Acne Control – Acne Medicine for the Treatment of Acne
When you look at the pharmacy aisle dedicated to over the counter acne medicine, you will find dozens of products, all promising relief from the scourge of acne. If you are concerned that you are not getting the degree of acne control that you expect, you may want to visit your regular doctor for assistance in selecting the right products. If you still don't see the results you expect after two months, you should ask for a referral to a good dermatologist.
Antibiotics and Hormones
The antibiotic tetracycline is probably the most common medical treatment for acne. This drug kills the bacteria that have taken up residence in the blocked follicle, thus reducing the swelling, pain and inflammation. An advantage to using tetracycline is that it can be taken continuously for months without compromising safety of the sufferer.
Vitamin A derivatives such as Accutane is another treatment mode, taken internally with the goal of reduction of the quantity of oil being secreted. Unfortunately, this type of acne medicine has some significant side effects such as dry skin and nosebleeds. Accutane has a good cure record--over eighty percent of patients under the close supervision of the dermatologist experience a complete cure. This drug should not be taken by pregnant women as there is a significant risk of birth defects.
Another hormonal treatment for the control of acne is the combined estrogen/progesterone pill known as Diane. A newer contraceptive pill has fewer side effects, but it may not yet be available in the United States.
Topical treatments
Some people prefer to treat acne externally, using benzoyl peroxide or erythromycin. The treatment unfortunately only relieves the symptoms by lessening the amount of bacteria that caused the problem. The oil secretion is not reduced nor the swelling of the cells that caused the blockage. This usually causes the acne symptoms to reoccur within a few weeks after the treatment cycle is completed. Some people just use the topical treatments in order to try to keep the affected skin clean and dry. This helps to prevent the danger of secondary infection.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is another method of acne control. It consists of applying a chemical agent such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid to the outer layer of skin. The dead skin cells that are removed are microscopically thin, so it is not painful. You can accomplish the same result by using a liquid scrubbing compound or an abrasive cloth.
Photosynthesis
One of the newest treatments is that of photosynthesis. This was accomplished in the past by exposure to sunlight. Now, some specially made fluorescent lights that create intense blue light have been found to be very effective in the treatment of acne. Trials and tests using this modality have resulted in a reduction of lesions by up to seventy percent after a month of treatment. The method is most effective with moderate to mild acne. There are no known side effects according to Harth and Shalita who have performed the clinical study on the condition.
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