Acne is a condition in which the skin pores are clogged and produce pimples, whiteheads or blackheads. Acne, though often mild, may occasionally be severe producing cysts and scarring. It mostly appears on the face, chest, neck or back. Acne treatments generally work by slowing down oil production, accelerating skin cell turnover, reducing the inflammation and fighting bacterial infection.

Mild acne conditions can be treated with an over-the-counter treatment. These preparations are always primarily directed at reduction of pore blockages and include cleansers and topical treatments like pads, lotions, creams and gels which are applied on the skin surface. These products contain sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and resorcinol or tea oil as their active ingredient. When applying topical acne medications, you should do so to the entire area of acne attack and not just to those visible blemishes. This ensures that all the microscopic blemishes not visible to you are also treated. The use of the products should be on a regular basis as directed on their label.
Their main advantage is that they are relatively inexpensive and available without a physician’s prescription. However, the drawbacks to these remedies is their inability to work for people with more severe acne attacks and may also cause side effects like skin irritation, flaking and dryness, but these often improve after a few months of therapy. One also needs to continuously use them to maintain the improvement.

Prescription Treatment

If after trying the above suggestions but still the excessive dryness or irritation persists, you can always visit a dermatologist to advice you on which prescription remedy to adopt. Such interventions may include:

Antibiotics

A short course prescription of oral antibiotics can be used to fight inflammation and reduce bacteria in case of mild to severe acne. Since they were the first to be used in treating acne, many people have developed resistance to them and such the doctor will recommend that you reduce their usage as soon as you begin to improve or if it becomes clear that the drugs are not effective. In most cases, the doctor will prescribe both oral antibiotics and topical medications together. Antibiotics do cause side effects like dizziness, stomach upsets or skin discoloration.

Isotretinoin

Antibiotics may not be enough for deep cysts and thus Isotretinoin can be used to scar cystic acnes or the acne not responding to other treatments. It is reserved for very severe forms of acne, and should only be taken under the close watch of a dermatologist due to the possibility of serious side effects such as, dry lips, eyes, mouth, nose, and skin, as well as nosebleeds, itching, muscle aches, and sensitivity to the sun. It cannot be taken by pregnant women because it’s associated with increased chances of severe birth defects.

Oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives can help improve acne in women. However, it has other side effects like breast tenderness, nausea, depression and headaches.

Laser and light therapy

Such therapies penetrate the deeper skin layers without causing harm to the skin’s surface. Laser treatment damages the oil glands thus causing them to secrete less oil. Light therapy, on the other hand, targets the bacteria responsible for acne inflammation. These therapies also improve skin texture by lessening the appearance of the scars. They are only recommended as stand-alone remedy for those who can’t tolerate other approved acne medications.

Cosmetic procedures

Chemical peels may be effective in controlling acne. They have always been traditionally in lessening the appearance sun damage, minor facial scars and fine lines but can be a viable option, especially, when adopted in combination with the other acne treatments. They may however cause temporary, redness, blistering and scaling, and long-term skin discoloration.

The author has been addressing issues related to healthcare such as types of acne and acne treatment, hair fall and its treatment apart from other topics such as HGH, growth hormones and yoga.