Acne Medications That Work

 

Acne is a localised skin condition that can range from very mild to severe - the severity will determine which acne medications are most appropriate. It affects up to 85% of adolescents and is caused when the sebaceous glands of the skin produce an excess of sebum which hardens under the skin's surface and blocks hair follicles within the surrounding area. If the sebum becomes infected then inflammation can develop and the immediate area can become very painful.

Luckily there are a number of medications available to treat acne. Treatment is primarily aimed at decreasing sebum production and decreasing the amount of bacterial growth, so preventing serious inflammation. Regular washing of the affected area with acne soaps is definitely the first step to controlling this condition however occasionally other forms of therapy are also needed.

First-line therapy and medications

Topical (applied to the skin) agents are often used for mild cases of acne and these include such things as antibiotics e.g. tetracycline, and keratolytics e.g. benzoyl peroxide. Unfortunately it is possible to develop resistance to these agents if they are used on a long term basis and so they should only be prescribed in the short term. Topical retinoids such as tretinoin can also be prescribed as another controlling measure however if both of these types of medication fail to treat a case of acne then second-line agents need to be considered.

Second-line therapy and medications

The most common form of second-line therapy involves the use of low-dose oral antibiotics that are taken on a daily basis. Medications such as oxytetracycline are used in the first instance however stronger antibiotics may be needed if this has little or no effect. Oral antibiotics are by no means an instant cure and they often need to be taken for at least 3-4 months before a significant improvement is seen.

Third-line therapy and medications

Third-line therapy is used:

  1. When the previous two lines of therapy fail to have an effect,
  2. When there is nodulocystic acne with some scarring,
  3. When the sufferer is showing severe psychological disturbance i.e. clinical depression.

The medication of choice is often the retinoid drug isotretinoin. Retinoid drugs are synthetic vitamin A analogues that effect cell growth and as they are very teratogenic i.e. they can cause malformation in embryos, they are restricted to the use of dermatologists. Retinoids are used only in hospitals and so are limited in use to the most severe cases of acne. People who are prescribed isotretinoin are given a four month course which needs to be taken every day however over 90% of individuals do respond to this form of medication and around 65% of people do obtain a long term 'cure'.

 

Acne Skin Care