Acne Medicine With No Side Effects

Function

Acne forms on the skin from blockages of the pores that produce sebum, an oily substance produced from hair follicles to lubricate both skin and hair. Dead skin becomes trapped and bacteria soon develop, infecting the skin and causing a lesion. Most acne medications focus on reducing the production of sebum, clearing out dead skin and disinfecting the area to reduce the growth of bacteria.

Considerations

Sebum is a naturally occurring substance that performs a valuable function for skin. Medications that affect sebum production always have a drying effect that can only be partially counteracted with moisturizer, which traps moisture in the skin. Treatments that only clean the surface of the skin can prevent dead skin from building up on the face and leading to infections, but they don't do much to clear up already existing acne.

Effects

Many medications cause mild or strong allergic reactions in the people who use them, often leading to worse skin problems--such as inflammation, flaking and redness--than the acne that it was originally intended to treat. This makes it so that no single treatment can be side-effect free for all people. Allergies are unique to each individual; some people will experience no issue with a particular medication, while others will. People with particularly sensitive skin may discover that most medications cause serious reactions.

Potential

Birth control pills and other treatments that increase hormone production in women often greatly reduce the presence of acne with little to no side effects. Men, of course, can't use them, but there are other options available. Simply washing the face with exfoliating scrub, exercising and eating healthy foods often improves skin health to the point where acne begins to clear up. Fidgeting with hair and touching the face often lead to inflammation and acne as well. Curtailing such habits can often reduce acne coverage with no side effects.

Prevention/Solution

Dermatologists can provide prescription medication with reference to allergies that people have. Also, purchase skin products tailored to your needs. People with sensitive skin should shop for products with a low concentration of active ingredients. Those with dry skin should look at creams, while those with oily skin should choose gel formulas instead. Another commonly ignored source of acne are dirty towels and sheets. Wash sheets and towels every week and wear clean clothing to prevent acne formation.