How Much Should an Acne Treatment Cost?

Guest post by Stephanie L

Acne is a condition that affects millions of people annually. While some of us just deal with it, a lot of us try just about any product on the market to get rid of it. Today, there are so many options you can choose from if you’re looking to get rid of your acne. To make things easier, let’s take a look at the options available, along with the costs involved.

Image credit: Saluda UdeA

Over-the-counter products

This is the most common form of treatment for acne, and there are many effective acne-fighting products which can be purchased from a local pharmacy or drugstore to banish your breakouts. This option is going to be the best for those who have moderate or mild acne, not for those who have a severe form of the condition.

Treatments include creams, toners, acne spot treatments, lotions, and cleansing products which are directly applied to the skin, usually in the evening after washing. It’s best to discuss with the pharmacist regarding your particular needs before purchasing any drugstore acne treatment since most can vary with its ingredients.

Most treatments contain powerful chemicals, such as benzoyl peroxide that works to unclog pores, reduce oil, as well as clear any dead skin cells on the surface of the skin that can cause bacteria to grow.

What does it cost?

Depending on how many treatments you purchase, you can expect to pay anything from $30 to $65 per month. This will be an ongoing cost and something you will need to use every day until you see desirable results.

Antibiotics with a prescription

If you have moderate to severe acne, then you may be prescribed medication by your doctor to help alleviate the condition and its effects. These products usually come as a medicated cream, ointment or tablets which you take orally. This could also include the contraceptive pill, which can help regulate oil production that leads to acne-related problems. Common medications include Erythromycin or Tetracycline.

What does it cost?

Depending on the prescription and amount needed, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 to $250 per month. This won’t include the initial doctor visit that could cost upwards of $200 for a visit without any sort of health insurance. Keep in mind that most health insurance policies won’t cover this prescription since most deem it cosmetic.

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Procedures such as a facial or peel

You may find that actual procedures help, rather than the topical creams or medications. In this case, you can expect to pay more, but these procedures tend to be more effective for certain individuals. Some of the most common procedures include peels, which come in three popular forms: alphahydroxy, glycolic and trichloroacetic.

These peels will be applied to the skin about every two weeks and studies have shown that it has reduced acne lesions by 50 percent. During this procedure, the acid will exfoliate the top layers of the skin.

What does it cost?

This tends to be the most expensive option for acne treatments because you have to visit a health professional each time.  Expect to pay at least $75 to $200 for each treatment session. Most professionals will recommend you come to their office every two to three weeks. To see the desirable results, you could end up spending more than $2,000. Again, health insurance probably won’t cover the procedure since they deem it cosmetic.

Closing thoughts

Before you even decide on a treatment regimen, it’s best to talk with a dermatologist or do some research online if you feel your acne isn’t extreme. For example, if you have mild acne, it wouldn’t make sense to get a chemical peel. And if you have acne-prone skin, here’s a checklist of 7 Things to Never to Do Your Skin .

Now that you know the acne treatment pricing and options, which one do you think suits you best?

This is a guest post written by Stephanie L who is the co-editor of Howmuchisit.org, a cost-helping database saving consumers lots of money.

Need more tips and product suggestions to deal with your acne-prone skin? Here are a few articles you might like:

Best Drugstore Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin

Best Sunscreens For Acne-Prone Skin

Best BB Creams for Acne-Prone Skin: Drugstore to High-End