My dermatologist recommended Proactiv, but the price scares me. What is the best alternative to Proactive? Find a different skin care professional. There are plenty of alternatives, including OTC and natural ones. Proactiv wasn't the most expensive thing on the shelf. It is one of the most expensive. But you could regularly clean your skin with benzoyl peroxide for the same effect along with salycylic acid. Very funny, rubbing alcohol and aspirin fixing my skin. What's another option for treating my acne? Purchase the acne fighting portion of a skin care routine, and skip the rest. You save time and money. You make it sound so simple. Would over the counter antibiotics help control my acne? That depends on the cause. It would help a surface infection, but not an infection with bacteria deep in the skin. Then I'm stuck going to a doctor for antibiotics that might not work. And medical co-pays. Don't skip the OTC acne treatments like Noxzema and Stridex. They work on mild to moderate acne, but they are quite affordable. What is the cheapest option? Ask your doctor if dietary changes would help. Whether eliminating fat and grease from your diet to eating more fruit and vegetables. I wish there were more solutions to improving my skin. I've tried peels and moisturizers the skin care professionals offer. In fact, peels hurt your skin, while many moisturizers make acne worse. Your skin care routine could be the cause of your acne, and it could certainly compound it. So her selling me Proactiv is an effort to undo the damage she's doing. And you are literally paying for her mistakes. What a price to pay! I'd rather go vegan or vegetarian! That would help with the acne, if your diet is causing extra oil production. And eating better might improve your body's ability to fight infections like deep bacterial infections. If only I could blame the fried chicken for all my woes. Woe to you if it is the chocolate you love so much.