Dapsone (Aczone®)
Results
Side Effects

Often known by its brand name, Aczone®, dapsone is a topical medication called a sulfone antibiotic that works primarily by suppressing the growth of acne bacteria and decreasing inflammation in the skin.

It is normally applied once a day.

3.9
77
Read All About Dapsone (Aczone®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
40.3%
4
33.8%
3
13%
2
5.2%
1
7.8%

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June 24, 2012

Pros:

-As a topical antibiotic, Aczone prevents acne from becoming Cystic but does not necessarily prevent acne from forming.
-Does seem to kill off pimples faster.
- Does not irritate my skin at all
- Doctor says it is safe for me to be used in the morning.
- Goes on the skin and spreads out easy.
- No smell, Won't stain clothing

Cons:

-Very expensive and for some reason many insurance companies will not cover it. (however most doctor offices have coupons for $25 per tube)
-Does not prevent acne. (But prevents acne from getting bigger)

Bottom line is if you can get the coupons from your doctor then Aczone can be included in your daily regimen, otherwise, it is well over 200 dollars per tube here in California. My doctor has had me use Aczone in the morning and evening, along with Differin (Adapalene) at night AFTER the Aczone has been applied to my skin for 45 minutes. The combination of these 2 has turned my hormonal, adult moderate acne into smoooooth skin. Aczone doesn't seem to prevent acne from forming but if I feel like a pimple is brewing under the surface, I will put a dab of this Aczone on it and it usually prevents it from becoming a full fledged cystic acne. Because the Aczone doesn't seem to prevent acne from forming, I usually only use it as a spot treatment. Good luck!
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September 3, 2011

Pros:

dried up pimples fast
gentle on skin

Cons:

does not prevent acne
expensive

My derm recommended this product for me as a daily topical. At night I use differin 3.0 and I am also on the antibiotic Doxy. The aczone is good on big pimples and cysts. It really dries them up quickly and makes them less painful. My insurance, Aetna would not cover this medicine and they wanted 300$ for it. Even with the coupon my derm gave me it still came out to be $170. I went back to my derm and asked for something cheaper but instead he got me a free bottle from the vendor and lots of sample sized ones.
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March 2, 2016
Losing effect?
Initially, my skin became very dry but I noticed immediate improvement. MY face was completely clear for a few weeks. I have completed my second month of aczone. I am using aczone alongside Diane 35. During my periods I do notice my cystic acne returns. Aczone is great for treating scarring (past and present). Although, I feel that Aczone is not as effective anymore as my breakouts have become more severe around my period (which could be due to the Diane 35) and the Aczone has little effect when I do breakout now.
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February 11, 2016
Irritating for Sensitive Skin
I tried this product after reading the reviews online. Unfortunately, my skin is far too sensitive for this product. It is a great anti-inflammatory and anti-redness agent, which I noticed, but it irritated my skin, so it was inflamed all the time which caused clogged pores. I ended up having red, swollen, rash-like skin on my forehead for a few days after stopping. If you have sensitive skin, I would either recommend a different product of start very slow.
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December 18, 2014
amazing
I've been on this for almost two years now and its 100% worth it. Doesn't burn and is moisturizing! It take a while to see results (i did in three months) but this kept my cystic acne away complexly. I was having at least one cyst on my face and then depending on my cycle, up to 5, at one time. the only thing it doesnt help with is black heads and white heads.
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October 6, 2013
pretty impressed!

Pros:

reduces inflammation
slow but sure results

Cons:

dries up skin

I wouldn't call this a miracle cream, but it does its job! I had a really bad acne flair up a few months ago and I was prescribed aczone (and xiana) to use daily. Of course I wanted a quick fix, but aczone says it works best after 12 weeks. I was patient. Now it's 12 weeks and I would say my skin looks about 75% better! No big breakout clusters, just a few spots here and there. I have dark spots left from my acne but I would much rather have those than pimples. I am pretty impressed with my results, especially after seeing almost no difference for the first month. You just gotta push through and your skin will eventually calm down! I would suggest putting it on, letting it dry for ~10 minutes and then putting a moisturizer on top because it really dried me out. I understand different Rxs work different for everyone, but for me aczone really helped my skin.
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November 6, 2012

Pros:

Does not stain clothes, very gentle on skin, seems to work, makes my skin less oiley

Cons:

For me, I needed to use a BP wash before putting it on in order for it to work

I am a female in my 30's and suffer from severe adult cystic acne. I have wonderful skin on my face except my chin/jawline area which gets riddled with acne and every 2 months or so I get massive cysts (the kind that you can barely move your face and need injections). I was using this for about 4 months with some success until I started washing with Equate acne cleanser which is a BP wash and using the equate sulfar mask 2 times a week and I have noticed a great difference in my skin. Aczone, combined with the BP wash and the masks have really cleared up my skin. The nice thing about Aczone is that is is very gentle and does not dry out my skin at all and it makes my skin less oily which is why I think I can use the BP and the sulfar masks without over drying my skin. I can't say that it is perfect, I still break out, but it's better then nothing and better then most topicals that I have been on. I would suggest this product for any adult women with hormonal acne.
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July 20, 2012

Pros:

-doesn't stain fabric
-controls acne when Benzaclin or benzoyl peroxide stop working

Cons:

-doesn't prevent all pimples
-drying when combined with tazorac

Free with a coupon from my dermatologist, otherwise it would cost me about $50.00. I've had acne since I was 12. I'm now 27 and for the last year have experienced hormonal breakouts and irritated, inflamed skin, almost rosacea-like with clogged pores(blackheads). After using this product in the morning along with Tazorac at night, my skin has improved significantly. My face looks 75% clearer since I started using these two products almost 3 months ago.
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January 24, 2012

Pros:

Very effective

Cons:

Dries skin

I use it along with retin-a-micro and began to see results within a few weeks. The only thing is that my skin is now super dry but that is easily fixed with a moisturizer.
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August 19, 2016
kinda works--good for more mild acne
I've been on Aczone (dapsone) for over 2 months now and have been using it in tandem with neutrogina hydrating cleanser. I still have pretty bad acne, but this has lessened it some and doesn't dry me out too much (a problem I had with a lot of the other topical creams). Overall I really like it (I like that I can have it on without it looking like I have cream on + my face usually feels pretty nice after applying it), but I think it is one that you'll need something else as well if your acne (like mine) is really bad.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website