Common Acne Medications

Today, there are a lot of medications, both over the counter and prescription drugs, are used to clear acne. Common acne medications are usually topical or oral. Topical medications or those that are applied to the skin are usually prescribed for those with mild to severe acne. On the other hand, oral medications are usually part of a system of therapies that are used to treat severe and sometimes moderate acne.

These common acne medications usually attack a certain factor that leads to acne. As such, dermatologists usually combine them for a longer lasting effect.

Common acne medications include oral antibiotics. These are usually prescribed to patients with moderate to severe or persistent acne. Oral antibiotics can decrease the inflammation of the skin by killing off the P. acnes that aggravates acne. Antibiotics are used for about six months or less, and begin with higher dosages which are eventually and gradually reduced as the acne clears up. The most commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are erythromycin, tetracycline, and its derivatives doxycycline and minocycline.

Another one of the most common acne medications is the topical antimicrobial. Similar to the oral antibiotics, these topical antimicrobials also work by inhibiting the population of the P. acnes in the skin. As such, they are usually prescribed to treat patients with mild to moderately severe inflammatory acne. These can either be used alone, or combined with other medications that target the other factors that aggravate acne. Typical topical antimicrobials used are azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin, and sodium sulfacetamid.

Topical retinoids are also common acne medications. Retinoids are one of the fundamentals of acne treatment. They are a derivative of vitamin A, and they unclog pores as well as prevent the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. Topical retinoids are usually prescribed to those who have mild to moderately severe acne. However, retinoids are known to irritate the skin and increase sensitivity to the sun in some cases, so it is typically used with sunscreen. Also, topical retonoids can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The most common topical retinoids include adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin.

Isotretinoin, also a retinoid but taken orally, is another one of the most common acne medications used today. It is very potent, but is not generally prescribed as it has a number of potential side effects. As such, it is only prescribed to those with severe cystic acne that have become resistant to other acne medications.

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