Who does not crave for a perfect, scar-free, gorgeous skin endorsing a stunning personality? Nowadays most of the health conscious people are well aware of countless skin care techniques. All these techniques are yearned-for an acne free skin even though we often turn out to be victims of this traumatic skin disease. If purpose of skin care did not serve, do not get disheartened! There are countless acne medications available in the global market, which are extremely effective in treating stubborn acne blemishes root and branch.
Over-the-counter Acne Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) products are useful for treating mild, moderate, as well as severe acne conditions. Some active ingredients frequently used in acne medications are described below:
Benzoyl Peroxide
The keystone of all OTC medications – benzoyl peroxide – is used to heal mild to moderate acne. It is one of the most popular topical antimicrobial applications which invades acne-causing bactena Propiombactenum acnes and roots out its possibility of further proliferation from our skin.
Although it lacks anti-inflammatory property, benzoyl peroxide is widely used for exfoliation to clean out comedones. When combined with other antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide assists them to fight with bacteria and simultaneously protects the patient from being antibiotic resistant to some extent.
For the same reason nowadays many acne medications include banzoyl peroxide as one of the active constituents. This chemical is easily available in the form of gel, lotion, cleanser, cream, or face wash. You should continue using of benzoyl peroxide even long after your acne lesions have vanished; otherwise acne symptoms might again show up. A few side effects associated with this medication are skin irritation and excessive dryness, discoloration of fabnc or hair, and allergic infection.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is known to be effective for non-inflammatory acne conditions. This chemical mainly helps in opening the clogged pores and sloughing off dead skin cells. Just like benzoyl peroxide one should not discontinue the regular application of this medication, even long after you have got back your normal skin. Salicylic acid would be available in the form of lotions, creams, or pads.
Sulfur as acne medications
For decades sulfur is used as an acne treatment. It is mainly available in combination with other topical acne treatments and is used as an exfoliating or peeling agent.
Resorcinol
Resorcinol is most popular acne medication for mild conditions. It is often used along with sulfur in OTC preparations.
Prescribed Acne Medications
Dermatologists frequently prescribe number of acne medications depending on the moderate to severe acne condition of the patient. These medications usually work by resolving diverse factors leading to acne formation. To achieve quick and long lasting effect, skin specialists often suggest different topical OTC preparations along with suitable prescribed medicines. Following are a few prescribed treatments often used to cure acne blemishes:
Injection
To treat intensely inflamed acne cysts and avoid scarring dermatologists often administer interlesional corticosteroid injection to heal them. The corticosteroid injection alleviates the cysts within three to five days.
Oral Antibiotics
Topical antibiotics are commonly used to ward off acne flare-ups. These are the mainspring of all topical and oral acne medications. Antibiotics principally work to reduce reproduction of P. acnes bacteria consequently lessening the associated inflammation. It takes around six months to cure acne symptoms. Overuse of antibiotics makes the patients susceptible to antibiotic resistance.
Two broad-spectrum antibiotics, used for acne prevention measure, are described as following:
Erythromycin: This powerful broad spectrum antibiotic is effective in killing P. acnes efficiently. It is also used as topical preparation. It might show up some side effects like irritation of our digestive tract.
Tetracycline: Tetracycline and its denvatives are often used to offset inflammatory acne lesions. Minocycline and doxycydine are two most important synthetic derivatives of tetracycline which are used to treat pustules and papules. But this medication could be harmful if administered to children below eight years and pregnant mothers.
Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives cut back the overproduction of sebum by controlling the hormonal signals. These are often prescnbed as per the advice of gynecologists to cure mild to severe female acne conditions alongside other topical medications.
Topical Antimicrobials
These acne medications normally work together with other topical OTC preparations to extirpate acne vulgaris. Most popular natural or synthetic topical antimicrobials include benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, clindamycin, sodium sulfacetamide, and erythromycin. All these medicines work more or less on the same lines to improve both non- and inflammatory lesions along with healing dark acne scars.
Retinoids as acne medications
Retinoids are modified vitamin A which proficiently work to open clogged pores and healing inflammation. Tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, and isotretinoin are a few popular retinoids which work together with antibiotics to abolish acne. Patients need to wait for at least 8 to 10 weeks to see any visible improvements.
