About Teenage Acne Medications

Teenage acne is usually caused by overproduction of oil on and in the skin. This oil can clog pores, leading to bacterial infections that create pustules on the face, neck, shoulders and even back. Most teenage acne medicines are designed to fight the production of oil in some manner, either by decreasing the levels of hormones in the body that lead to oil production or by eliminating the presence of the oil on the surface of the skin.

When you are investigating treatment options for your teenage acne, you first need to consider your own habits when it comes to facial hygiene. For example, before starting serious medications, make sure that the condition cannot be treated with more rigorous washing habits or resisting the urge to pick or pop your pimples. Also, there are some types of acne treatments and medications that can cause severe mood swings and other issues, so you may need to be evaluated by a doctor before beginning certain kinds of treatment.

There are many types of teenage acne medication. Some teens prefer natural or holistic methods, such as moderate sun exposure and a carefully balanced, organic diet. Others prefer oral treatments like anti-androgens, which inhibit your body's production of the hormones that cause your skin to get oily or certain types of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) which also affect your body's hormones and can alleviate the oil production problem. There are also many topical treatments. These may contain salicylic acid, which cleans and clears out pores while killing bacteria, or tretinoin, which promotes sloughing of dead skin and can prevent infection in your pores. For some teens, antibiotics do the trick by killing off the bacteria infecting their pores.

Teenage acne medications are definitely a solution for many teens' acne problems. However, if your breakout persists even in the face of careful cleansing habits and over-the-counter or off-the-shelf treatments, you should see a dermatologist immediately. The longer you wait to treat your acne, the worse it is likely to become.

The time frame for teenage acne medications varies dramatically based on the treatment and the unique teenager. If your acne is largely an issue of not washing your face often or thoroughly enough, then you could see clearing in just a few days. However, if you are taking oral or topical medication it could take up to a few weeks to get results. Make sure you know what the time frame should be ahead of time so that you can adjust your attack plan if you do not get results in an appropriate length of time.

Some teenage acne medications have serious side effects including clinical depression and suicidal tendencies. You must never use these drugs without first completing all the evaluative steps that precede their prescription. Even if you can get them online, it is extremely unwise to use them without being monitored by a doctor.