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12 Expert-Recommended Spot Treatments That Deliver Real Results

Baffled by the world of acne skincare? Here, dermatologists recommend the best topical products

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best spot treatment

Put down the toothpaste and step away from the scrubs. We totally appreciate how tempting it is to throw everything but the kitchen sink at an angry red blemish, but let us promise you this: all those internet hacks are making the situation worse.

The solution is a spot treatment: but not just any spot treatment. The shelves might be heavy with creams, gels, serums and stickers, but not all blemish busters were created equal. A lot of traditional spot creams are loaded with alcohol that makes them astringent with a capital A: great for making the skin feels satisfyingly squeaky-clean, but not such good news for your moisture barrier. Strip the bad stuff too enthusiastically, and you’ll be removing the good stuff, too, leaving the door open for redness, irritation and extreme dryness.

'It is important not to be too aggressive on the skin, particularly if you suffer with congestion and acne,' confirms consultant dermatologist Dr Ophelia Veraitch. 'Over "stripping" your skin can cause more oil production, peeling, pigmentation and even worsening of your acne.’

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The true solution lies not in annihilating those pimples with harsh formulas, but in nurturing the skin while dissolving the oil and grime at the centre of a spot. Dr Veraitch recommends six main ingredients to her patients hoping to treat breakouts. Below, she walks us through them:

  • Zinc sulphate: controls sebum, or oil production. In fact, a recent study found that topical zinc sulphate is as effective as taking oral antibiotics for acne.
  • Niacinamide: helps soothe the inflammation and improve blemishes caused by acne.
  • Salicylic acid: helps remove the top layer of skin and also helps reduce skin congestion. It can also bring down redness and inflammation in acne-prone skin.
  • Tretinoin or retinol: these vitamin A derivatives are powerful anti-acne ingredients. They help reduce the severity of acne breakouts, clear up existing breakouts and reduce the dark spots left behind by acne.
  • Topical antibiotics: these target the bacteria P.acnes that is implicated in the development in acne. Topical antibiotics, such as clindamycin, also have anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe the redness and inflammation.
  • Azelaic acid: has anti-inflammatory properties to help with breakouts. It is a particularly effective ingredient at addressing the irregular skin tone that can be caused by acne, and the redness associates with rosacea flares.

So, when it comes to treating breakouts, you have options. Luckily for you, we’ve consulted the experts to reveal exactly which ones are up to the task, unclogging those pores without leaving skin irritated. From soothing toners to stickers and a few stellar spot gels, these are the treatments to trust. Now, step away from the bathroom mirror.

The best spot treatments to rely on now

1

Dr. Sam's Flawless Neutralising Gel

Flawless Neutralising Gel
1

Dr. Sam's Flawless Neutralising Gel

£29 at drsambunting.com

Dr. Sam Bunting is one of the experts we trust the most when it comes to treating skin scientifically and sensibly. From her own line, this milky spot gel employs salicylic acid alongside azelaic acid: one of Sam's favourite ingredients for bringing down inflammation. Gentle yet remarkably effective, it can be worn day or night, and sits well under make-up. A wise investment for everyone, but especially those with rosacea, acne and sensitive skin.

2

Medik8 Blemish SOS™

Blemish SOS™
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Medik8 Blemish SOS™

A real powerhouse product, this one contains three of Dr Veraitch's recommended ingredients: salicylic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid. Use it as an on-the-spot treatment each evening, after cleansing and before moisturising.

3

Acnecide Face 5% Gel

Face 5% Gel
3

Acnecide Face 5% Gel

Dr Alia Ahmed, consultant dermatologist and GetHarley clinician recommends Acnecide: a leave-on gel for acne-prone skin. "The key ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, which helps to unclog pores and acts an antiseptic," she says.

"It can be applied directly to the skin twice a day, or a 'hack' I advise my clients to try is to apply directly to large spots to shrink them quickly and avoid post-acne marks." As benzoyl peroxide can cause irritation, Dr. Ahmed highlights the importance of introducing the product slowly into your regime, and always following with moisturiser.

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4

Happy Face Cream

Happy Face Cream
4

Happy Face Cream

While expertly formulated products for acne were once confined to the doctor's office, over-the-counter brands are now moving into the space at a pleasingly rapid rate.

Beauty Pie is one of the first to bottle up the skin-calming powers of azelaic acid with its affordable, accessible Happy Face line. Containing 10% azelaic acid alongside calming centella asiatica and niacinamide, this gel moisturiser works to calm the inflammation associated with both rosacea and acne, bringing redness down in a matter of days. And if you're not yet a Beauty Pie member, you can take advantage of the 60 day free trial currently on the site.

5

CeraVe Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser

Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser
5

CeraVe Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser

Proof that you don't need to spend triple figures to get a handle on your acne (in fact, over-complicated regimes often make things worse), dermatologist Dr. Alexis Granite recommends Cerave's Blemish Control Gel. "The salicylic acid fights blemishes while glycerin and hyaluronic acid prevent over-drying the skin, and niacinamide calms inflammation."

6

Dr. Barbara Sturm Tinted Clarifying Spot Treatment

Tinted Clarifying Spot Treatment
6

Dr. Barbara Sturm Tinted Clarifying Spot Treatment

Dr. Barbara Sturm’s skin philosophy is all about fortifying, not challenging the skin’s natural functions, so you know this is going to be a sensitively formulated spot treatment.

Tea tree oil and zinc work together to absorb oil and clarify inflamed pores, while panthenol keeps everything calm and content. The tint (which comes in several shades) doesn't work quite like a full-on concealer, but dims redness enough to disguise your breakouts.

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7

The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment

Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment
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The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment

Succinic acid is a relative newcomer to the spot-treatment scene, and it’s used to triumphant effect in this affordable hero. The headline ingredient balances excessive oil production, while salicylic acid clears congestion and hyaluronic acid stops the skin barrier from drying out.

Now for the caveats: this one smells pretty terrible, thanks to the colloidal sulphur inside. It’s also green, so you may not want to nip to the shops while it’s on your face. However, you’re not here for pampering: you’re here for performance – and in that arena, it truly delivers.

8

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
8

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Now 27% Off

If any beauty product is worthy of 'cult hero' status, it's this unassuming grey bottle. So good, there's one in every ELLE beauty team members' cupboard, the Paula's Choice BHA toner uses a potent dose of salicylic acid to deeply cleanse congested pores, tackling breakouts right from the source. Swipe it on a few nights per week to start seeing rapid improvements.

9

Skin + Me Custom Acne Treatment

Custom Acne Treatment
9

Skin + Me Custom Acne Treatment

If the occasional breakout has developed into more acute acne, smart digital dermatologist service Skin + Me is here to help. For a fraction of the price of an in-person private appointment, you'll get an online assessment of your skin, and a custom-blended treatment cream delivered to your door. They'll even give you your first month on the house.

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10

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Breakout Corrector

Effaclar A.I. Breakout Corrector
10

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Breakout Corrector

Long-trusted by those with breakout-prone skin, Le Roche-Posay knows exactly how to create a no-nonsense spot cream. This targetted gel uses a high dose of niacinamide, which restores order when your oil production slips into overdrive.

11

Zitsticka Killa Patches

Killa Patches
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Zitsticka Killa Patches

Dr Angela Tewari, consultant dermatologist and GetHarley clinician, recommends calling on a hydrocolloid spot sticker when a pesky breakout rears its head right before a special occasion. "Using one twenty-four hours before an event will make an excellent improvement to small spots and breakouts," she says.

Tewari recommends Zitsticka's supercharged patches in particular: working harder than a traditional sticker, these ones feature tiny microdarts that send a combination of salicylic acid and niacinamide into the skin, right to the source of the spot. This means they can lend a hand before a breakout comes to a head, helping accelerate the entire cycle.

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