Medication to Treat Acne

Medication to treat acne can either be in the form of a cream that is applied to the skin or a pill that is taken internally. Your doctor may even prescribe both methods at the same time. There are several over-the-counter acne treatments you can try, but if those don't work, you may need to see a doctor for prescription acne medication.

Oral Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics reduce the amount of acne-causing bacteria on your skin. Antibiotics commonly used to treat acne include erythromycin and tetracycline. The antibiotics are started at a high dose of up to 1,000 mg per day and decreased as your acne clears up. You may need to take antibiotics for several months to keep persistent acne under control.

Topical Antimicrobials

Medicated acne cream helps reduce bacteria on your skin. Topical antimicrobials can be used alone or in conjunction with oral antibiotics. This type of acne medication is used to treat inflammatory acne. Some common prescription topical antimicrobials include azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, sodium sulfacetamide and erythromycin. In some cases, benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin are used in combination. These acne medications are effective and have few side effects. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and include skin dryness or irritation.

Topical Retinoids

Topical retinoids are derived from vitamin A. These medications work on the skin to keep pores unclogged so blackheads and whiteheads cannot form. Topical retinoids can cause your skin to become more sensitive to the sun so you should limit your sun exposure while using this type of acne medication. Topical retinoids include tazarotene, adapalene and tretinoin. You may experience side effects like redness of your skin, scaly skin, dryness, burning or itching. If you do have these symptoms, your doctor may adjust your dosage until the side effects go away.

Oral Retinoid

Isotretinoin is a retinoid that you take in a pill form. It is one of the most effective acne medications used today. It has potentially serious side effects so it is reserved for use in patients who have severe acne. Isotretinoin is a form of vitamin A that decreases oil production, unclogs pores, reduces inflammation and eliminates acne bacteria. You usually take isotretinoin for 4 to 5 months. Your acne may go into remission for many months or even years after treatment. Some of the side effects include chest pain, painful swallowing, headache, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, dry skin, dry eyes and thinning hair.

References

• Acne Net
• University of Maryland Medical Center

Resources

• Medline Plus-Acne