Acne Medicine

There are many types of prescription and non-prescription acne medicine on the market ...

Everybody, at some stage in their life, will have to deal with some form of acne. For some, acne will be very mild and infrequent, but for the unlucky ones, it will be so severe it will seem like it's the end of the world. The vast majority of people will, however, be in the middle somewhere.

Acne may be aggravated by factors such as stress, diet, air quality and life-style choices but it is caused by two things only - hormonal imbalances and genetics. Everyone, at some time in their lives will go through a period of time when their hormones seem to get stirred up (puberty and pregnancy are prime examples) and also if acne is your genetic trait, you're pretty much stuck with it.

Fortunately, there are many over the counter (OTC), non-prescription medications available to help people deal with acne. For example, Clearasil, Aveeno, Neutrogena and so on - how well they work for you will pretty much be determined by the product's active ingredients, the cause of the user's acne and the user's skin type.

What's in these formulas ?  Not all acne products will work the same way because of the different ingredients used. Benzoyl peroxide, for example, works by reducing the P.acnes bacteria (a naturally occurring bacteria in the skin), while the active ingredient salicylic acid works by reducing the amount of dead skin the body gets rid of. 

Here's a breakdown of what's available ...

1.  Over-the-counter acne medications often contain these ingredients:

-Alcohol and acetone - alcohol and acetone are used together in some over-the-counter acne medications. The acetone makes the skin less oily and the alcohol kills external bacteria.

-Benzoyl peroxide - benzoyl peroxide is the wonder drug in the acne treatment industry; it works by reducing the natural P.acnes bacteria and reduces the quantity of dead skin cells. By performing these two actions, benzoyl peroxide manages to lessen the effects of two of the main causes of comedones (the large, deep, pus-filled pimples that are the trademarks of acne).

Benzoyl peroxide has been used for years in acne treatment medications since being discovered to be very effective in treating mild acne. To avoid problems, use as directed.  Benzoyl peroxide, when over-used, has the side-effect of drying out your skin and can also discolor any fabrics or materials it comes into contact with, e.g., shirts, towels, sheets, etc.. It is available as a lotion or gel and can be used as a preventative acne treatment even after your acne has cleared up.

-Herbal, organic and home remedies for acne - you will find some OTC products with labels such herbal, organic and natural - these products are generally put on the market to appeal to the people who are attracted to products with those labels. The products themselves may or may not be beneficial for acne and should be considered untested.  However, products with antioxidants that fight free radicals, like vitamin C, E, Aloe Vera, Alpha Lipoic acid and so on, have been proven to work in crearing up skin problems.

2.  Other OTC acne medicines can include:

-Resorcinol - the active ingredient resorcinol has been found to work well on small acne blemishes and can be found in some OTC products combined with sulfur. 

-Sulfur itself has been used in a number of OTC medications for decades, usually in combination with active ingredients such as alcohol, salicylic acid and resorcinol. Sulfur has been found be an effective acne treatment for some people but it does not seem to be known exactly how it works to clear up acne. Products with sulfur will tend to have an unpleasant smell.

-Salicylic acid: The active ingredient salicylic acid is generally effective for acne blemishes when there is no inflammation present. Salicylic acid acts by unclogging clogged-up pores to reduce the number of acne blemishes formed -- it does this by minimizing the amount of dead skin cells; it has no known effect on the production of sebum or the production of the P.acnes bacteria. Just as is recommended with products containing benzoyl peroxide, products with salicylic acid as the active ingredient should be used even after the acne clears up to prevent its return. One possible side-effect of salicylic acid is skin irritation in some people.

3.  You also have prescription acne medicine, for example :

-Clindamycin - this semi-synthetic antibiotic works by reducing P. acnes and decreasing inflammation.

-Erythromycin - in the topical form, erythromycin is both an antimicrobial and an anti-inflammatory. It is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including P. acnes.

-Topical retinoids - such as tretinoin, are a derivative of vitamin A and are used for mild to severe inflammatory acne. They unclog pores and prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming. But, they can cause irritation and increased sun sensitivity.

-Isotretinoin (Accutane) - you've probably heard of this one - it is a powerful drug used in the treatment of acne. Four to five months of isotretinoin treatment usually leads to clearing of acne for one year or more after the medicine is stopped. This is used to treat a type of severe acne (nodular acne) that has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics. However, Accutane can cause serious side effects. Before starting Accutane, discuss with your prescriber how bad your acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane, and its possible side effects, to decide if Accutane is right for you. Your prescriber will ask you to read and sign a form or forms indicating you understand some of the serious risks of Accutane.

Considering your skin, realize that everyone's skin is a bit different. Some people have generally dry skin, some have generally oily skin and most people have a combination of the two on different areas on our bodies. In general, acne in areas of oily skin will respond better to a gel based acne product while areas of acne on dry skin will respond better to a cream.

If you have sensitive skin don't use a real strong acne medication – it will just lead to irritation and possibly make your acne worse.

Some of the milder acne treatments can be used as a preventative measure and some (like those with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid) are recommended as post-acne preventative measures but many are too strong and will irritate your skin.

Most OTC acne medicine can treat mild cases, however if you think you need a stronger product, see your family physician, who may send you to a dermatologist (specialist) for a more accurate diagnosis.