Side Effects of Chemicals in Acne Solutions
All skin medications, over-the-counter or prescription, have some type of side effects. The best remedy for avoiding side effects of acne solutions is to do your research on available products and consult a physician to help you decide on or prescribe the right medication for your acne's severity level.
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Efficacy
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Over-the-counter acne medications can be fairly effective when used on a regular basis, but full results or changes in your acne may take up to eight weeks. Use topical and oral prescribed acne medications with caution. The creams and oral medication are known to work on mild, moderate and severe forms of acne.
Minor Side Effects
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Benzoyl peroxide causes stinging, burning, peeling redness and scaling of the skin. The Federal Drug Administration classifies benzoyl peroxide as a Category III medication because the safety level of the drug is unknown. Isoretinoin side effects include skin rashes, itching, peeling and reddening of the skin. Tetracycline is an antibiotic. Overuse of an antibiotic can cause bacteria to become resistant to the medication. Birth control pills can be a useful medication to fight acne in those patients whose bodies produce too much androgen, but they also have a number of side effects, including weight gain.
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Serious Side Effects
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Benzoyl peroxide is known to cause carcinoma, or skin cancer, in laboratory rats when the compound is ingested. The severity of the effects from isoretinoin usage includes elevated levels of blood fat and liver enzymes. Other serious side effects of isoretinoin usage include: alopecia (hair loss), depression, erectile dysfunction, hepatitis and inflammatory bowl disease. Tetracycline is known to cause cavities and stain teeth. Vaginal bleeding, increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, irregular menstruation, water retention, headaches and fatigue are some of the side effects that can be experienced by birth control users.
Isoretinoin Warning
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The FDA mandates that users of isoretinoin sign an iPLEDGE, a sworn statement certifying they understand the side effects, and that any woman taking the medication knows that two forms of birth control must be used while taking the medication.
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References
- Photo Credit skin care image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
