Medicine for Acne on the Back, Shoulder & Chest
Acne can occur in people of all ages and can be located on the face, back, arms and chest. Causes of acne include excessive production of oil on the skin, irritation of hair follicles and bacterial infections. Acne can result in whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, hard nodules under the skin and large pus-filled cysts or boils that are painful and can cause scarring. Treatments for acne can minimize further damage to the skin. Here are a few medicines available for acne on the back, shoulders and chest.
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Non-prescription topicals
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Over-the-counter topical treatments for acne include active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid and usually work by reducing oil production.
Prescription topicals
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Moderate and severe acne may require prescription-strength medications including tretinoin and adapalene which use derivatives of vitamin A to promote skin turnover and prevent irritation of the hair follicles.
Antibiotics
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Antibiotics can be used to kill bacteria that cause the formation of forms of acne that include nodules and cysts.
Isotretinoin
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Isotretinoin is for deep cysts that do not respond to antibiotics or other treatments. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is not recommended for use in women of childbearing age.
Oral Contraceptives
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Combination oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone may reduce acne in women but should not be used by women over age 35 or those who smoke.
Laser therapy
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Lasers can peel the dead layers of skin and works by reducing the amount of oil produced in the sebaceous glands and killing surface bacteria on the skin.
Warning
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Isotretinoin can cause severe birth defects, raise cholesterol, cause liver damage and irritable bowel syndrome and requires close monitoring by a doctor during use.
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