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Choosing the Right Acne Medication
Posted on January 16th, 2010 No comments
Acne is a common skin disorder that troubles 80% of people between the ages of eleven and thirty. Although it can be treated and does not present any severe detriment to your health, for many, it can cause anxiety, embarrassment, and the lowering of self- esteem.
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Utilizing an appropriate acne medication can help eliminate some of the stressors surrounding it and assist in achieving healthy skin. But when choosing the right medication, the task can also seem somewhat confusing and overwhelming.
Acne is caused by several aspects. Increased oil production and changing hormone levels can lead to blocked pores, which causes skin to become irritated and inflamed. Skin products, the use of certain sports equipment, environmental pollutants, stress, and excessive touching of the skin can also contribute to the increased development of skin irritation.
The skin can then become reddened and may produce blemishes. But today, the market is flooded with acne medication that can assist in minimizing the excess oil and healing the irritated skin.
Over-the-counter medication includes ointments, lotions, soaps, and cleansing pads. Some of the more common over-the-counter acne medications include Benzoyl Peroxide, Resorcinol, Salicylic Acid and Sulfur. Over-the-counter solutions are often more effective in treating milder cases, but such medication may also take up to eight weeks to make a marked difference in the skin.
This type of medication should be applied topically to the blemish and also to the entire affected area. The purpose of this treatment is to not only heal the visible blemish but to prevent new outbreaks. In order to maintain healthy skin and prevent any new skin irritations, the utilization should be ongoing.
If the acne problem is severe or does not resolve itself after a period of time, a dermatologist may suggest prescription medication.
Prescription acne medication will be prescribed by a doctor or a dermatologist in either topical or oral form. Prescription medications include Retinoids (Vitamin A derivatives), Antibiotics, and prescription strength Benzoyl Peroxide. Some doctors feel that in certain situations, a combination of over-the-counter and prescription strength medication can be of benefit in helping to resolve the skin condition.
With extremely sensitive skin, over-the-counter or prescription medication may cause irritation including redness, dryness, or tightness. If these types of irritations continue, decrease the utilization to every second or third day or decrease the length of application time. Adding mild facial cleansers or moisturizers may decrease skin dryness.
When using prescription acne medication, the patient should be monitored by the prescribing doctor every four to six weeks to ensure safe and effective usage.
Acne is a condition that can be treated and controlled with the appropriate guidance. When choosing a medication, it is always important to discuss any possible side effects with your doctor or pharmacist. Also, in order to assure proper dosage and application, it is essential to thoroughly read the information included within the package of acne medication.
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Acne Medication – Which is Right for You?
Posted on December 10th, 2009 No comments
If you are plagued by acne, you are more than likely also overwhelmed by the number of acne medications on the market. In addition to the cleansers, toners and astringents offered over-the-counter, there are also a variety of prescription medications that your doctor can prescribe for you.
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You may wonder how many of the over-the-counter products are just hype and which ones can actually help clear your skin. With all the acne medication on the market, how do you decide which one is right for you?
First, don’t choose an acne medication based on its promise to clear your acne overnight, or even in a few weeks. Even if you religiously use a product, you may see little or no improvement for the first two weeks. After that, it may take as long as three months for your pimples to clear completely.
If you have mild to moderate acne, over-the-counter acne medication may be the answer for you. These medications often contain drying agents which help to dry up the skin’s excess oil. They can also contain anti-bacterial agents to help kill the bacteria that can make acne worse.
For those with severe acne problems, a visit to the doctor may be in store. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic cream or oral antibiotic which can help to kill the bacteria that causes pimples.
Retin A creams, which are formed from a derivative of Vitamin A, may also be prescribed. These creams can help the top layer of dead skin cells, which often block the pores and cause pimples, flake off.
For the most severe cases, an acne medication called Isotretinoin is used. This medication is taken orally and helps to dry up over-active oil glands. Since this drug has dangerous side effects, such as liver damage and birth defects, it is usually used only as a last resort. However, in most cases, when taken for four – six months, the capsules completely clear acne in the majority of patients.
Since hormones can also play a role in the formation of acne, birth control pills are sometimes prescribed for teen girls suffering from acne. The pills most prescribed by doctors as an acne medication include those that lessen the activity of androgens, the male sex hormones that are responsible for producing oil.
While still in the experimental stages, phototherapy is also being used to help clear acne. Specially built light bulbs which emit blue light, or blue and red light have been found to clear acne as well or better that the use of benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in over-the-counter as well as prescription acne medication. However, since this technology is relatively new, it is still quite expensive.
The type of acne medication you choose can depend greatly on the severity of your skin condition. For the occasional breakout, over-the-counter products may be all you need. For more severe cases, however, you may require a prescription cream or oral antibiotic.
Your doctor or dermatologist can help you pick a skin care regimen and acne medication that is right for you and will get you on your way to clearer skin.