Best Acne Treatment Guide

Don't feel alone if you have acne as a vast majority of people will develop acne at some point in their lives. While most people with acne in their teenage years eventually grow out of this condition, it can produce significant self esteem issues and even depression for children and teenagers during critical developmental periods. If you have moderate or severe acne, then you might wonder what medical options are available for treatment. The first step starts with visiting your doctor, who may even refer you to a dermatologist, or skin specialist. Severe acne is less likely to respond to home remedies such as changes in your diet, or washing with a different type of soap. This is because acne is complex disease process that involve bacteria infecting follicles which are plugged, and can become inflamed. While keeping the skin clean and dry is a good idea, excessive washing and use of the best acne treatment over the counter and skin products may not be effective for moderate or severe types of acne.

The good news is that there are a variety of medications that can help with your acne, the caveat is that it may take several months of using the medication before you see a result, and you may need to continue taking or applying the medication for an extended amount of time.

For patients with moderate acne, treatment with topical retinoids may help to significantly reduce their acne. This is because topical retinoids, such as Retin-A, have anti-inflammatory properties which can decrease the level of inflammation in a follicle, as well as changes the proliferation and properties of skin slightly so that you are less likely to develop plugged follicles. Usually your dermatologist will start with a low concentration of a retinoid cream which you apply to your face, and may increase the dosage as needed. It is important to realize that retinoid creams will not work overnight, and you will have to have patience as it may take as long as three months, or longer, before you notice a difference. This can be especially difficult in teenagers who may become frustrated with treatment and discontinue applying the retinoid cream after a short period of use. For patients who have more severe forms of acne, such as severe cystic acne where the follicles actually merge into larger cysts, there is a class of medications taken as a pill that are more powerful than retinoid creams.

These oral medications contain Isotretinoin, which is the medication used most often to treat severe acne. This medication has powerful effects on the body, and any female patient who is considering using this medication for severe acne must first obtain a pregnancy test as it may have harmful effects on the fetus. In addition, females using this prescription medication must signed an informed consent promising to use contraceptives during their treatment with Isotretinoin and for thirty days following discontinue of the medication as it takes time for the body to clear itself of the medication.

The good news is that Isotretinoin is a very effective medication for acne, as it decreasess sebum production in the skin and decreases abnormal keratinization of the skin and is the best acne treatment for patients with severe acne.

Because a bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, is thought to play a central role in the development of acne, several different antibiotics are given in a pill form for the best treatment for acne. Antibiotics such as Doxycycline, and Minocycline are often prescribed both for their bacteria killing properties, and also because it is believed they may help reduce the inflammation of acne through a unknown mechanism. Partly because acne develops in puberty, a variety of investigators have postulated that hormonal influences may exacerbate acne.

Some women with acne may find that the appearance of their acne improves considerably when using an oral contraceptives. In addition, use of spironolactone which decreases testosterone levels in men and women and blocks the effects of testosterone may also help decrease acne symptoms.

There are also a variety of cosmetic procedures which can help improve the appearance of acne, and include superficial skin peels as well as opening plugged comedones in a sterile environment. It should be noted that attempts by a patient to pop their own pimples and acne pustules will likely lead to scarring. By talking with your doctor you can find the best acne treatments for yourself, and by following the instructions closely you can begin to see results within a matter of months in most patients.