Acne is something that almost every person will experience at some point in their life. It is the most common skin disease seen by physicians around the world. For most people acne hits them while they are teenagers, but it can happen at any time in your life. Some cases of acne might just be a pimple once a month, but other cases are more sever and might require prescription medication. In this article we will take a look at the different types of medications to help treat and cure acne. Some of the medications include oral acne treatment, topical treatment, birth control pills, other hormone therapy, and isotretinoin. First, let’s take a look at why you might need to seek medical help for your acne. Sure acne is a part of 99.9% of the human race, but it doesn’t have to cause you pain. You should seek a dermatologist when you have reached the point where you might be embarrassed to go out in public. If you notice that once a pimple leaves your face you still have a mark where it was, you should discuss this with a dermatologist to see what you can do to help prevent any further scarring. Some of the options that you’ll be faced with for acne treatment might be a little more than you were looking for. The most commonly used acne treatment is just a topical treatment, or also known as a topical cream. These might be the most used because you can purchase some OTC instead of needing a prescription. The topical treatment kills bacteria and unclogs the pores. Oral acne treatment is more affective for people that have acne other places rather than just their face. It is also stronger than a topical cream and does require a prescription. You may be curious as to why birth control pills are used as a form of acne treatment. If you know anything about birth control pills you will know that they are used to control hormones in the female body. This type of oral contraceptive causes the body to produce less oil, which in turn can help keep the face clearer and free of blemishes. Some people choose not to use this form of acne control mainly because of the side effects that could happen. Some of the common side affects include, vomiting, depression, headaches, bloating, breast tenderness, and even weight gain. There are other side effects that are more rare such as heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, increase in blood pressure, and even the chance of the birth control failing. Birth control pills can only be prescribed by your doctor. These are not available over-the-counter and should not be shared among friends and family members. Isotretinoin is the last solution that we’re going to look at for acne treatment. This also could be categorized as an oral acne treatment since it is basically a vitamin supplement. It is much like the vitamin A. Isotretinoin should be taken with foods that are high in fat. This helps the medication be fully absorbed into the body and disperses like it should. Whether you feel you need oral acne treatment, birth control pills, or just a topical cream you should contact a dermatologist in your area to see what would work best for your skin type. This will save you a lot of money at the drug store and you might even save your skin from being damaged more.

Article by Dean James. Learn more about various types of acne solutions from Salicylic Acid Acne treatments to getting the right quantities of vitamins in your diet at http://www.netacnesolutions.com

Copyright 2005 George ForganSmith

Acne is, perhaps, the single treated skin disorder and has been
addressed in a wide variety of ways. Often the wisest step is to
develop a program in consultation with a dermatologist or
medical practitioner. Even with help, there may be a
trial-and-error process in finding the right solution. There are
also some solutions advised by alternative medicine
practitioners of various sorts and we will also touch on them.

Some mild washing of the face may be useful. But vigorous and
frequent washing is discouraged by dermatologists. Topical
creams may be helpful but overuse can lead to side effects and
problems. One popular home treatment is salicylic acid, found in
face washes and medicated facial pads. It curtails the hair
follicles from shedding excess skin, which leads to the clogging
of pores. Another home treatment is benzoyl peroxide, found in
certain soap and face wash products, but also in topical creams.
It can produce excessive drying and redness- so it is often
recommended that one begin by trying it once a day and, then, if
that works, try it twice. Results should be apparent after a few
weeks.

In the world of orthodox medicine, there are various types of
prescription medications and face washes. If you go to your
local drugstore or supermarket, you can find lots of different
products whose objective is to treat acne. None of these
products produce instantaneous results and one part of a
sensible prescription for treatment is patience. Since some of
these products may have side effects, you should know their
contents and possible effects. Over-use of the wrong product can
actually exaggerate the condition.

Experts generally think that acne is caused when an excess of
oil, secreted by tiny glands surrounding the hair follicles
combine with dead skins to clog the pores of the skin. Bacteria,
chiefly Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes develops in these
pore pockets which leads to the blackheads, white heads and more
common pimples that we associate with this unpleasant form.

Some of the prescription topical solutions include antibiotics.
Antibiotics, along with azelaic acid can impede the development
of the bacteria, reducing the ugly inflammation that
characterizes acne.

Comedones, which are the compromised hair follicles, plugged
with dead cells and sebum, that cause blackheads, which
penetrate the surface of the skin, and whiteheads, which operate
at semi-surface levels. They can actually be treated by
retinoids, which are Vitamin-A like biochemical formulations,
which actually help to unplug comedones, paving the way for
topicals, including antibiotics, to enter into the follicles and
do their damage. Dermatologists sometimes use the newer
retinoids to curtail further comedone development.

In the case of severer forms of acne, dermatologists may
prescribe the less physically invasive route of oral medicine.
Some common antibiotics, used to curb the development of the P.
acnes bacteria and reduce inflammation are doxycycline,
tetracycline and minocyclyine. The common topical, benzoyl
peroxide, may be used with antibiotics such as sulfur,
erythromycin or clindamycin. There can be disturbing side
affects to antibiotics, depending on the drug and the
individual’s sensitivity. Changes in skin color, an increased
propensity for sunburns, dizziness, stomach problems can occur.
Tetracycline is contra- indicated in children and pregnant
women. The antibiotic route must be taken with caution and with
awareness of problems. Substances such as minocycline and
tetracycline can even affect the potency of oral birth control
methods.

In very serious cases of nodular or cystic acne that seems
resistant to treatment, a dermatologist may prescribe
isotretinoin or “Accutane,” a retinoid that might be taken once
or twice a day for up to twenty weeks. Oil glands actually can
be shrunk by Accutane and there is a marked effect on the growth
of bacteria. Its great advantage is that it can prevent scarring
and markedly disappears the acne in something like 90 per cent
of patients.

The downside of isotretinoin is that it can cause birth defects
in an unborn child if it imbibed by a pregnant woman. So woman
undergoing this treatment often have two take several forms of
birth control to make sure they don’t get pregnant while
undergoing therapy.

Are there natural treatments for acne? Alternative medical
practitioners recommend such substances as pantothenic acid, a B
vitamin, said to combat stress, a factor that aggravates acne,
grapeseed extracts and grapefruit seed extracts; various
essential fatty acids like primrose or flax seed oil which can
allegedly clear the pores of the skin, colloidal silver, said to
be a powerful natural antibiotic; tea tree oil soap- whose main
active constituent is tea tree oil, said to be made from a
natural antibiotic.

The prevalence of acne in most adolescents and maturing individuals, have brought about the various choices of treatments in the market. These acne treatments may come in the form of oral medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbal medicines and surgical treatments. Let us get to know some of the treatments for acne and its side effects. Antibiotics For mild to severe cases of acne, dermatologists may require taking of antibiotics alongside topical remedies. Antibiotics commonly work for the purpose of avoiding the bacteria and inflammation of the skin. Dosage and administration. The process may take about several weeks or month before seeing its effect. It controls the breakout of bacteria that causes acne. Take note however that once you stop taking or applying the antibiotic, your acne will not heal and it could even cause it to come back. But it does not mean you need to double the medication either as this may lead to overdose. Side effects. Antibiotics may cause adverse effects like sunburn, dizziness, upset stomach or skin discoloration. It may also cause vaginal yeast infection for some women. Contraceptive pills Pills are oftentimes used for birth control procedures and family planning. But it is a known fact to many, that there are oral contraceptive pills which may aid in beautifying the skin. How the pill works. Birth control pills having a combination of estrogen and progestin taken orally are known sources for hormonal acne treatment. Low doses of estrogen help suppress the androgens, the latter being the cause of higher production of oil in the body. Low-dose contraceptives are believed to improve acne regardless of the formula present in the pill. Side effects. It may cause tenderness of the breasts, irregular menstruation and for some it may also cause headache and fatigue. In most cases, it could also trigger frequent urination. Tretinoin This treatment is usually used for acne vulgaris and usually comes as a topical solution. In some instances, it is known to be Retin-A, Avita, Renova, or Vesanoid. · How tretinoin works. It works in eliminating acne and medication should be taken with doctor’s advice as it poses some serious problems once misused. Should irritation occur, it is advised that the medication be lessened. · Side effects. Skin redness and blisters may occur when the product is used. Over dosage of the product may also lead to peeling and discomfort. Herbal Remedies This is considered as the natural acne treatment which uses combination of various herbs to form a medication. These are commonly used for mild acne and should also be assessed by the dermatologists as to its safe contents. Consultation with your doctor as to taking this medicine should also be done especially when you are undergoing some medications of another type. Related Articles: Top rated Acne Treatment Products Acne Laser Treatments

For women who have suffered with acne since their teens and they continue to suffer through adulthood. Middle age women take heart! Acne be gone! It will be your time to finally ditch the acne. But in the meantime what causes women to deal with acne for so many years?
Hormonal imbalances are mostly responsible for acne in adult women, and God knows us women have a lot of hormone imbalances! Premenstrual, menses, pregnancy, and child birth all affect our hormones. We spend half our life on the hormone rollercoaster. And with that rollercoaster ride comes the dreaded acne.
If that’s not enough oestrogen and testosterone imbalances can easily occur from stress or medication. Something as simple as having an IUD device or taking Depo Provera, both methods of birth control, can lead to acne.
When the hormones are out of balance your body produces extra sebum which is any oily secretion of the skin. This clogs the pores and causes those dreaded zits.
Some women never have a pimple until they hit their thirties. Talk about a real shock. This usually occurs when they decide it’s time to go off the pill. Birth control helps balance hormones and for many it keeps acne at bay. So it may not be that they were ever immune to acne just that it’s been so long they never realized they would have pimples.
Some vitamins can also cause acne. Vitamin B supplements and Vitamin E creams are known to cause acne break outs. On the other hand taking zinc orally has shown positive effects to eliminate acne in studies.
There are other conditions that are often mistaken for acne. Conditions such as acne rosacea, keratosis, or perioral dermatitis are often confused as acne. If you are unsure what you are dealing with make an appointment to see your dermatologist.
There are three major reasons why adult women suffer from acne: the pill; antibiotics; and vitamin A.
Long term antibiotic use causes us to develop a yeast infection which lowers the body’s immune system and defences which can result in acne.
Vitamin A treatments such as Retinol-A are double edge sword. Initially they can cause outbreaks, but over time they will effectively remove damaged layers of skin including acne scars, as well as get the skin to form collagen which give you younger looking skin.
Interesting by the time women reach their mid 40′s they can almost be guaranteed to become acne free. It’s believed that our female hormones have mellowed some by then, and we aren’t on the hormone rollercoaster anymore. This is a welcome change for many women!
If you’re younger you’ll just have to find an acne medicine that works and wait for your mid 40s to arrive. See there’s something good about being over 40.
The main thing is not to let your acne control your life. There are plenty of treatment options to try and just persist until you find the one that works!
MD Stacener from The Acne Cure has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing valuable information to keep you beautiful and healthy. Please visit us at http://www.acnel.com/