Does it matter what time I use my medication?

Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist.

If you were taking one dose a day of an antibiotic, you could probably take it in the morning, at midday or in the evening, although you should pick one time of day and stay with it throughout your treatment.

With oral medications prescribed twice a day or three times a day, you should try your best to spread out the doses evenly.

Some antibiotics should be taken on an empty or nearly empty stomach.

For optimal results with topical treatments, you should strictly follow your dermatologist’s recommendations.

For example, if instructed to apply benzoyl peroxide in the morning and a topical retinoid at bedtime, it is important to follow these directions strictly.

If the two were applied together at bedtime, for example, you could decrease the efficacy of the treatment because of chemical reactions that make them less effective.