Say Goodbye to Acne

Prescription Acne Treatments

Tetracycline, Doxycycline, and Minocycline

Antibiotics have been used for decades to combat acne by inhibiting the p. acnes bacteria from producing a certain protein it needs to live and multiply. By killing p. acnes, these antibiotics treat the cause of acne, ending the infection and clearing your complexion. These antibiotics can also reduce acne scarring because they speed up the healing process.

However, like most acne medications, these antibiotics do have side effects; some of them can be severe, especially those from Minocycline. Tetracycline and Doxycycline are gentler, and their potential side effects include nasea, diarrhea, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to the UV rays, either from the sun or tanning beds.

Side effects of Minocycline include the development of very serious conditions, such as heart and respiratory difficulty and failure and Minocycline use has been linked with at least two deaths. Minocycline can also affect your ability to operate a car and can cloud your judgment. It is also very dangerous for pregnant women to use Minocycline, as it can cause skeletal defects in their unborn child. Also, children under eight years old cannot take Minocycline because it can cause permanent graying or yellowing of the teeth and can impair their growth and development. Outdated Minocycline must be disposed of, as it can cause kidney damage if taken.

In addition, the use of any antibiotic can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, which can make the use of antibiotics to treat acne risky for many women.

Although the body does not build a resistance to Minocycline quickly, experts are increasingly recommending other antibiotics because reduced risk of serious side effects.

Accutane

Accutane, also known as isotretinoin, Amnesteem, and Clarvis, is a prescription acne medication used to treat moderate to severe acne. It comes from a family of chemicals called retinoids, which are a derivative of vitamin A. Accutane has been for over twenty years to treat and, in many cases, completely cure acne. Accutane accomplishes this cure by stopping your body from secreting oil while you are taking it, which is generally about 4-5 months. Unfortunately Accutane is a toxic substance and has a long list of potential side effects, especially concerning women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. There are several birth defects that may result from Accutane use, including mental retardation, facial abnormalities, heart problems. There is also an increased risk of infant mortality and premature birth. Because Accutane is so dangerous to unborn children, the manufacturer has set up a rigid program to regulate Accutane’s use and distribution. Before a woman can be prescribed Accutane, she must pass a pregnancy test and begin taking birth control pills. It is also required that she must use an additional form of contraception while she is taking Accutane and for a period of time afterward.

In addition to severe birth defects, other common side effects include hair loss, soreness, dry skin, nosebleeds, dry eyes, and chapped lips. There is also significant evidence that Accutane can cause users to become depressed and attempt suicide.

Accutane is very effective for permanently clearing acne, but it has several serious medical and cosmetic side effects. Before taking Accutane you should first try some other, safer acne treatments.

Retin A

Retin A is a Retinoid like Accutane, but Retin A is much less toxic and is applied topically instead of taken as a pill. Retin A works by causing the skin to shed cells more quickly, which clears pores and gives acne less chance to develop. However, like Accutane, Retin A has some bothersome side effects.

Because Retin A essential causes your skin to become thinner, it is more sensitive to light, gets dried out easily, and can become irritated. Retin A also carries a risk for birth defects and must be avoided by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.

Many people find that their skin gets very dry when they first begin using Retin A, and discontinue use. However, you must use Retin A for 1-2 months to see noticeable results.

Birth Control Pills

Some birth control pills claim to reduce the appearance of acne because of the effect it has on hormones. Although many women say that birth control has cleared their complexion, many others say it has no effect or made their acne worse.

Although birth control pills have several benefits, they may not be the most effective treatment for acne, and should be considered carefully before using, since it does alter your hormonal imbalance. Many women report than the pill does help ease cramps, but weight gain and reduced sex drive are also fairly common.

Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection

This treatment is injected directly into cystic nodules to help them heal. The fluid injected is very diluted, but is similar to anti-inflammatory injections use to help knee and back problems. In addition its anti-inflammatory effects, this injection helps to dissolve the cyst and begin healing within 3-5 days. Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection must be done by a trained physician.

Conclusion

No matter how severe your acne is, there is a treatment option that will work for you. Your skin type and acne type will determine what treatments are effective and which have little effect. For most people, using some type of over the counter acne treatment will improve their skin, although it may not clear their acne altogether. However, some people may elect to seek the help of a dermatologist, especially if their acne is more severe. Although dermatologists are trained professionals, you should learn and understand any treatments they suggest, and be familiar with any side effects. In some acne treatments, side effects are a possibility, but in others, like Accutane, you are almost guaranteed to experience several of the known side effects. Before beginning any treatment, you need to know the risks and decide if being acne free is worth the risks that come with your acne treatment.

By: Kelly Wade

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Solve your acne & skincare problems at http://www.acnepimplezits.com

It’s dreaded by teenagers everywhere - regardless of their skin color, the language they speak or what social circles they run in. If anything is going to bring the youth of today together in a common cause, it’s the fight against acne.

Teenagers everywhere are constantly on the lookout for effective acne treatments, but just as acne can come in many forms and degrees of severity, there are many different treatments available. The one that will work best for one person won’t necessarily be the best for someone else.

Before you can decide on the best treatment option, it helps to understand what it is that actually causes acne. It’s commonly believed to be caused by poor hygiene, but that isn’t the case. It is actually caused by changes in the body that can’t (and shouldn’t) be stopped.

Teenage acne is often due to hormonal changes in the body that causes excess secretion of oil, which can block pores and trap dirt and moisture. The result is the blackheads and pimples that are so common among teens.

Effective treatments are available for the various forms of acne, and a dermatologist will be able to thoroughly diagnose a particular case and recommend the proper treatment.

If you’ve ever looked at the many acne treatments that are available at any drug store or pharmacy, you’ll probably have seen shelves full of creams, gels and lotions that promise to be the cure to end all acne problems.

These treatments work for some people and not for others, but they are often attempting to treat any and all forms of acne, which just isn’t possible. The most effective treatments will be tailored for a given person’s acne.

Some of these treatments will include azelaic acid creams, benzoyl peroxide or Accutane. They may be in the form of topical creams or lotions. Each of these treatments is best suited to deal with certain types of acne, with varying strengths depending on the severity of the acne.

Many teens spend a lot of time and money trying every possible treatment to get rid of their acne. The trouble is, the treatments are often not dealing with the cause in their particular situation. A visit to a dermatologist is the best way to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, customized for a particular case.

By: Nathan James

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Solve your acne & skincare problems at http://www.acnepimplezits.com

To choose the best acne treatment is a tricky task because not all acne is the same.  There are a number of different types of acne, and there is no common treatment that is equally effective for each.  Nor are there treatments that work with each form of acne in the same way, since the treatment depends a great deal on the severity of the condition.

One of the more effective acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient behind many different topical treatments such as Clearasil Max and ProActive. However, you have to be careful with benzoyl peroxide on your face because it could cause irritation of your skin.  It is better used on thicker skin, and is therefore widely used for treating back acne. It not only possesses antibacterial properties but also promotes the flaking of dead surface skin cells.

One of the problems with acne is that a treatment that one person finds effective might not be so for another. Each person has to find an acne treatment that is most effective for their own condition. Some of the milder forms of acne can be treated simply with a mild facial cleanser.  If you follow this up with a commercial antibacterial acne treatment, then you will have as good a chance as any of controlling your condition or even of curing it. 

If your acne is deeper and more persistent, a treatment needs to be designed to effectively reduce the production of sebum.  This is the oil that is believed to be responsible for most acne conditions.  This treatment approach would be an effective way of preventing the acne from getting worse and possibly even stopping it altogether.  One prescription for achieving this is called isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane), a Vitamin A based treatment. It will only be prescribed by a doctor if the acne is severe and persistent, and is not suitable for anybody with liver problems.

With regard to topical acne creams, Vitamin A (retinol) can be effective, although a proportion of the population contract dry and flaking skin when they use it. In fact that is how it works:  by promoting flaking off of the top skin cell. It is basically a topical form of the oral isotretinoin, but not as strong. It is not the perfect treatment, and like most acne treatments, it will suit some more than others.

Antibiotic treatments can be effective, particularly when used in conjunction with skin-shedding applications such as benzoyl peroxide or retinol. However, most topical treatments will show few benefits for at least six months.  So you are looking at long-term treatments rather than the quick fix. In fact there really are no quick fixes for acne, although laser treatment can produce rapid results in serious cases.

Oral contraceptives have been found to work for women with acne.  A combination of the testosterone suppressant, cyproterone acetate and the hormone ethinylestradiol (eg. Dianette) have been found to be an effective treatment. It works by suppressing the male hormones (that all women have) and with it, the production of sebum.

There is really no such thing as the best acne treatment because each works differently with different people.  This simply indicates the difficulty in understanding the true causes and nature of the condition.  The way for you to find the best acne treatment is start off with the milder treatments and work up.  Thus, antibacterial soaps and body scrubs should be followed with topical over the counter acne creams.  If these don’t work, then your physician might suggest a prescription treatment, and eventually, with a bit of persistence on your part, you will come across an acne treatment that suits you. The best acne treatment for an individual is the one that works.

By: Dean Erickson

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Solve your acne & skincare problems at http://www.acnepimplezits.com