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Overview
Acne can strike at any age whether an individual has had acne problems in the past or not. Just as there are different causes of acne from clogged pores and genetics to hormones, there are numerous acne and acne scar medications available to treat the problem and help prevent future breakouts. Finding the right acne medication for you will help control or even stop acne and fade acne scars.
Types
In simple terms, acne is caused by clogged pores, often exacerbated by oily skin. But, the severity of acne varies greatly from person to person. Simple routine cleaning to keep the pores from becoming clogged works for some people with very mild forms of acne, but most people with recurring acne need medication to clear up skin and prevent new pimples from forming.
Prevention/Solution
An unfortunate side-effect for many people with acne is acne scars. Acne scars are more common in people with severe or cystic acne. Individuals who pick at their acne also run the risk of acne scarring, which can damage the skin and introduce harmful bacteria into already inflamed skin. Acne scars can be faded with medication, but the best defense against acne scarring is preventing and treating the acne itself.
Mild Acne
For mild acne, a daily cleansing routine combined with over-the-counter acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid for occasional flare-up will often control the acne. As with any skin problem, over-the-counter acne medications and treatments need to be applied and used regularly over a period of time before results are seen.
Moderate Acne
The control and treat moderate acne, stronger medication or a combination of treatments may be needed to treat acne. As with mild acne, the treatment for moderate acne may include salicylic acids and peroxides. Retinoid medications have been shown to improve persistent acne for some people. Retinoids are topical prescription strength medications and may cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Severe Acne
Treating severe acne usually involves a doctor or dermatologist prescribing acne medications and regimes to treat not only surface blemishes, but possible cystic infections as well. A combination of topical acne creams, oral antibiotics and other acne medications may be prescribed to treat severe acne.
Scar Treatment
Treatments and medications for acne scars depend upon the severity of the scars. For mild or superficial discoloration and scarring, topical bleaching agents and some retinoids made for skin can effectively fade the scars. For deeper acne scars, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are effective in resurfacing the skin and removing acne scars through cell regeneration.
