- LegitScript Certified
- US-licensed pharmacy
- Ships in 3 to 5 days
Common questions
Dapsone Acne Cream
Prescription acne care, compounded.
Dapsone acne cream · With tretinoin and niacinamide
- Dapsone for inflammatory acne
- Retinoid plus niacinamide
- Three actives, one cream
- Provider-reviewed
Find the plan that fits you.
Answer three quick questions to match your priorities and budget. Get your recommendation and free skin treatment guide by text. No card to start.
Purchase type
Save 10% today and on every refill. Auto-renews at your selected cadence, pause or cancel anytime.
Cadence
Strength set by your provider. They confirm the right strength and dose after reviewing your required post-purchase intake.
Payment does not guarantee a prescription. Complete the required pharmacist intake after purchase.
What's included
- ✓Medication and supplies
- ✓Provider visit and unlimited follow-ups
- ✓Free expedited shipping
Pause, change, or cancel anytime from your account.
After checkout you complete a short medical review in your member portal, and a US-licensed provider reviews it before your dapsone cream ships.
Dapsone targets inflamed breakouts
Topical dapsone calms the inflammation behind red, tender papules and pustules, the kind of acne that surface washes tend to miss.
A retinoid to keep pores clear
Tretinoin speeds skin cell turnover so pores stay unclogged, which is what keeps new comedones and breakouts from forming.
Niacinamide to steady your skin
Niacinamide 4% helps calm redness and support your skin barrier while the other actives do their work.
A provider reviews your skin
A US-licensed provider confirms this cream is appropriate for your acne before it ships. Real pricing, shown up front.
About Dapsone Acne Cream
Dapsone targets the inflammation behind red, angry acne, and it is paired here with tretinoin to clear pores and niacinamide to calm redness. It is a prescription approach for acne that has not responded to over-the-counter routines. Your provider reviews your skin first. Compounded by a US-licensed pharmacy.
- Dapsone for inflammatory acne
- Paired with tretinoin and niacinamide
- A step up from over-the-counter routines
- Real pricing up front, discreet shipping
Dapsone has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity; tretinoin normalizes follicular turnover; niacinamide calms redness. Compounded by a US-licensed pharmacy.
Dapsone calms inflammation
It reduces the inflammatory activity that turns a clogged pore into a red, swollen breakout.
Tretinoin clears the pore
The retinoid speeds cell turnover so dead skin and oil stop plugging the follicle.
Niacinamide supports the barrier
It helps reduce redness and keeps your skin barrier steadier while you treat.
Inflammation settles and clogged pores clear, so fewer new breakouts can form.
How to get it
Today
Take the quiz
Answer a few questions about your acne, your skin, and your history, and add photos if you are asked.
Next
A provider reviews
A US-licensed provider reviews your intake and prescribes your cream if it is appropriate for you.
3 to 5 days
The pharmacy ships
A US-licensed pharmacy compounds your formula and ships it free in discreet packaging.
Ongoing
Stay on track
Message your care team anytime, and your provider adjusts your plan as your skin responds.
What the research shows
The actives in your cream have each been studied on their own for acne. This exact compounded combination has not been tested as a single product, so the research below reflects the individual ingredients, studied at their own strengths.
3,010
Across two 12-week randomized, vehicle-controlled trials in 3,010 people, topical dapsone significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared with vehicle.
Draelos et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2007
82%
In a randomized comparison in inflammatory acne, topical niacinamide 4% improved 82 percent of patients over 8 weeks, comparable to topical clindamycin.
Shalita et al., Int J Dermatol 1995
References
- Draelos ZD, et al. Two randomized studies demonstrate the efficacy and safety of dapsone gel, 5% for the treatment of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(3):439.e1-439.e10.
- Shalita AR, et al. Topical nicotinamide compared with clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. Int J Dermatol. 1995;34(6):434-437.
Compounded dapsone cream or Over-the-counter acne products
Two ways to approach inflammatory acne
| Compounded dapsone cream | Over-the-counter acne products | |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription dapsone | Yes | Not sold over the counter |
| Targets inflammation directly | Yes, through dapsone | Mostly benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid |
| Prescription retinoid included | Yes, tretinoin | Over-the-counter adapalene at most |
| Products to manage | One compounded cream | Often several layered products |
| Provider oversight | Reviewed by a provider | None |
| Cost up front | Higher, provider and prescription included | Lower |
What to expect
Inflammation and new breakouts often ease over four to eight weeks. Some early dryness from the retinoid is normal. Daily sunscreen applies.
- Weeks 1 to 2
Start your cream
Begin applying after your provider confirms your prescription. Some dryness, flaking, or a short purge from the retinoid is normal as your skin adjusts.
- Weeks 4 to 8
Inflammation eases
Red, inflamed breakouts and new spots often begin to settle in this window. Keep applying as directed and use sunscreen by day.
- Months 2 to 3
Skin evens out
As turnover continues, tone and texture tend to look more even and breakouts become less frequent.
- Ongoing
Maintain your results
Your provider adjusts strength and frequency to hold your results with the lowest effective routine.
Safety and side effects
Reviewed by a licensed provider. Tell your provider about G6PD deficiency. Raises sun sensitivity from the retinoid; not used in pregnancy.
Common
- Dryness or peeling from the retinoid
- Redness or irritation at the application site
- Temporary stinging on application
- Increased sensitivity to the sun
Less common
- Skin tight or flaky enough to need a lighter schedule
- Temporary worsening or purge early in treatment
- Contact dermatitis
Seek care
- Signs of red blood cell breakdown such as unusual tiredness, pale skin, or shortness of breath, mainly a concern with G6PD deficiency
- Severe allergic reaction
This is not a complete list of side effects. Tell your provider if you have G6PD deficiency, since dapsone can rarely affect red blood cells, a concern mainly at higher exposures. The retinoid in this cream raises sun sensitivity, so wear sunscreen daily, and this cream is not used in pregnancy. Tell your provider about every medication and product you use before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Other prescription skincare options
Approval is never automatic.
An independent US-licensed clinician reviews every request. If they decide the treatment is not right for you, you get a full refund for the medication.
Prescriptions are filled by a US-licensed pharmacy and shipped free, in discreet packaging, on every plan.
LegitScript-certified · Cert 50087439
Compounded medications are prepared by a US-licensed pharmacy and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. Products are dispensed only after a licensed provider determines they are appropriate. Information here is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice.