OTC and Prescription Acne Meds

by Richard Simeon

The number of products used today in treating acne is astounding. If you head inside your nearest skin care store, you will be exhausted at the hundreds of products lining the store’s acne aisle. Those who are just beginning their battle with acne can have a hard time weeding out the good products from those ineffective ones. Even acne veterans sometimes stumble at this task. Most enlist the services of a dermatologist to help clear up some confusion. As those who have attended their skin care appointments know, an equally immense barrage of prescription medications also exists. In order to ease your search for the right product and give you a basic understanding of how the ingredients in both over the counter and prescription products work, we have compiled further information below.

Let’s begin our discussion with over the counter products. A quick examination of the product label for a popular acne cream should reveal that it contains benzoyl peroxide. Most acne products contain the same active ingredient. This additive is designed to accomplish two tasks. For one, it takes care of the p. acnes bacteria which influence the development of inflamed lesions. Next, it helps improve skin cell turnover so pores don’t become clogged with contaminants.

Benzoyl peroxide is not much more effective in 10% concentrations than it is in 2.5% concentrations. It is a misconception to think that higher concentrations translate to more potent results. The added concentration only triggers more irritation, so you are better sticking to the 2.5% version. Other popular, brand-name medications include additives such as sulfur and salicylic acid. These perform somewhat identical functions when compared to benzoyl peroxide, and are good ingredients to find in a quality treatment.

Dermatologists prescribe nearly all of their patients more than a single medication. After all, acne is the result of multiple influences. Topical medications prescribed by dermatologists focus on improving the turnover cycle and killing the bacteria that are responsible for acne. Erythromycin and Benzoyl peroxide are choice medications for bacteria control. Dead skin cell turnover can be normalized with topical retinoids including Tretinoin, the generic form of Retin-A. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin-A. Added bacteria control can be established through oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline. Accutane is a last-resort oral medication designed to temporarily end sebum production in acne-prone individuals. The treatment prolongs for six months and requires that the patient receives regular blood work. Due to some of the negative effects associated with Accutane, it is rarely prescribed on an initial visit.

When it comes to what specific treatment you should use, it all depends on the type of acne you are suffering from. If you have some whiteheads and blackheads, or a more mild case of acne, you may respond well to OTC treatments. Those with more inflamed lesions than anything else such as cysts and pustules should consider visiting a dermatologist. Prescription medications are often required in these circumstances.

About the Author:
More on topical retinoids acne treatment and how to get rid of acne scars is contained on our website.

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Written by Richard Simeon on December 8th, 2009 with no comments.
Read more articles on lip balms and moisturizers.

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