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Overview
More than 60 million adults in the United States suffer from mild to severe cases of acne, but the condition can be controlled with various types of medication. In addition to following a healthy skincare regimen and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, men and women of all ages can reduce the effects of acne and offset breakouts with prescription and over-the-counter medication.
Function
Acne medication is designed to alleviate conditions of inflammation that cause excess oil production. Excess oil production can cause acne breakouts and painful cysts that cannot be managed with topical treatments alone. For adults, a combination of special skincare products and prescription medication may help reduce the effects of acne and calm down troubled skin.
Types
Adult acne medication is available with a prescription from a dermatologist; some of the leading prescription treatments for acne include Adapalene, Azelaic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide (prescription-strength), Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Accutane, Tretracycline, Minocycline, Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, Tazaraotene and Tretinoin. Over-the-counter medications and products that treat adult acne include benzoyl peroxide gel and creams, topical antibiotics, azelaic acid cream and alpha-hydroxy acids. Chemical peels made with lactic acid, glycolic acid and gluconic acid may be particularly effective for treating mild to moderate cases of acne.
Causes
Adult acne can be triggered by a number of causes including hormonal shifts resulting from pregnancy or menopause, clogged pores from using synthetic makeup and cosmetics that create an acid-alkaline imbalance on the skin's surface, or a poor diet that does not provide skin cells with enough nutrients to help them stay strong and keep hormones in check. Many adults who have never had acne experience adult onset acne because of changes in their lifestyle, eating habits or even the climate.
Considerations
Individuals who experience adverse side effects from acne medications may benefit from homeopathic acne remedies. These may include tinctures, serums and other topical ointments made with herbal ingredients, vitamins and minerals to support healthy skin cell turnover and reduce the effects of acne. In addition to using acne medications, skin rejuvenation treatments such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy can help to calm down the skin and clear up bacteria under the skin's surface.
Warnings
Some prescription-strength products may damage the skin of those who have extremely sensitive skin or a chronic case of acne. . A consultation with a dermatologist will determine what stage of acne the individual has, and what types of skin products, medicine and treatments will be the best match. Lowering the dosage of a prescription-strength medication may be necessary for individuals who are overly sensitive to the drugs; a dermatologist may need to monitor the effects regularly to determine the appropriate dosage for different skin types
