You can use Aczone (dapsone) to treat both facial and body acne. It’s especially good for inflammatory acne breakouts but is also somewhat effective at treating non-inflammatory breakouts like blackheads and milia.
Overview
Dapsone is an antimicrobial, so it works by reducing the amount of Propionibacteria acnes (the bacteria that cause acne breakouts). So, in this way, it works similarly to topical antibiotics like erythromycin or clindamycin. In fact, Aczone is technically an antibiotic, because the active ingredient in the medication, dapsone, is a sulfone antibiotic.
Aczone also reduces inflammation. So, it can help calm down those big, red zits.
Aczone can be used alone or along with other topical or oral acne medications. This can help your acne clear faster, and give you better results. Your healthcare provider or dermatologist will let you know if this is the best treatment plan for you.
Do be aware, though, if you use Aczone along with benzoyl peroxide it can temporarily turn your skin yellow, orange, or brown. Not to worry, this color can typically be washed away. But you’d hate to be out and about before realizing your acne meds have turned your skin a funky color.
To prevent this problem, make sure each medication is fully absorbed before applying the other. Or, even better, use benzoyl peroxide in the morning and Aczone at night, or vice versa.
Usage
Aczone can be used to treat both adult acne and acne in teens and tweens age 12 and older. Interestingly, in clinical trials, women saw more improvement than men when using this treatment, but it’s still an effective option for guys.
It’s fairly gentle, as far as acne medications go. If topical retinoids (like Retin-A or Differin) are just too much for your skin to handle—making it super dry, red, and peeling—Aczone can be a good alternative. It generally isn’t as hard on the skin as topical retinoids can be.
There are acne treatment medications available that are a better choice to use while pregnant. Also, don’t use Aczone if you’re breastfeeding.
Directions
Typically, you’ll apply a pea-sized amount to acne-affected areas twice a day. Massage in gently, but completely. It’ll absorb fairly quickly.
Aczone can be used on the face and neck, as well as chest, back, arms, or wherever acne is a problem. The trick is to apply to the entire area where breakouts are a problem, not just to individual pimples.
Also, make sure your skin is cleansed and dried well before applying.
And, like most acne medications, Aczone doesn’t work great for everyone. If you use it for 12 weeks without seeing much improvement, let your healthcare provider or dermatologist know. You’ll likely be prescribed an additional, or different, acne treatment.
Side Effects
Aczone can cause dryness, peeling, and redness of the skin. For some people, it can also make the skin more oily.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Dapsone, when taken orally, can cause hemolytic anemia. It’s highly unlikely that the topical medication will have the same effect because your skin can’t absorb enough. Still, let your healthcare provider or dermatologist know if you have G6PD deficiency, just to make sure.
A Word From Verywell
Your healthcare provider or dermatologist will let you know if Aczone is the right treatment choice for your acne. If not, though, remember you have plenty of other acne treatment options too.
