Effective Acne Treatment With Prescription Medication
Sometimes when acne cases are severe over the counter medications just are not effective, or they have been used and after the recommended treatment time provided results that were far less than expected.
If this sounds like you then it’s about time to get results you are craving by going to a physician or dermatologist and seeking professional advice to determine your exact type of and your particular severity level of acne.
With the vast majority of cases a physician or dermatologist can determine the correct acne medication and or acne treatment by a routine physical evaluation. The average dermatologist has seen thousands of patients with the exact same acne problem you find yourself having.
For patients with a more severe case of acne such as several deep and inflamed lesions or recurring acne, an “oral antibiotic” may be prescribed and prove to be a very effective course of treatment.
Oral acne antibiotics often reduce the bacteria levels within the lesions and prevent other acne lesions from forming underneath the skins surface in the first place.
This treatment most commonly starts with a high strength dosage and as the acne lessens in severity will often be reduced accordingly.
Typically a course of antibiotics for the treatment of acne is prescribed for six months or less.
If after six months the course of oral antibiotic has not shown to be effective a physician may attempt using a broader spectrum antibiotic treatment that may include both oral and topical acne medications.
A Few of these Oral Antibiotics for Acne Treatment include:
- Tetracycline – this oral antibiotic reduces and heals the acne lesions quickly often a lower strength dose can be prescribed for many months in a row to suppress severe cases of acne. Tetracycline has shown very positive results in the treatment of many acne cases over a very large demographic of the population.
- Erythromycin – an oral antibiotic that has been proven effective for several different forms of bacteria associated with acne, Erythromycin is a broader spectrum antibiotic that also is a very effective tool against acne breakouts.
In addition to oral antibiotics many physicians may prescribe “Topical Acne Antimicrobials” for the patient to be used in conjunction with the antibiotic pills.
This course of treatment often proves to be the most effective form of treatment for acne as both the surface skin level lesions and the deeper bacterial issues are attacked simultaneously.
Topical antimicrobials help to inhibit or allowing acne to form on the skin. As well as aiding in the healing of acne lesions that already exist. This is usually in a liquid or cream form.
A Few of these Topical Acne Antimicrobial Treatments include:
- Azelaic acid – often used for moderate inflammatory acne. In most cases Azelaic acid clears up the acne and reduces acne future outbreaks effectively. Typically it’s well tolerated by most people and most skin types. Another benefit is that Azelaic Acid can be used safely for long periods of time in fighting acne.
- Benzoyl peroxide – this topical medication virtually kills the bacteria and the acne lesions. However, it does not have the anti-inflammatory abilities as other topical medications. This medication is available in many forms both in prescription and non-prescription level strengths.Many research studies has shown Benzoyl-peroxide increases the effectiveness of oral antibiotics enhancing the healing process of acne lesions. Common side effects are skin irritations and mild to severe allergic reactions.
- Clindamycin – a semi synthetic medication that has a good history of successfully treating acne quite effectively. It reduces acne lesions and inflammation. Minor skin irritation or dryness can occur but is not as harsh on the skin as some other topical medications.
- Erthromycin – also used as a topical application, as well as in oral antibiotic form.A topical antibiotic active against a broad spectrum of bacteria that can cause acne lesions from forming.It can be combined with Benzoyl peroxide and together they have been proven to be effective. This medication may also cause skin dryness, or irritation. And, should definitely only be used as prescribed.
- Sodium sulfacetamide – an effective antibiotic cream that prevents acne lesions from forming. It can also open clogged pores, clear blackheads and it is effective in treating acne related skin inflammation. This medication contains sulfur and though effective, many patients don’t like the smell or the grittiness associated with it.
These are the most popular medications prescribed by physicians and dermatologists. Though, there are several prescriptions available. Research is always ongoing in the field of acne and effective acne treatments.
