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Acne Help (Home) > Acne Treatment > Acne Medications Acne Treatment and Medications: Benefits and Side EffectsAcne is a very stressful condition for those that struggle with it. Although it has been around since forever, it is only recently that doctors have begun to seriously study its causes. There are many medical treatments for acne, although unfortunately, it can not be said that there is any one, single treatment to cure acne. Rather than having a single treatment for acne, doctors generally have to try several different products for each individual before finding the treatment or combination of treatments that will clear up the problem. Every case of acne is different and will do different things to the skin depending on the individual. This makes acne quite a difficult condition to treat. A lot of experimentation and trial and error with various medications is usually needed before a successful treatment is found. This can be very frustrating for the person that wants a quick-fix solution to their problem or even for those individuals that have a stubborn strain of acne that takes a long time to clear up. It always helps to see a doctor or dermatologist that has plenty of experience in treating acne, this way they can draw on their professional experience. There are some absolute 'no nos' when it comes to dealing with acne. You should never scrub skin that is affected by acne. This irritates and inflames the acne, causing more pimples and making the healing process longer and more drawn out. Never attempt to self-treat or self-medicate. Pimple removal is something that should always be left up to a trained doctor in an antiseptic environment. In most cases, the first treatment that a doctor will recommend is a topical cream. These creams, like all acne treatments, do not cure acne, but rather help manage the symptoms of the acne. The treatment that you receive will depend on the type of symptoms that you are experiencing. It will either be aimed at unplugging pores, killing bacteria (antibiotics), reducing the amount of oils (such as Accutane) or altering the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands (such as oral contraceptives). If topical creams alone prove ineffective, doctors will usually combine them with an oral antibiotic. The topical creams usually contain benzoyl peroxide which although effective, should be used in small doses. It was originally thought to be harmless, however studies show that prolonged use or overuse can lead to premature aging of the skin. The most important thing to remember when attempting to rid yourself of acne is to work with a trained medical professional that you trust. Secondly, be patient. Even in the best of cases, acne does not clear up overnight. In fact, even when you have found a treatment that works, your skin will usually get worse before it gets better. Doctors usually recommend continuing a treatment for at least four to six weeks before expecting to see results. Do not be disappointed if the first treatment that you try does not work. Expect to try several different treatments before finally finding success. MedicinesOral antibioticsThese include erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline. It may be up to six months before you see the full effects of these drugs, although there will probably be some difference after about six weeks. Oral antibiotics are effective in about two thirds of cases of moderate-to-severe acne, and can safely be taken for a year or more. I never had much success with these medicines myself, but I know other people have been completely cured after a six month course. Topical antibioticsMild-to-moderate acne can often be controlled using antibiotics such as erythromycin applied directly to the skin. These treatments come in bottles with a special sponge applicator, and should be applied over all affected areas, not just individual spots. This will not, however, have any effect on blackheads or whiteheads. My own acne was controlled for several years using a topical antibiotic, and I found it to be a convenient and simple to use medicine. Peeling agentsNot quite as unpleasant as they sound, treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin are effective against blackheads, unlike antibiotics, but cause dryness and irritation. I recently tried using benzoyl peroxide when my acne staged a comeback, but found it dried my skin too much. I know of people who use these medicines with great effect, for a long time, but beware - one guy managed to bleach some of his hair! HormonesWomen with acne can be helped by taking Dianette (Diane-35 in some countries). This contains the hormones oestrogen and cyproterone, which counteract the male hormone androgen. Over-production of this hormone is the main cause of excessively greasy skin in women, which can then lead to acne. Dianette is very effective for many women, and can be taken for many years. It is also an effective contraceptive, but must be taken regularly if you want to rely on it for this purpose.
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