About Acne Medications

Acne is defined as clogged pores, pimples or cysts. An outbreak of acne usually happens on the face, chest, back and shoulders, upper arms and neck. Teenagers are thought to be the ones who get acne, but it can happen to anyone, at any age. It's not uncommon for acne to affect people into their twenties or thirties. In fact some people, especially women, won't have and outbreak until their forties when hormones are changing. Acne is non life threatening, but it can cause scarring and disrupt a person's life.

Acne seems to affect almost all people between the ages of 12 and 17, even if it's only a mild pimple or two. Males and females seem to be affected about the same during this time. It seems young men tend to have the condition longer and more severe than their female counterparts. It's thought because males are less likely to seek medical treatment than females, this is why this is so. Acne is thought to affect females because of hormonal changes and the use of cosmetics. Young people between the ages of 10 and 13, will usually have their first acne outbreak, which generally last between five and ten years. By the twenties, acne usually clears up on it's own, but has been known to continue into a person's thirties or forties. Women entering pre-menopause in their early forties, are also prone to developing adult acne due to their bodies fluctuation hormone levels.

Though there are many items on the market you can buy without a prescription, sometimes a specialist is needed to get results. If the over the counter products don't seem to be making your acne problem any better, you need to see a dermatologist. The doctor will take many things into consideration before prescribing a treatment plan. Such things as pre-existing medical conditions, age, skin, how severe is the acne and previous treatments used, will all be taken into account. The dermatologist will then be able to come up with a plan specially suited to your particular needs. The good thing is, acne can be cleared up and a person doesn't have to live with it forever. It's best to treat the condition early on, so the chances of scarring are minimized. The earlier the condition is treated, the quicker you'll have a blemish free face again.

Since there are so many acne medications you can purchase over the counter, it's best to know how their ingredients are designed to work. These products are designed to treat everything from mild to severe cases of acne, and for many people they work. Described below are the most common over the counter medications you can purchase to treat the condition. Many of the products have alcohol and acetone in them. The alcohol is an antimicrobial agent and the acetone is basically a de-greaser. Benzoyl peroxide is probably the best know of the acne products. It works by removing the dead cells from your skin, which prevent pimples from occurring. It's main side effect is excessive dryness. There are many herbal products on the market labeled to treat acne. Since the FDA has very little regulation over herbal products, their usefulness is unknown. There are no statistics to show whether any of these type of products work better than another. Resorcinol controls mild acne and generally is combine with sulfur. Sulfur is usually combined with other ingredients due to it's bad smell. Alcohol, salicylic acid, as well as resorcinol, have been mixed with sulfur and used to treat acne for well over fifty years. now. Salicylic acid helps to unclog pores, corrects unusual shedding of skin and helps to prevent and clear up pimples.

Today there are many prescription medications on the market to treat acne. There are two types of treatments, topical and oral. Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin, or affected areas. These types of medications can be used to treat everything from mild to severe cases of acne. Systemic treatments are taken orally, and are generally used to treat moderate to severe cases of the condition. Oral antibiotics are usually prescribed in more severe cases for a period of up to six months. After this time the effectiveness of the treatment becomes less because the bacteria it's treating becomes more resistant. Usually a topical treatment is also used with the antibiotics The antibiotics most often used to treat acne are erythromycin and tetracycline. Oral contraceptives have also shown to be an effective treatment for acne, though their use should be cautioned for women over thirty five who smoke. Topical medications are broken into two categories. Topical antimicrobials basically work by stopping the growth and spread of acne. These type of products can be used by themselves, or along with another treatment. The topical antimicrobial products that are prescribed are azelaic cid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erthromycin and sodium sulfacetamide. Topical retinoids work by unclogging the pores, as well as hindering the growth of acne. These products are used to treat acne, as well as help erase fine lines due to aging. These products can irritate the skin and prolonged sun exposure while using them, is not advised. Adapalene, tazaroten and tretinioin, are the retinoid products being prescribed.

If the products you're using to treat your acne aren't working, consider seeing a dermatologist. Following some common sense guidelines concerning your acne treatment, will usually allow you to see better results. Don't pick at your acne because this can make it worse. Instead of scrubbing your face, you should use a mild cleanser and gently wash it several times a day. Avoid using hair or cosmetic products that contain oil. Also, use a sunscreen while outside. Many of the products used to treat acne make your skin more sun sensitive. Excessive tanning does not cure acne, but instead may worsen it's condition. Whatever treatment you are using, stick with it and give it time to work. Some medications can take up to a month before results are seen.