Acne Medicines

Acne medicines can either be topical, applied to the skin, or oral antibiotics taken by mouth. Some patients with severe acne may use both methods to help control future breakouts. Generally for teenagers or adults with mild to moderate acne breakouts, topical methods are effective used by themselves.

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Topical Acne Medications

Topical acne medications work to remove the bacteria from the surface of the skin, remove comedones (plugs that cause the acne) or reduce inflammation. The most frequently used topical applications are a combination of:

• Antibiotics – used to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria
• Vitamin A derivatives – usually in the form of retinol, these products reduce the formation of the plugs (comedones) and also allow the antibiotics to penetrate deep into the follicle, killing bacteria.
• Disinfectants – benzoyl peroxide, sulfur products or azelaic acid are often used to kill bacteria and reduce the production of oil within the skin.

Topical solutions should be applied as directed after the skin has been washed and dried with a medicated cleanser. Avoid using harsh soaps or soaps with perfumes or additional chemicals as these can often lead to skin allergies and make the acne worse rather than better. Over drying the skin will also lead to rashes and skin irritation. Use a good quality facial foaming cleanser that is soap free for best results. This will avoid dry, flaky and red patches on the skin.

Topical medications are available in both prescription and over the counter formulations. For severe acne outbreaks the prescription quality of medications may be needed, whereas less severe outbreaks can be treated with the commercially available brands. Some side effects including dry skin, itching and redness may initially occur but will subside with use. It may take four to six weeks to notice a change in the skin using topical medications.

Oral Medications

Oral acne medications are those that are in pill form and are taken by mouth. Usually these medications are antibiotics that help the body deal with the bacteria growing in and on the skin. The most common antibiotics prescribed are tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline. Another group of antibiotics including clindamycin, erythromycin, or sulfonamides may also be prescribed but there are several side effects with these medications so they are less frequently prescribed. These medications are usually not prescribed to women that are pregnant or to children under the age of 14 as they can have impact on bone growth and development. In addition some people have difficulty with skin discoloration, dizziness and even stomach upsets. Care must be taken to avoid exposure to the sun with these antibiotics.

Antibiotics usually have to be taken for fairly long periods of time ranging from six months to a year before the complete results are noted. Often a combination of topical and oral acne medications works the best.