I've had mild-to-moderate acne on my face and shoulders since adolescence. I’m currently managing it semi-successfully, but I would like to find a more cost-effective solution — ideally, a one-time intervention that makes it go away forever.

Current skincare routine:

1. Mornings

   1. Micellar water cleanser or wet wipe

   2. Lush’s tea tree water

   3. [Inconsistently] Random moisturizer, e.g. this one right now

2. Evenings

   1. Micellar water cleanser or wet wipe

   2. Lush’s tea tree water

   3. 10% Benzoyl peroxide

3. Seasalt scrub 1x/week

According to my dermatologist, I have

A few papules and pustules on my upper back. Closed comedones on my forehead. A few papules and erythema on my face.

He recommends I switch my routine to:

1. Mornings

   1. Cetaphil hydrating cleanser

   2. An azelaic acid cream

   3. This mattifying moisturizer

2. Evenings

   1. Cetaphil hydrating cleanser

   2. 10% Benzoyl peroxide

   3. This mattifying moisturizer

3. Keep or drop the weekly scrub, my choice

4. Consider a 6 month course of isotretinoin after the summer — it increases photosensitivity so it’s better to do it October through March

Previous treatments that kinda worked:

1. Epiduo (benzoyl peroxide + adapalene) — dropped it because it was significantly more expensive than benzoyl peroxide alone and had a similar effect

2. Doxycycline (oral) — worked pretty well but can’t take it for >3 months at a time and I run the risk of building up bacterial resistance

I’m currently taking bupropion for depression, a supplement for vitamin D deficiency, and melatonin ~every night.