This is an example
Nobody real is in it. The photo review found blackheads, whiteheads, and red pimples on the forehead, chin, and jaw. Some pimples, 10 to 20. Flat brown marks. The person said new skincare sometimes stings and they had tried salicylic acid. They picked the 12 week plan.
55
out of 100
Example acne score
A lot going on. The plan starts with the biggest cause.
About 14 pimples right now. Higher is clearer. Scan again in 2 weeks to see it move.
Good news first
What is going well
No deep sore lumps
Those are the kind that scar. You do not have them. That is the best news on this page.
No dents or scars
Everything you have now can get better with the plan. Nothing here is for good.
Not many pimples with pus
Pus pimples are the kind that leave marks. You have few or none.
Your nose and cheeks are clear
The plan only has to work on the parts that have pimples.
Your marks will fade
Flat red or brown marks go away on their own. Sunscreen every day makes it faster.
You have the right two gels from day one
Most people try five wrong things first. You are skipping that.
What the example photo shows
Three facts about your acne
This is what your main kind of pimple looks like under the skin.
You have blackheads on your nose and forehead. There are red pimples on your chin and jaw. A few have a white top. Flat brown marks on your cheeks are from old pimples, not new ones.
- What kind
- Your pimples are mostly blackheads, whiteheads, and red or pus pimples. They are on your forehead, chin, and jaw.
- How many
- Right now you have some pimples. That is 10 to 20. We counted about 14.
- Marks
- Old pimples left flat red or brown marks. They fade. Sunscreen helps them fade faster.
- forehead
- chin
- jaw
The example plan
Acne gel (adapalene 0.1%) and pimple gel (benzoyl peroxide 2.5%).
Acne gel (adapalene 0.1%)
Opens the blocked hole and stops new ones from blocking.
Pimple gel (benzoyl peroxide 2.5%)
Kills the germs that make a pimple red and sore.
- When
- At night. Every other night for 2 weeks. Then every night.
- How much
- A pea of each, in a thin layer on the whole area that gets pimples. Not just on the spots.
Why
- Blackheads and whiteheads are blocked holes in the skin. The acne gel is the best thing for them.
- Red pimples and pus pimples are germs plus a blocked hole. The pimple gel kills the germs. The acne gel opens the hole.
- Doctors' guides say these two are the first choice for any amount of acne.
- 2.5% pimple gel works as well as 10% and stings less.
What changes because of what you tried
- Stop the salicylic acid. It has weak proof. And the acne gel label says do not use them together.
This is the example 12 week plan.
Every day
Morning and night
Morning
- 1
Wash your face with the gentle face wash.
A coin size. Fingertips only. 30 seconds. Rinse.
Why
Clean skin, not tight skin. Never scrub.
- 2
Put on the light moisturizer.
A blueberry size.
Why
The gels dry your skin. This keeps it soft so you can keep going.
- 3
From week 5, put on the mark cream (azelaic acid 10%) before sunscreen.
A pea.
Why
It fades the red and brown marks.
- 4
Put on sunscreen SPF 30.
Two finger lines. One on your pointer finger, one on your middle finger.
Why
The acne gel makes sun burn you faster. Sun makes marks darker.
Night
- 1
Wash your face with the gentle face wash.
A coin size.
Why
Sunscreen and the day's oil have to come off first.
- 2
Wait until your face is fully dry. About 10 minutes.
Why
Gel on wet skin stings more.
- 3
Put a pea of pimple gel (benzoyl peroxide 2.5%) on the whole area that gets pimples. Not just on the spots.
A pea, spread thin.
Why
It kills the germs that make pimples red.
Keep it off your eyes, lips, and the corners of your nose. It bleaches towels. Use a white towel and pillowcase.
- 4
Wait 5 minutes. Put a pea of acne gel (adapalene 0.1%) on the same area.
A pea, spread thin.
Why
It opens the tiny holes where pimples start.
A thin layer. More does not work better. It only stings more.
- 5
Put on the light moisturizer.
A blueberry size.
Why
It keeps your skin soft while it gets used to the gel.
The first 14 days
Day by day
Day 1
Gel night
Morning
Wash, moisturizer, sunscreen.
Night
First gel night. Wash, dry, the two gels, moisturizer.
Take your first photo. Count your pimples and write the number down.
If it stings a lot or your skin goes very red: wash the gel off after 1 hour tonight. Tomorrow use more moisturizer. Do not stop.
After that
Week by week
Getting used to it
Week 3: the gels every night
Put on
Both gels every night now. Same pea, same thin layer.
You will probably see
Some dry and peeling skin. Maybe a few new pimples. This is the hardest week for your skin.
If: Peeling a lot
Moisturizer twice a day. Skip one gel night, then go back.
If: New pimples
Normal. Keep going. They were on the way.
Do not stop. Week 3 is when the gel starts to work under the skin, where you cannot see it yet.
After week 12, keep the gels every night. Count once a month. See a doctor if pimples come back a lot.
What to buy
The shopping list
A pea
Each acne gel, for the whole face
A blueberry
Moisturizer
A coin
Face wash
Two finger lines
Sunscreen, face and neck
- 1
Gentle face wash
Look for: "gentle", "fragrance free"
Not: "scrub", "exfoliating", "acne wash", "salicylic"
A coin size, twice a day. A 200 ml bottle, about 3 months.
Cleans without the tight feeling.
- 2
Pimple gel (benzoyl peroxide 2.5%)
Look for: "benzoyl peroxide 2.5%", "gel or lotion"
Not: "10%", "wash"
A pea for the whole area, at night. A 60 g tube, about 2 months.
Kills the germs that make pimples red. Buy a white towel and pillowcase. It bleaches color.
- 3
Acne gel (adapalene 0.1%)
Look for: "adapalene 0.1%", "gel"
Not: "retinol", "salicylic"
A pea for the whole face, at night. A 45 g tube, about 3 months. The small 15 g tube lasts about 1 month.
Opens the tiny holes where pimples start. Stops new ones.
- 4
Light moisturizer
Look for: "oil free", "fragrance free", "will not clog pores"
Not: "anti-aging", "acne"
A blueberry size, twice a day. A 100 ml bottle, about 2 months.
Keeps skin soft so the gels do not sting. On many boxes "will not clog pores" is written as "non-comedogenic". Same thing.
- 5
Sunscreen SPF 30
Look for: "SPF 30 or more", "broad spectrum", "oil free"
Not: "tanning", "SPF 15"
Two finger lines, every morning. A 50 ml bottle, about 1 month if you use enough.
Stops marks from getting darker. The acne gel makes sun burn you faster.
- 6
Mark cream (azelaic acid 10%)from week 5
Look for: "azelaic acid 10%"
Not: "20%"
A pea, in the morning. A 30 g tube, about 2 months.
Fades the red and brown marks old pimples left.
The rules
Eleven rules
- Wash twice a day at most, with your fingertips. Never scrub.
- Thin layer on the whole area that gets pimples. Not dots on each spot.
- Keep the gels away from your eyes, lips, and the corners of your nose.
- No salicylic acid, no harsh soap, no scrubs, no alcohol toner while you use the acne gel.You were using salicylic acid. Stop it now.
- Sunscreen SPF 30 every morning, even on cloudy days. The acne gel makes you burn faster.
- Do not touch, pick, or squeeze. Picking makes marks.
- Keep oily hair off your forehead. Wash your hair often if it is oily.
- Use a white towel and pillowcase. The pimple gel bleaches color.
- Nothing else new for 12 weeks. If it stings, it is easy to know why.
- Do not stop before 12 weeks. Skin needs that long.
- Put the gels next to your toothbrush. Set a reminder on your phone.
What to expect
What you will see, week by week
- Weeks 1 to 2
- Some sting, some dry skin. Maybe a few extra pimples. They were already on the way.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- Dry, red, and peeling is normal now. Moisturizer fixes most of it. Pimples look the same.
- Weeks 5 to 6
- Fewer new pimples. This is the give up week for most people. Do not be most people.
- Weeks 7 to 8
- Clearly fewer pimples. Marks start to fade. Now you can judge the plan.
- Weeks 9 to 12
- The real result. Skin is used to the gels. Marks keep fading. This is your normal night now.
Safety
When to see a doctor
- You have a lot of pimples, more than 20.
- A doctor has stronger medicine that works faster.
- Pimples are deep, big, or hurt.
- Those kinds need a doctor. Creams from a store cannot reach them.
- Pimples leave dents or scars.
- Only a doctor can treat scars. Sooner is better.
- A spot is hot, swollen, very sore, or has yellow crust. Or you feel sick with it.
- That can be an infection. Go soon.
- Pimples make you sad, or you skip school, work, or friends because of them.
- That matters as much as the pimples. Say it to the doctor.
- No change after 12 weeks of every night.
- The plan was done right and it was not enough. The next step is medicine.
Keep track
Count every 2 weeks. Photo every day.
Count your pimples
- Count your pimples on day 1, day 14, and then every 2 weeks.
- Stand at a mirror in daylight. Count every bump you can see. Blackheads count too.
- Write the number down, or scan again here so it is saved with the date.
- Fewer at week 8 than day 1 means it works.
One photo every day
- One photo every morning after you wash, before any cream.
- Same spot by a window. Same angle. No filter.
- The photos show what the mirror hides.
Food
What about food
- Food does not cause acne. But for some people, sugary food and skim milk make it worse.
- Do not ban foods. Notice your own pattern. If a food is followed by more pimples two days later, more than once, cut back on that one.
- Drink water. Eat normal food.
Where this plan comes from
Sources
- Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024)
- Acne vulgaris: management (NG198) (NICE)
- Acne (NHS)
- Label: ADAPALENE GEL 0.1% gel (DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Skinli gives simple tips for skin with pimples. It is not a doctor. It cannot tell you what is wrong the way a doctor can. If your pimples hurt, are deep under the skin, are getting worse, or will not go away, see a doctor.