There are many standard medications for the treatment of acne.
If you decide that your acne is not responding to
over-the-counter treatments, it would be wise to visit your
local GP. If after two months the acne still does not seem to be
improving, ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Treatments for
acne differ in various countries and what is acceptable in one
may not be available in another.
One of the most common treatments for acne is an antibiotic like
tetracycline. This will kill the bacteria present in the blocked
hair follicle, thus reducing the inflammation. It may need to be
taken for some months, but is considered quite safe.
The acne can also be treated externally by using erythromycin or
benzoyl peroxide. While this reduces the bacteria causing the
problem, it is really treating the symptoms rather than the
cause. That is, the oil secretion and abnormal cell behaviour
that blocks the follicle in the first place. So unfortunately,
the acne will usually reappear within some weeks of the
treatment being stopped.
The best thing to do is to reduce the amount of oil being
secreted, and this can be accomplished by taking Vitamin A
derivatives (marketed as Accutane). There are many harsh side
effects, such as nosebleeds and dry skin with this treatment, so
it must be done under the close supervision of the
dermatologist. On the good side, over 80% of patients are
permanently cured of acne. It was once thought that liver damage
and depression could occur, but this is unsubstantiated. Birth
defects can occur if taken by pregnant women, but the patient
also taking the contraceptive pill before beginning the
treatment avoids this.
Exfoliating the skin is another treatment widely used in
controlling acne. A chemical exfoliating agent such as salicylic
acid or glycolic acid is used as a topical application to
encourage the top layer of skin to peel off. This is not as
horrible as it sounds, as only a microscopic layer dissolves.
The same effect can also be accomplished by the use of an
abrasive cloth or liquid scrub.
Sometimes, the contraceptive pill is prescribed for the control
of acne. A combined oestrogen/progestogen pill (marketed as
Diane) is the most effective and now there is a new one on the
market - though it may not be available in the USA - which has
fewer side effects.
Photosynthesis is yet another treatment. Sunlight has been used
for a short-term aid in the past. Now it has been found that
intense blue light produced by specially made fluorescent tubes
is far more efficient. Yoram Harth and Alan Shalita have
conducted extensive tests and trials with this method and found
it can reduce the inflamed lesions by 60-70% in about four weeks
of treatment. It works best if the acne is mild to moderate and
has no side effects.
These are the main treatments used to control and cure acne. It
is best to adhere strictly to the guidelines prescribed by your
doctor for each one.
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