Indeed, despite the new warnings that the manufacturer had to put out, a move spearheaded by the FDA, public concern and bad PR, Accutane is still a wildly popular drug, with over 500,000 Americans taking it. In fact, last year sales reached $587 million, up 21 percent from the previous year, according to IMS Health and is considered to be the "gold standard" of acne treatment. It is not recommended to undergo laser or microdermabrasion with this treatment, as the skin can be sensitive.

Cost: Accutane can run between $500 and $700 per month depending on which pharmacy you use and the dose you will need. Fortunately, around 40% of patients have drug plans. For those who don't, Roche is generous in providing Accutane with a doctor's request. This is not pro forma. Each case is decided individually, but they can obtain the drug for most patients who need it. Therefore, expense should not be a deciding factor.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen: An oral contraceptive, which the manufacturer (owned by pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson) claims to "lower the level of the serum free-testosterone, the hormone that contributes to acne breakouts. In clinical tests, Ortho Tri-Cyclen been proven to help reduce mild to moderate acne and nearly nine out of ten women saw improvements in their skin." A big claim, indeed, but J&J has been aggressively using the counter-acne side effect as a marketing tool through a TV and print campaign - and it is working: Sales of Ortho Tri-Cyclen have more than doubled since J&J began running television ads citing its effectiveness against acne in 1998, rising from $225 million, to $493 million.

Cost:  Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a prescribed contraceptive and can range in price from dispensary to dispensary but ranges at about $30 per 28-day pack.

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