Acne Treatments

It does not matter if you are a teenager or an adult. Nor does it matter what type of acne you have. With so many acne treatment options, there is an acne medication that should work for you.

The most popular acne medications include:

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  • Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is an over-the-counter acne treatment that kills the bacteria that causes acne. It can be very effective in treating mild cases of non-inflammatory acne like blackheads and whiteheads. However, it may be 2-3 weeks before you see improvement from acne treatment with Benzoyl peroxide.
  • Salicylic Acid. Salicylic acid is a mild acid that encourages the sloughing of dead skin cells. Buy encouraging the peeling of the top layer of skin and the opening of plugged follicles, salicylic acid helps establish a normal skin-cell replacement cycle. It works best to treat mild acne, oily skin, textural changes and hyperpigmention of the skin.
  • Retinoids (Retin-A Micro). Retinoids like Retin-A and Retin-A Micro treat acne produce a superficial peel of the surface of the skin that loosens and helps extract the existing acne plugs under the skin. Results of acne treatment with Retin-A Micro or other retinoids may be noticed as soon as 2 weeks after treatment, but may take up to 7 weeks to take full effect.
  • Antibiotics. If you suffer from moderate to severe acne, your doctor may prescribe a combination of topical acne treatment and oral antibiotics. The most common antibiotics used to treat acne are tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin. They work by slowing the body's production of the bacteria that causes acne and decreasing inflammation. However, it may take several weeks or months to see visible effects of acne treatment with antibiotics.
  • Oral Contraceptives. For some women, acne is caused by excessive production of hormones called androgens that kick their oil-producing glands into high gear. Adult women and teenage girls whose acne does not respond to treatment with antibiotics or retinoids like Retin-A Micro, may want to try hormonal therapy. Birth-control pills like Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estro-Step are currently approved by the FDA for treating acne.
  • Anti-Androgens. Drugs like Spironolactone, a high blood pressure medicine with anti-androgenic properties, has been proven as an effective acne treatment. However, it is important for women taking it to be on birth control, since it can cause the feminization of a male fetus.
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane). Accutane is used to treat severe nodular or cystic acne that has not responded to other acne treatments. However, it is important for women taking Accutane to be on birth control, since it can cause severe birth defects.