You could try a salicylic acid serum or a peel, which is a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
The difference between AHA’s (glycolic, lactic) and BHA’s (
salicylic acid) is that AHA’s are water soluble and BHAs are oil soluble. What that means to your skin is AHA’s are less effective in penetrating the sebum (oil) content of pores, but BHA’s can. BHA’s will take care of blackheads and blemishes better than AHA’s. AHA’s will like cause more sloughing of skin than BHA’s (BHA’s are gentler, in other words).
With the Salicylic there is greater variation for each person. Some people can use the Salicylic every day, while others find that more than once a week can be irritating to the skin. Salicylic Acid is oil soluble, the outside layer of your skin is covered in oil, and being oil soluble, the salicylic acid is able to penetrate this outer layer. Because it does exfoliate, the use of sun protection is needed.
A serum is good and so is a peel, it's just a matter of which ever one you prefer using. It does take time to see results you just have to stick with it. Here are some sites I use for myself:
This is the serum, this is an 8% but if it's to drying they have a 5% and a 3%:
Treat oily skin, acne, blackheads, occasional breakouts and cystic acne with our salicylic acid-based beta hydroxy serums in 3%, 5% and 8% strengths
This is a peel:
15% Salicylic Acid At Home Chemical Peel
Make Up Artists products have a higher ph which makes them a little more gentle than Skin Obsession's products. I use Skin Obsession's peels because I've been using them for almost two years (off & on) and my skin is used to them.
Skin Obsession Chemical Peels, Serums, treatments and more.
I can't really say how well the Beta's work because I've only used the glycolic's and the lactic's, which I do like, but if I had acne issues I would use the BHA's since they penetrate the oily plug in the pores better.....Good luck!