Acne Treatment Prescription Medicines
Acne treatment prescription medicines come in several forms: topical antibiotics, retinoids, and oral antibiotics. The commonality among these various treatments is the prescription required to purchase them. The level of ingredients found in these creams or pills can have some of the more severe side effects to treatments on the current market. This means it is important that they are regulated.Additionally, a few of the acne treatment prescription medicines are steroids, which can be dangerous if overused. For your protection, dermatologists regulate these drugs and do not sell them over the counter. It is possible that your acne is in need of a more thorough treatment than over the counter products can provide in the beginning.
For example, if you are at grade 3 or 4 in your acne, you could have an infection that topical creams over the counter and natural ingredient treatment pills cannot help quickly enough. It is important that you use a treatment that will end the inflammation and potentially severe infection your pore or pores might have and then move on to a product that will help prevent further breakouts.
Topical Antibiotics
There are several topical antibiotics as acne treatment prescription medicines. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are sold as over the counter medications with very low antibiotic levels.Clindamycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, and tetracycline are four topical antibiotics sold as prescriptions to help with more severe acne. These are the ingredients and not product names. It should also be mentioned that a couple of these ingredients can be used in pill form as oral antibiotics.
Common risks with topical antibiotics are skin rashes, redness, and severe allergic reaction. Some individuals have had peeling of the top layer of skin as it is burned off due to the seriousness of the antibiotic. It is highly rare that your skin will be damaged this much, but it has to be noted as a side effect. Dryness is also a potential issue with topical antibiotics.
Pros and Cons of Topical Antibiotics
| # | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | It works on the top layer of skin clearing away current spots and unsightly blemishes. | The creams can feel like they are burning the affected skin. |
| 2. | Soreness and inflammation will subside after a few days to weeks of use.; | There are side effects to topical antibiotics. |
| 3. | - | They only work on the top layer of skin and just under the skin, rather than deep into the pore. |
| 4. | - | They are designed for treatment once acne occurs and not as a preventative method. |
| 5. | - | They cause skin dryness. |
Retinoids
Retinoids are specifically designed for helping unclog pores to allow other topical medications to work.They are meant to reduce acne and prevent dead skin cells from clogging up your pores. They also help with reducing outbreaks. Retinoids can be oral or topical. As a cream you put it on for 20 to 30 minutes and wash your face. As an oral medication you have to take it at least once a day.
Pros and Cons of Retinoids
| # | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Your skin will be ready to use topical creams. | They are a beginning treatment. |
| 2. | Outbreaks are reduced and there is prevention of scars. | You use Retinoids to make way for other topical creams. |
| 3. | They work when other methods do not. | Your skin can become severely dry. |
| 4. | - | You have to use the product for 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off. |
| 5. | - | It can peel or create redness of the skin. |
Oral Antibiotics
Oral antibiotics are pills you can use to treat acne. They are prescription medicines, versus natural ingredient treatment pills for acne.One pill available is actually a Vitamin A derivative with cisretinoic acid. Other options include birth control pills. Oral antibiotics reduce the oil produced by your skin glands, help remove bacteria, and repair skin cells by offering a faster growth. Most antibiotics taken orally will have anti-inflammatory properties, too.
Unfortunately, side effects can happen with these antibiotics. It has been suggested by various researchers of acne treatments that low or intermittent doses are best to alleviate common side effects.
Pros and Cons of Oral Antibiotics
| # | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Reduces oil production in glands. | Dry lips. |
| 2. | Repairs skin and increases healthy growth. | Dry skin. |
| 3. | Removes bacteria. | Nosebleeds. |
| 4. | - | Rash. |
| 5. | - | Hair loss. |
| 6. | - | Hives. |
Side Effects of Prescription Medicines
There are several disadvantages or side effects that are seen by individuals using acne treatment prescription medicines.Several have been mentioned above, but you should also be aware that inflammation of the lips, alopecia, hair overgrowth, nail abnormalities, yellowish deposits on the eyelids, dry mouth, and sunburn susceptibility are also risks patients have experienced with oral antibiotics to help with acne:
It might seem like the above is highly against these treatments. This is not the case, but you do need to be aware there are a great many side effects that can occur as a result of the above named treatments.
Alternatives to Prescription Medicines
If your acne is severe or in the 4th stage then you may need, for a short time, one of the above treatments. It is far better to seek treatment earlier in your acne stage, like the acne treatment pill that has little side effects for users.The naturally occurring ingredients found in the acne treatment pills help prevent further acne breakouts and help reduce any acne you currently have.
It helps you from worsening to a stage that might require a more severe treatment that enters into additional side effects that could do a bit of harm, as well as clear up your acne.
