Treatments, According to Dermatologists
When it comes to dealing with pimples, most of us are looking for that too-good-to-be-true miracle treatment that we can put on before bed and wake up with clear skin. While there's no potion that can magically make zits disappear over night — yet — the beauty industry is getting closer and closer with its powerful selection of spot treatments.
"Usually acne spot treatments incorporate typical acne ingredients, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, or sulfur, at a higher concentration than is normally found in cleansers in lotions," explains dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain of Samova Dermatology. "By targeting individual pimples with a stronger product, the idea is that the dryness and redness that could occur with a stronger product is offset by the quicker resolution and smaller area of treatment." He notes that small pimples and pus bumps tend to respond well to spot treatments, while cysts and nodules — aka those deep, tender suckers that tend to stick around for a while — rarely resolve with these types of treatments alone.
"I like them because they are a great alternative to picking at acne," says Miami Dermatologist Dr Loretta Ciraldo, co-founder of Dr. Loretta Skincare, who notes that they work on inflamed acne but not on whiteheads or blackheads. "Picking or a prolonged inflamed acne lesion runs the risk of resolving with a scar. So, acne spot treatments are a good approach to prevent scarring from bigger breakouts."
To find out which ones actually work, we chatted with dermatologists to find out which spot treatments stand out among the hundreds on the drugstore aisle. Scroll through to see their picks.
1/9Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
There's a reason why Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion is on practically every "best acne spot treatment" list on the Internet: Because it really, really works. "Some may be put off by the pink, calamine residue, but this drying lotion contains salicylic acid and sulfur, two well-regarded ingredients to shrink the pimple quickly," explains Dr. Lain. Dip a Q-tip all the way down into the pink stuff (be careful not to shake up the bottle so the ingredients stay separated), and dab it on your blemish before bed.
Shop Now: Mario Badescu Glass Bottle Drying Lotion, $17. Ulta.com
2/9Proactive Emergency Blemish Relief
"With the micronized 5% benzoyl peroxide, this product strikes a good balance between efficacy and tolerability, not causing too much redness or dryness while getting rid of the pimple," explains Dr. Lain. Dab it onto your blemishes up to three times a day, and be sure to use an SP15 on top if you plan to be outside.
Shop Now: Proactive Emergency Blemish Relief, $15.65. Amazon.com
3/9Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment
If you're looking for an alternative therapy to the usual creams, Dr. Lain suggests trying a light therapy, like this one from Neutrogena. "Harnessing the bacteria-killing, and anti-inflammatory properties of red and blue light, this device offers a chemical-free alternative to a traditional blemish eraser," he explains. The "pen" essentially uses light to zap pimples, and can be used up to three times a day.  Shop Now: Neutrogena Acne Clearing Red and Blue Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment, $16.96. Amazon.com
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4/9Acenomal
Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and CEO of Curology, calls Acenomal an "excellent spot treatment," because it contains 2% resorcinol and 8% sulfur, which will help dry up a blemish. Dab it on with a q-tip or your finger at night for best results.
Shop Now: Acnomel Adult Acne Medication, $9.99. Walgreens.com.
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5/9Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment
Salicylic acid is a hero ingredient when it comes to treating acne, and this Clean and Clear gel is chock-full of the stuff (2%, to be exact). "Salicylic acid is oil soluble, meaning it can penetrate and dislodge the gunk (sebum) in your pores, so that it’s no longer trapped inside the pore," explains Dr. Lortscher. "This helps clear your pores, avoiding buildup of sebum and dead cells that can trigger acne breakouts."
Shop Now: Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment with Witch Hazel, $5.99. Target.com.
6/9Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment
DC-based dermatologist Lily Talakoub recommends Peter Thomas Roth's Spot Treatment, a chemical exfoliator that combines Glycolic Acid and Aloe to diminish blemishes and nourish your skin at the same time. You can use it up to three times a day, depending on how your skin responds to its drying properties.
Shop Now: Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment, $19. Dermstore.
7/9Tea Tree Oil
If you're looking for something all-natural, Dr. Dr. Lortscher suggests Tea Tree Oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as an antifungal, antibacterial, and astringent agent. On its own, it can be irritating, so be sure to dilute one part Tea Tree Oil it with three parts of another oil like sunflower, castor, jojoba or hemp oil (just stay away from coconut oil, which can clog your pores).
Shop Now: Nature's Bounty Tea Tree Oil Herbal Supplement, $10.09. Target.com.
8/9Glossier Zit Stick
Glossier's new "Zit Stick" combines some of dermatologists' go-to active ingredients — like Benzoyl Peroxide, Tea Tree Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid — to kill germs and shrink your zits in as little as three hours.
Shop Now: Glossier Zit Stick, $14. Glossier.com.
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9/9Skyn Iceland Blemish Dots with Salicylic Acid
For another way to zap your zits with salicylic acid, try Skyn Iceland's Blemish Dots, which stick onto your skin and help treat pimples with a triple-threat combination of antibacterials, anti-inflammitories and detoxifiers.
Shop Now: Skyn Iceland Blemish Dots with Salicylic Acid, $20. Ulta.com.
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