Acne Medication: How To Treat Acne
Author: Dean Erickson
In deciding on the best acne medication, it is first necessary to consider its causes. There are several types of acne that vary in intensity and difficulty of treatment, but all appear to have the same cause.
Although the cause of acne is not fully understood, it is believed to occur when the sebaceous glands increase their production of the oily sebum, which appears to be promoted by hormonal activity. Sebum mixes with dead skin cells to block the pores in the skin and this mass become infected with bacteria. Your body’s immune system reacts to cause inflammation and the formation of pus, the detritus of white blood cells that have been active in destroying the bacteria.
Basically, that is what acne is. It has nothing to do with fatty food or chocolate, but the cleaner your skin, the less likely you will be to build up skin bacteria. However, you cannot catch it from somebody else, and stress and hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can make it worse.
So how does this knowledge help us to treat acne, and devise an effective acne medication? Let’s have a closer look at the belief that acne is caused by a combination of dead skin cells, sebum and bacteria, and the knowledge that hormonal changes can make it worse. In fact acne begins after puberty, when hormones are raging through young bodies: hence the phenomenon of teenage acne.
Sebum and Hormones
The production of sebum increases in line with the generation of certain hormones. During the menstrual cycle, the production of androgens in women increases at certain times. The activity of these androgens (e.g. testosterone) is believed to be responsible for acne, so if their production could be reduced, then the incidence of acne should be likewise reduced. Androgens promote acne by increasing the rate of production of oily sebum by the sebaceous glands in the skin. This gives some women a natural healthy glow, while others are provided with a sticky oil slick that mixes with dead skin cells to block up skin pores.
It has been found that many women respond well to an acne medication formulated from a combination of an anti-androgen such as spironolactone or cyproterone acetate, and an oral contraceptive containing an estrogen and progestin. This results in a reduction in breakouts due to a reduction in the production of sebum. There may be side-effects such as breast tenderness or nausea, but these normally last for only the first month or so of acne treatment.
Another possible way to treat acne to reduce sebum production is isotretinoin (trade name Accutane), that reduces the rate of sebum production and makes it less sticky. This is an effective prescription acne medication for sever cystic acne vulgaris, and also for acne rosacea. Chemically it is a retinoid, a form of Vitamin A. Both of these treatments are on prescription only, so what can you do before you see your doctor?
Dead Skin Cells
One way to prevent the build of dead cells on your skin that mixes with the sebum to block your pores is to wash with an exfoliating scrub. Obviously you need a milder scrub for your face than for the rest of your body, but it is effective in removing dead cells
Another acne medication that achieves this at the cellular level is Vitamin A itself. This dries the skin and flakes off the dead cells. Another is benzoyl peroxide, found in acne treatments such as Clearasil Max and Proactive. This not only flakes off dead skin cells but also possesses mild antibacterial properties. However, these acne treatments can also dry up the skin of some people and turn it flaky.
Bacteria
Bacteria are the third factor in acne, and antibiotics are good acne medications. They kill off the bacteria that initiate your immune response that in turn causes the inflammation and pain, and your acne settles down and eventually clears up. You could also use a antibacterial soap with your exfoliating scrub to keep your skin scrupulously clean, but don’t overdo it because sebum possesses protective properties that prevent your skin and hair from drying out and also keep them waterproof.
These are the three major forms of acne medication, designed to tackle each of the three components of the plug that is blocking your skin pores. Unfortunately the underlying reason for this occurring severely in some people, not all in others and to a greater or lesser extent in even more, is unknown in spite of a great deal of research.
Nevertheless the above mentioned acne medication currently available to you can be effective, although you will likely have to use them for several months before seeing lasting effects.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/acne-medication-how-to-treat-acne-511729.html
About the Author
Dean Erickson is a free lancewriter specializing in health and fitness topics. Interested in more information in regards to acne care and treatment? Please visit BetterAcneInfo
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-1
I started a topical antibiotic two weeks ago and it seemed as though all the pimples came to the surface, so it did seem worse for the first two weeks, now though, it seems to be clearing up. I also am taking oral antibiotics which help with the redness and swelling. Good luck.
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-2
i’ve been battling acne since i hit puberty and have used several different types of acne meds. many times, you can just go see your family doctor who will give you basic acne meds. if this doesn’t help, they’ll refer you to a dermatologist. the times i’ve been perscribed meds, its always been in three parts, an oral antibiotic such as tetracycline or monocycline, a topical antibiotic – clindamycin, and retin A. these have always worked fairly well for me. right now, i’m on a 5% benzoyl peroxide wash, topical clindamycin and retin A and my skin is clear. the only side effect i’ve had is very very dry skin for the first week and a half. after that, your skin gets used to it and goes back to almost normal.
i’ve noticed that with my acne, if i don’t use my perscriptions everyday, i get zits. this stuff doesn’t cure acne for good, it just clears up your skin, so its more of a long term thing.
if you want to try something not perscription, consider trying proactive, i’ve used this before too and had great results.
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-3
Ok, I bet I wasted atleast $200 bucks on facial cleansers and moisturizers that DONT WORK! Right now I’m using SpectroJel, it eliminates clutter of dead skin cells, oil, makeup, and leaves your skin SOOO glowy and smooth and moisturized, no grease! Oh yeah, and afterwards I just use Aveeno which has natural stuff to smooth out my skin.
here’s the webbie for SpectroJel:
http://www.spectroskincare.com/
Only around $10, and its good because its basically multipurpose.
And for pimples and acne, use TEA TREE OIL, which you can find in the Body Shop, for around $9, dries up the pimple and heals the acne WOOT WOOT!
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-4
Try Cetaphil Cleanser, it’s so natural to the skin that you can feel it just like water, odorless. And also try Panoxyl, start first with the low percentage. Me, I tried already other products that are also expensive but not as that effective. Try the two, I’m sure they will work fine for you. Take Care! Hope I will be a good help. c”,
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-5
You can use astringent to get rid of the flakes, but be gentle about it because it might sting. If you could possibly lessen the usage, you should. Also, you might be able to get away with just dabbing your pimples with the medication so that it doesn’t damage the blemish-free skin around it.
February 10, 2007
8:48 am #comment-6
acne medication?
Do some medications make your acne worse before it gets better?I mean, does your body have to get used to the medication before it becomes effective? I’ve heard that many medications usually bring the acne to the surface so it can heal it or something, making it look worse before it gets better. Is this true?
October 27, 2007
2:07 am #comment-7
Acne medication?
I’m considering using prescribed acne medication (I’ve tried all sorts of cleansers and eating healthy but I’ve still got acne). Can anyone recommend which medication to use? Please let me know how well it has worked for you, and if you had any side effects. Do I need to use it long term, or can I go on it until my acne clears up, then go off it again???
July 15, 2008
6:44 pm #comment-8
Acne Medication?
what is the best acne medication that actually works for all skin types? and how fast will it show results?
I dont have major acne, but if i dont treat it now, it will get worse. So i need to know what i can use?
oh yeahh and how effective is murad acne complex?
July 21, 2008
7:46 am #comment-9
What is the best acne medication for a good price, thats cheaper than proactiv?
proactiv is pretty expensive, but I’m looking for a good acne medication that really works.
March 26, 2010
10:26 pm #comment-10
Should I stop using a topical acne medication if my face has become dry?
Lately I have been using topical acne treatment where the main parts of my acne were (T-zone), and after about a week of using the medication, the acne has significantly cleared up. Even though, every time I wash my face I can see that the places where I used the medication have become dry and somewhat flakey. Seeing this I used a acne-preventing moisturizer and that helps during the day but my skin is still dry after I wash it. Should I still continue this routine?