People should not use both treatments, however. In both cases, a person should apply the treatment to their face, chest, or neck, depending on where they have noticed the outbreak. Salicylic acid helps treat and prevent acne by exfoliating the skin and breaking down acne lesions. Salicylic acid is another potential option people have to treat acne at home. People can use it for mild cases, or they can combine it with oral antibiotics in more severe cases. The main treatment options for steroid acne come both as antibiotics and topicals: Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acidĪ common solution that does not require a prescription is benzoyl peroxide.īenzoyl peroxide is a potent antiseptic that helps the body kill the bacteria responsible for acne. Treatment can often start at home but may require additional medical intervention.
