Acne Medications - Which One is Right for You?

Acne is a distressing condition that can last for many years and needs to be treated effectively to prevent long-term scarring and short-term pain and embarrassment. There are very many acne medications that can be purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by your doctor containing a variety of different ingredients. It is essential that before you begin to use one of these medications you understand how to use it properly and are aware of any side effects that you may experience. If you use any of the following medications and suffer severe side effects stop using the product immediately and consult your doctor. We've put together a survey of some of the more commonly prescribed acne medications for your information.

Adapalene

Adapalene is marketed under the brand name Differin and is a gel that should be applied once a day only. It works by slowing down the shedding of skin cells inside the follicle that lead to clogged pores. It may make you more sensitive to sunlight so you should use a good sunscreen after using Adapalene. Some people have reported side effects including itching, burning, dryness and redness.

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid is marketed under the brand name Azelex which is is a cream that contains 20% azelaic acid. The cream should be applied twice a day. Azelaic acid can help to kill the bacteria that cause acne and also to prevent buildup of cells clogging the pores. Side effects tend to be mild and only experienced by a very small percentage of people using this product. People with dark skin have reported some lightening of their skin.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is marketed under the brand names Brevoxyl, Triaz and Benzac AC and is a very popular ingredient in both prescription and over-the-counter acne medications. It is an antibacterial agent and kills the bacteria that cause acne. It is also a drying agent that can help prevent future flareups by drying the skin. A very few people are allergic to benzyl peroxide and side effects can include redness, itching, burning and very dry skin. If you are going to use benzyl peroxide it is a good idea to start with a lowdoing now for concentration initially until your skin becomes accustomed to it. It can also bleach fabrics and hair so needs to be handled carefully.

Clindamycin

Clindamycin is marketed under brand names Clindets, Clinda-derm and Cleocin T and is a lotion or gel that should be applied twice a day. It is an antibiotic that kills the bacteria that causes acne. Some side effects include burning, redness, dryness, itching, peeling.

Erythromycin

Erythromycin is marketed under the brand names Benzamycin, Erythra-Derm, Eryderm, Akne-Mycin and many more and is another antibiotic used to kill the bacteria that causes acne. It can be purchased in gel, lotion or ointment form and is usually applied twice a day.

Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is marketed under the brand name Accutane and is a derivative of vitamin A. It is taken in tablet form for about 20 weeks. It is usually only used for people with very severe acne especially those with large inflammatory lesions. There is quite a large controversy around the taking of Accutane and some people have reported severe side effects. It works by reducing the amount of sebum and produced by glands in the skin. It should never be taken by women who are, or who may become, pregnant as it has a high risk of causing birth deformities. There are many side effects including dry skin, dry mouth and nose, cracked lips, muscle and joint pains and many more.

Tretinoin

Tretinoin is marketed under brand names Avita, Renova, Retin-A and Retin-A Micro that is a popular ingredient of preparations marketed as antiwrinkle treatments. Tretinoin is a combination of vitamin A and retinoic acid and can be purchased as creams, liquids or gels. It is thought to increase the speed of replacement of skin cells on the surface and also to help keep the follicles and pores clear. In one study using Tretinoin a 30 to 45% reduction in acne lesions was seen. Initial use of Tretinoin may make the acne worse as the pimples are brought to the surface. You should also be careful about being exposed to sunlight as skin may be more sensitive while using Tretinoin. Ycare is also needed if you are using other medications on the skin, including those containing salicylic acid or sulfur as a combination of these with Tretinoin can cause excess irritation. Some side effects include redness, blistering and irritation.

Conclusion
All of these preparations may have some side effects and are best used if you have moderate to severe acne. If you only have mild acne there are many natural acne remedies that may be more useful and do not have such severe side effects. In addition to using any acne remedy it is essential that you also pay attention to your diet and the way you clean your skin. Washing the face should only be done twice a day with a very mild soap, without any scrubbing, which will only irritate the skin further. A healthy diet, including drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, is essential for healthy skin. Taking care of your health and your skin will go a long way to helping you have healthy, acne free skin and will boost the effectiveness of any of the acne preparations you may use.

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