With so many acne treatments available, it’s easy to become confused. Which acne treatment should you use: one of the several over-the-counter options or a prescription drug? When should you contact a professional for acne treatment, and what would your dermatologist recommend? Discover the solutions to these and other questions.
When to seek medical attention for acne treatment
There are many reasons to seek a dermatologist’s advice on acne treatment:
- You can have cystic or nodular acne, which are both severe forms of the disease.
- You’ve tried a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne treatments, but your skin problems persist.
- Your acne is clearing up, but scars or dark areas remain.
- Because of your acne, you experience shyness, embarrassment, or depression.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. In summary, scheduling an appointment is sufficient justification if you believe you could benefit from a skin expert’s guidance on how to treat pimples.
5 possibilities for prescription acne medications
1. Tretinoin
Dermatologists have prescribed To buy tretinoin cream, also known by the brand name Retin-A (important safety information), to treat acne. It functions by clearing clogged pores, lowering sebum production, and reducing inflammation, all of which are contributing factors to acne. The topical retinoids adapalene and tazarotene are other examples.
Be aware that these acne creams may increase your vulnerability to sunburns, so apply sunscreen and limit your exposure to the sun.
2. Antibiotics
Your dermatologist may suggest either oral antibiotics (pills) or topical antibiotics (cream) to treat acne outbreaks. Antibiotics aid in the killing of bacteria and the reduction of inflammation, which results in clearer skin in both forms. To prevent the development of antibiotic resistance, your dermatologist will frequently shorten the course of treatment and combine it with another medication if they prescribe antibiotics.
Erythromycin and clindamycin are examples of topical antibiotics, whereas doxycycline, minocycline, and recycling are the most commonly used oral antibiotics for acne.
3. Isotretinoin
Dermatologists frequently employ the oral retinoid isotretinoin (brand name Accutane) to treat moderate to severe acne. It fights against the main causes of acne, including clogged pores, oil production, and inflammation, just like tretinoin.
Despite being quite effective, isotretinoin can seriously harm a developing fetus (or a woman who becomes pregnant during therapy). As a result, using this medication requires that you use a trustworthy method of birth control.
4. Multiple oral contraceptive methods
The FDA has currently approved the following birth control tablets to treat acne:
- Tri-Cyclen Ortho (estrogen and norgestimate)
- Estrostep (oestrogen and norethindrone) (estrogen and norethindrone)
- Yaz (oestrogen and drospirenone) (estrogen and drospirenone)
- Beyaz (oestrogen, drospirenone, and levomefolate) (estrogen, drospirenone, and levomefolate)
By restoring a healthy hormone balance of sex hormones, including oestrogen, progesterone, and androgens, these acne remedies promote clear skin.
5. Acne treatment therapies
In addition to the medications already described in this article, your dermatologist may also recommend other acne treatments, occasionally in conjunction with others. Various other choices are:
- Azelaic acid (at least 15%)
- Dapsone gel, at least 5%
- Spironolactone
Azelaic acid, also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, can help you get rid of zits and remove dark acne scars (see Important Safety Information)…
To reduce breakouts and skin oiliness, spironolactone suppresses androgens in the skin, while dapsone combats skin inflammation.
best over-the-counter remedies for acne treatment
If you have mild acne, your dermatologist might also advise you to try one of the numerous over-the-counter remedies for acne-prone skin. The following are a few of the more successful ones:
- Peroxide of benzoyl
- Retinoids sold over the counter, such as tretinoin 0.1 cream, adapalene, Tretinoin cream 0.025, retinyl propionate, etc.
- Low levels of azelaic acid ( 15%)
- acid salicylate
To cure breakouts and aid in preventing acne recurrence, these topical treatments can also be used in conjunction with prescription medications.
Finally, some study suggests that zinc, aluminum chloride, sodium sulfacetamide, nicotinamide, resorcinol, and sulfur may be effective in treating acne, but more research is required.
