How to Know What Drugs The Dermatologist Prescribes for Acne

Different types of blemishes require different types of treatment.

Treating acne with prescription drugs is one method to get rid of pimples and improve overall skin health. Many different drugs can be prescribed to treat acne. If you would like to get a head start on which drugs may be prescribed to you before your dermatologist appointment, you will need to examine your acne for a few key indicators. These indicators will help you determine the severity and type of acne, which will then determine what types of medication you are likely to be prescribed.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check your blemishes to ascertain if they are pimples or cysts. If your pimples are large and feel tender to the touch, tend to scar when healed and resemble boils, then you may have nodulocystic acne. Nodulocystic acne is treated with Isotretinoin, an oral retinoid (a pill derived from Vitamin A) that is also used to treat severe forms of acne.

2. There are a variety of drugs that treat mild to severe acne. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

   Pay close attention to your breakouts. If they are mild and occur regularly, you will be likely be prescribed an oral antibiotic, such as Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Minocycline or Doxycycline. Side effects vary and are medicine-specific. Erythromycin can cause possible stomach irritation, Tetracycline can stain teeth and stunt the growth of children under the age of 8 and Doxycycline can cause users to gain an increased sensitivity toward the sun.

3. Topical treatments alone often work for mild acne. Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images

   Examine your acne. If your breakouts are mild, but your pimples are inflamed, you might be prescribed a topical antimicrobial. This is a gel or cream that is rubbed directly onto your blemishes. Azelaic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Clindamycin, Erythromycin and Sodium sulfacetamide are common topical antimicrobials prescribed by dermatologists to treat acne in the U.S. Typical side effects of these medications include skin irritation and dryness.

4. Observe if your pimples are inflamed or not. If they're not, but your outbreaks are mild to semi-severe, then you may be prescribed a topical retinoid (a gel or cream derived from Vitamin A that can be either synthetic or natural). Topical retinoids prescribed in the U.S. include Adapalene, Tazarotene and Tretinoin. Universal side effects among these medications include skin irritation, with Tretinoin carrying an added risk of skin drying, itching, burning, scaling and redness.

Tips & Warnings

• Only a qualified dermatologist can determine the exact type of acne the patient has. The doctor must physically examine the blemishes and analyze the history and patterns of the outbreaks to prescribe effectively. Sometimes, trial and error takes place before the best solution is discovered.

References

• Acne Net: Glossary
• Acne Net: Prescription Medications for Treating Acne

Resources

• Net Doctor: Acne