What are some of the main medical treatments for acne vulgaris?

    Written by:
    Thomas M.B. Reichhart, Brady Holmer

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    by:

    Nick Milazzo, James Gaylor
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    The main medical treatments for acne vulgaris include topical treatments (such as antibiotics and retinoids), oral treatments (including antibiotics and isotretinoin), and physical interventions (like chemical peels and laser therapy). These treatments aim to address the primary causes of acne, including excess sebum production, inflammation, and bacterial overgrowth.

    The current treatments for acne vulgaris consists of three approaches:[1]

    1. Topicals treatments (e.g., antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, dapsone, retinoids, or azelaic acid)
    2. Oral treatments (e.g., antibiotics, hormonal agents, and the current gold standard isotretinoin)
    3. Physical interventions (e.g., chemical peels, microneedling, and laser therapy)

    The goal of treatment is to reduce the leading causes of acne vulgaris: excess sebum and keratin production, increased inflammation, and overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes, the main bacterial species responsible for acne.