Treatments for Acne

In its milder forms, your local health care provider will offer the first response to the condition. If that response does not work well enough, you will usually be referred to a dermatologist, a physician who specializes in skin problems. As medical science stands, there is no cure for acne, but the present range of treatments are effective to heal the lesions and to prevent new lesions from forming. In doing so, the aim is both to prevent short- and long-term damage to the appearance, and to reduce the level of psychological distress.  

The medications target different aspects of the condition by: reducing the amount of oil produced by the glands; breaking up the cell formations that block the pores; relieving any pain from inflammation; and fighting infection where bacteria has entered the lesion.

You should recognize that there is a risk of side effects from almost every medication on the market, whether it is sold over the counter or on prescription. Thus, before you begin any treatment, it is important to discuss the situation with your health provider or pharmacist. In the first instance, the risk of side effects will be low. Most of the first response drugs are reasonably effective and safe. For these purposes, all the treatments are either in tablet form or supplied as a topical cream, gel or lotion that you rub on to the affected areas of skin. If you have sensitive skin, a cream or lotion will moisturize and offer a barrier protection to the skin. Should your skin be oily or you live in a hot and humid climate, it may be better to use an alcohol-based gel or solution, which will help to keep your skin dry. Depending on the nature and scale of the problem, you may be advised to combine both forms.

The milder forms of whiteheads and blackheads will usually be treated with topical creams, soaps or pads. You must be patient. Treatment at all levels requires a slow and steady build-up of active chemicals. Do not be surprised if one month passes without there being any obvious change. It is quite common for it to take two months before you see real signs of improvement. No matter how disheartened you may feel, you should continue using the medication regularly as directed by your health provider. It is not in your interests to discard the first-response treatment and to demand stronger drugs until at least two months has passed.

Should the first-response medications prove ineffective or the initial problem is more severe, you will need one of the prescription medications. It is important that your health provider works up through the strength of these medications. There are a number of problems in the use of the most powerful drugs including Accutane so it is better to try the less powerful first. As with the first-response medications, each trial will last not less than eight weeks to see whether there is any improvement. Only if all the other drugs have been eliminated will your health provider turn to Accutane. There is a careful balancing of risks against benefits for two classes of patients and it is important that you, as a patient, understand what is involved before you agree to treatment.