OTC and Rx Products for Acne 0
The sheer number of products available for acne today is astounding. If you walk into your local store and head to the appropriate aisle, your eyes will widen at the sight of hundreds of acne cleansers, creams, and other products formulated for acne-prone skin. As some who has just started suffering from acne, the feat of choosing a product can be overwhelming. It can even be difficult for acne veterans to distinguish quality products from more ineffective ones. The situation gets no less complicated when you schedule an appointment at your local dermatologist’s office. Those who’ve attended at least several visits know that these doctors stock their own toolkit of various acne medications, each designed to serve one or more purposes. To somewhat obliterate the cloud of confusion that looms over acne products, this article will describe some of them as well as what they are intended for.
We are first going to start with over the counter products. A large portion of OTC acne creams and gels contain benzoyl peroxide, either by itself or with a number of other additives. This additive accomplishes two primary functions in the treatment of acne. First, it targets the p. acnes bacteria which allow inflamed lesions to form. Second, it helps the skin eliminate the main cause of acne, which is dead cells plugging pores.
Benzoyl peroxide is just as effective in low concentrations as it is in higher ones. You will experience more irritation with the 10% cream than you will with its 5% cousin, without any added benefits. This is fine if you use moisturizer, however, it doesn’t make much sense to up the concentrations. Bottom-line: stick to the 2.5% form. Some other popular products in acne treatments are sulfur and salicylic acid. These act in much the same way as benzoyl peroxide and are also good choices.
Dermatologists prescribe nearly all of their patients more than a single medication. After all, acne is the result of multiple influences. Topical medications prescribed by dermatologists focus on improving the turnover cycle and killing the bacteria that are responsible for acne. Erythromycin and Benzoyl peroxide are choice medications for bacteria control. Dead skin cell turnover can be normalized with topical retinoids including Tretinoin, the generic form of Retin-A. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin-A. Added bacteria control can be established through oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline. Accutane is a last-resort oral medication designed to temporarily end sebum production in acne-prone individuals. The treatment prolongs for six months and requires that the patient receives regular blood work. Due to some of the negative effects associated with Accutane, it is rarely prescribed on an initial visit.
When it comes to what specific treatment you should use, it all depends on the type of acne you are suffering from. If you have some whiteheads and blackheads, or a more mild case of acne, you may respond well to OTC treatments. Those with more inflamed lesions than anything else such as cysts and pustules should consider visiting a dermatologist. Prescription medications are often required in these circumstances.
More on topical retinoids acne treatment and how to get rid of acne scars is contained on our website.
