Acne Medication . . .
However within those categories, we find topical treatments eg creams and lotions, ingested treatments such as acne pills and formulas, injected solutions such as corticosteroid injections.
A brief overview of over the counter acne medications:
1. Salicylic Acid - reduces acne breakout by assisting in the removal of the dead skin cells that cause the blockage. It is the main ingredient of over the counter creams and lotions.
2. Sulphur - another common component of acne creams.
3. Benzoyl Perxoide - is an antibacterial that also works as a peeling agent. Some sufferers can be very sensitive to its rather harsh properties, so care needs to be taken when starting to use any cream, gel or lotion that contains it.
4. Teatree Oil - known for its antibiotic and antibacterial properties, this oil can assist sufferers by reducing the spread of bacteria.
5. Acne complex - usually a combination of herbal and nutritional support, and quite often very helpful.
Prescription acne medications include:
1. Topical antimicrobials which are used to treat mild to moderately severe inflammatory acne. Prescription topical antimicrobials include:
- Azelaic acid, believed to work by reducing the abnormal shedding of skin cells and also by reducing inflammation. This medication seldom has side effects, but can be drying on the skin and may actually lighten the color of the skin itself
- Benzoyl peroxide, which although available in over the counter preparations, is often prescribed in stronger formulations. It may also be rpescribed because of its ability to increase the effectiveness of some other acne medication, such as erythromycin and clindamycin. When used in conjunction with antibiotics, Benzoyl peroxide has also been shown to reduce the likelihood patients developing resistance to them. The most commony reported side effects include skin irritation, bleaching of hair and allergic reaction, so use of higher doses must be professionally controlled.
- Clindamycin, which is an antibiotic, has been used to successfully treat acne for many years. Its main role is to reduce inflammation. It has the benefits of having a good safety record and is well tolerated by the majority of people. Side effects seemt o be limited to some dryness and mild skin irritation.
- Erythromycin another topical antibiotic is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including that involved in acne. It is also anti-inflammatory. Often used in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide, the combination proves to be quite effective due to the dual effect of two antimicrobial agents. Side effects can include skin dryness and possible irritation.
- Sodium sulfacetamide, is not only a topical antibiotic, but it also opens clogged pores. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Sulphur is often combined in products containing sodium sulfacetamide.
2. Oral anti-androgen hormone therapy, such as spironolactone works by reducing the production of oil.
4. Oral retinoids, which work by reducing oil production and inflammation.
5. Birth control pills, which may be the closest thing to acne pills, work by regulating the hormonal cycle in women, which often helps control the excess production of oil, thereby reducing the eruption of acne.
Although not really an acne medication, there is also a device that applies heat to the actual pimple which destroys the bacteria within it. Thios device the Zeno Acne Clearing Device is claimed to be very effective.
Effective acne medicine will often involve a combination of treatments, rather than just one approach, and of course good skin care will always be important regardless of the medication that may be added to the regime.
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