Medication for Acne Vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne, and it usually affects teens and young adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, the causes of acne vulgaris include the excessive production of oil, excessive amounts of dead skin, and the presence of bacteria. Medications formulated to treat acne focus on one or more of these causes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types of Medications
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Both over-the-counter and prescription topical medications are available to treat acne vulgaris. Over-the-counter topical medications include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, while prescription topical medications are usually derived from Vitamin A, such as tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene. In addition, doctors sometimes prescribe oral medications to help clear skin. These include antibiotics like erythromycin, clindamycin, and isotretinoin.
Functions
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Over-the-counter topical medications eliminate excess oil and destroy some of the bacteria that causes acne vulgaris, while topical prescription medications help your body produce new skin cells and unclog follicles. Oral antibiotics interfere with the replication of bacterial cells, causing them to die. Isotretinoin specifically prevents your glands from producing the oil that clogs your pores.
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Treatment Time Frame
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The Mayo Clinic reports that doctors typically prescribe antibiotics for acne vulgaris for between three and four months. A course of isotretinoin treatment usually lasts fifteen to twenty weeks, according to RxList.
Side Effects of Oral Medications
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The Merck Medical Manual lists upset stomach, diarrhea, and vaginal yeast infections as the most common side affects of oral antibiotics. Side effects of isotretinoin include dry eyes and mucous membranes, nosebleeds, muscle aches, and increased sensitivity to the sun.
Risks
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According to the Merck Medical Manual, oral antibiotics can cause severe allergic reactions in some patients and they pose a risk for severe inflammation of your colon, known as pseudomembraneous colitis. Isotretinoin cannot be taken by pregnant women because it causes severe birth defects. Other risks associated with isotretinoin are depression, suicidal thoughts, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
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