Prescription Medications for Acne
Traditional home remedies, conventional products and over-the-counter medications might not be effective for acne treatment in severer cases which are commonly treated with prescription medications for acne. Prescription medications for acne are either topical or oral. Often combination of both oral and topical medications for acne is used.
Prescription medications for acne are either antibiotics, bactericidals, retinoids or hormonal manipulators. Most commonly are prescribed topical bactericidals such as benzoyl peroxide which is also available over-the-counter in the United States. The researches have shown that benzoyl peroxide is effective in acne reduction in most cases, while the most commonly reported side effects are dryness of the skin, redness and irritation of the skin. In some cases are prescribed topical or oral antibiotics but due to greater resistance of Propionibacterium acnes (bacteria causing acne) acne treatment with antibiotics is becoming less effective.
Topical and oral retinoids are prescribed to normalize the follicle cell life-cycle and prevent blockage of the pores. Topical retinoids have been in use for over 30 years and generally have milder side effects, while oral retinoids which are also proved very effective for acne treatment might cause severe side effects and require medical supervision. Acne is sometimes also treated with hormonal manipulation but hormonal treatment is appropriate only for women.
Since some prescription medications for acne might cause severe side effects it is very important to be well informed about particular medication as well as to consult with a dermatologist before use. If your acne is mild to moderate you are highly recommended to use an alternative acne treatment with less potential side effects.