Once you've gotten fed up with the antibiotics, topical treatments and Accutane offered by your dermatologist, where do you begin? Or, maybe you never wanted to go that route in the first place. Whatever drove you to seek a nontraditional acne alternative, you have to begin somewhere.

First, consult widely. Chances are very good that you know several people who have had acne and cleared it up or who have it now and are in the process of clearing it up. Learn from their experience. Take notes. Then try some of the things that have worked for them. Hope for the best, but realize that it might take some time before you hit on the combination of products, treatments and lifestyle changes that will help you the most.

Another thing is that some acne alternative products containing the same basic ingredients vary greatly in price. Learn what the active ingredients are in products and try the less expensive versions of them before you pay for the more costly ones.

It's also a great idea to seek the help of professionals. Naturopaths have regiments of vitamins, herbs and gentle cleansers that can work wonders. The very expensive prescription medicine Accutane is actually derived from plain old Vitamin A, and under a naturopath's care, you can take high doses of Vitamin A for predetermined periods, along with other vitamins and herbs and potentially clear up your skin without the side effects of Accutane, which, if you are female, can include birth defects in your children should become pregnant while taking the drug.

A promising acne alternative is light therapy. For many, acne is cleared up with the application of red and blue ultraviolet light for a set amount of time each day. It's possible to purchase a device online that safely emits this type of light. They cost in the range of $200. This is a less expensive alternative to try before going to an esthetician who has similar, more powerful equipment.