@samanthaschneidermd Teen acne? I got you! 👊✨ A solid skincare routine can make all the difference: ✅ Gentle cleanser, ✅ Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, ✅ Lightweight moisturizer, ✅ SPF (ALWAYS!), ✅ Adapalene at night for that extra acne-fighting power! Consistency is key! Drop your acne questions below! 👇 #TeenSkincare #ClearSkinRoutine #DermApproved ♬ original sound - Samantha Schneider, MD

Teen Acne 101: The Best Over-the-Counter Routine to Start Now
By Dr. Schneider, Board-Certified Dermatologist

Is your teen struggling with acne? You’re not alone—and the good news is, there are effective treatments you can start at home, even before your dermatology appointment.

I’m Dr. Schneider, a board-certified dermatologist, and today we’re breaking down a basic, dermatologist-approved routine to help your teen take control of their skin with the right over-the-counter products.

Step 1: Start With the Right Cleanser

If your teen is just beginning to break out, especially with red pimples or inflamed bumps, start with a gentle cleanser. This keeps the skin clean without causing irritation.

But if they’re dealing with body acne (like on the back or chest), a foaming cleanser with 10% benzoyl peroxide—like PanOxyl or CeraVe Acne Foaming Cleanser—can help. Note: 10% is too strong for the face.

Step 2: Add an Active Ingredient Based on the Type of Acne

🔹 For inflamed red pimples:
Look for benzoyl peroxide leave-on treatments (usually 2.5% to 5% for the face). This helps kill acne-causing bacteria and calm inflammation.

🔹 For blackheads and clogged pores (comedones):
Use a product with salicylic acid—a gentle exfoliant that helps clear out pores and reduce breakouts.

Step 3: Don’t Skip Sunscreen

Acne treatments can make the skin more sensitive, especially in the sun. That’s why daily sunscreen is a must. Look for oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas designed for acne-prone skin.

Step 4: Nighttime Treatment = Adapalene

At night, once their face is washed and dry, it’s time to apply adapalene—an over-the-counter retinoid available in most drugstores (brands like Differin or La Roche-Posay).

• Use a chocolate chip-sized amount for the entire face
  
  
• Apply a thin layer after cleansing
  
  
• Start with 2–3 nights a week to avoid dryness and irritation
  
  
• Work up to nightly use if their skin tolerates it well
  
  

Adapalene helps:

• Prevent new breakouts
  
  
• Smooth out rough texture
  
  
• Fade post-acne marks (like red or brown spots)
  
  

It's a cornerstone treatment for all types of acne and well worth adding to their routine.

Step 5: Moisturize (Yes, Even for Oily Skin)

Most teens will experience dryness once they start treating their acne—especially when using benzoyl peroxide or adapalene. That’s why a gentle, hydrating moisturizer is key.

Look for something fragrance-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic.

The Basic Teen Acne Starter Routine:

✅ Face Wash (gentle or acne-fighting)
✅ Morning: Sunscreen
✅ Evening: Adapalene + moisturizer
✅ Optional: Spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

Starting an acne regimen early can make a big difference—and over-the-counter products can be incredibly effective with the right approach.

Send this to a parent or teen who needs help getting started, and remember: consistent use and patience are key. If things aren’t improving in a few months, a dermatologist can customize the next step. 

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Want the transcript for this video instead?  

 Are you looking for the right acne regimen for the teenager in your life? Let's talk about some good over the counter options so that you can start treating your acne ahead of your dermatology appointment. I'm Dr. Schneider. I'm a board certified dermatologist. Let's get down to it. First of all, we need to talk about cleansing.

Your routine is on active. You may wanna just start with a gentle cleanser, if they're getting some of those red pimples, the deep ones. Now we're talking about adding in an active, that would be something like cravis, acne, foaming cleanser. This one is 10%, so this is for the body. This is too strong for the face.

If you have a teen who wants a leave on treatment, this is benzoyl peroxide similar to this one. If your teen is getting more of those little bumps, we call 'em commodos. They're like blackheads. Then using something with salicylic acid in it can be very helpful. When you're treating acne, their skin is just gonna be a little bit more sensitive, so you wanna make sure they're using a sunscreen now at night.

That's when you really want them washing their face. You want them getting off the dirt from the day. And then we're talking about doing a nighttime treatment. The best nighttime treatments over the counter for acne is adapalene. A lot of the major brands are making it. This adapalene is a retinol. It is in the same family as Tretinoin.

Tretinoin is prescription strength. Adapalene is over the counter. You want the chocolate chip sized amount. You dab it all over the face and have them rub it in. It is good for basically all kinds of acne. It can help prevent new bumps from coming. It can help smooth out texture a little bit. It can help with dispigmentation, meaning red spots or brown spots after it is a.

Staple in acne treatment. Want them to start using this a couple times a week. They're not getting red. They can and flaky. They can start increasing it. Ultimately getting to the goal of every night. Most people are gonna get dry when we start treating their acne. Now we need a moisturizer. You the basic recipe.

You need a face wash? You need to decide is it gonna be a gentle face wash without acne additives in it? Are you using a benzoyl peroxide or a salicylic need sunscreen during the day? You need a dalene at night? Need a moisturizer. Send this to a friend with a teenager who needs to know where to start with their acne.