Both our standard and custom treatments are prescription, which means they have medicated ingredients making them stronger and more effective than over-the-counter products. We offer both standard brand-name and generic prescription treatments, to offer products with equal strength but flexible price points. Custom treatments use compound creams: prescription treatments that are completely tailored to you, their ingredients determined by your skin’s needs.

If you have a drug plan that covers prescription drugs, your out-of-pocket fees may decrease significantly. Many Health Spending accounts can also cover costs for medication, and we make sure to provide you with a receipt to use for your claims.

When the pharmacy calls you about your treatment simply tell them that you have insurance, and a refund will be provided for what’s covered.
Claiming your coverage for compound treatments works slightly differently; see our compound acne page for more info.

You can also find out what your plan covers by contacting your insurer, or emailing our pharmacy at pharmacy@jill.health.

Results may vary depending on the severity of the acne and the type of medication, but generally you can expect to notice improvement in about 4 – 8 weeks with regular use, and see the full effect after 10 – 12 weeks. If you’re not seeing the results you want, you can always contact our medical team for a free consult to discuss your concerns and whether your treatment type should be changed. Good skincare can be tough, so we work with you to find the best solution for your skin.

If you haven’t used medicated acne treatments before, your skin may be sensitive to it. In the beginning some people experience mild tingling or stinging sensations, warmth, irritated or itchy skin, or temporary redness and/or dryness. These effects lessen with continued use, as your skin gets used to the new product.

How to use any acne cream depends on the medication type, the severity of the acne and its location, and a host of other factors. But some general rules of thumb are:

1. Apply directly onto clean, dry skin. This allows it to be cleanly absorbed, increasing its efficacy. The only exception is with retinoids, which can sometimes be applied after moisturizing to help combat any resulting dryness.
2. Apply moisturizer after applying acne medications. It helps the product better penetrate your skin, and helps prevent your skin from drying out.
3. Sunscreen should be applied last, helping protect your skin from sun damage.

Handy tip: if unsure which of your products to apply first, try going from thinnest to thickest. This helps topical creams permeate the skin properly.