When you seek the advice of a dermatologist and effective acne prescription treatments, he or she will usually prescribe you some external tropical treatment or oral tablets depending on your situation. There are many potentially effective acne treatments medicine that are used for acne. This article talks about some of the most popular ones, their effectiveness and possible side affects.
Accutane / Roaccutane -
Roaccutane is one of the most effective acne treatments in treating moderate to severe acne. It works through reducing oil production and somehow stop acne in its tracks. Some people will never have acne again after a course of Roaccutane. It is very effective but has lots of side affects. It makes your lips very dry at the very least, results in pain in your joints, damages your liver and has severe birth defects for pregnant women. Think twice before deciding to get Roaccutane and you will have to be on pills to use the drug.
Antibiotic (many different ones) -
There are some antibiotic drugs that dermatologist will prescribe for you when you have moderate to severe acne. It is somewhat effective at first because it works by killing bacteria thus reducing inflammation and pimples. However, bacteria will acquire resistance to these antibiotic overtime. Antibiotic will become less effective for your acne eventually. Personally, I don't believe in taking antibiotic for your acne problems. Its effectiveness decreases the more you take them. And I think it should be for something like an bacterial infection that has to be treated by antibiotic.
Panoxyl 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel -
Benzoyl peroxide gel is one of the most effective acne treatments out there with little side affects compared to all other kinds of prescription drugs. 10% Benzoyl peroxide needs a prescription while the lower percentages can be bought over the counter. Also, 10% Benzoyl peroxide will irritate your skin more than the lower percentages. In most cases, you will have to get your skin use to it by slowly working your way up. For me, Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% is good enough. But many people with moderate to severe acne choose to use 5% to 10% Benzoyl peroxide gel. Unlike antibiotics, bacteria never develop resistance to it and acne seems to go away in a very short time. However, the cons are dryness, irritation and redness. Some people are more sensitive than others. I definitely think it's one of the most effective acne treatments out there.
Birth control pills -
This is the only effective way at controlling hormonal acne that flares up once a month during your menstrual cycle. Although it can give you flawless skin with smaller pores and smoother surface, it can also have some unwanted side affects as well. Once you stop the medicine, some people experience a severe breakouts with lots of spots on the face all of sudden. Approach with caution if you decide to go down this route. Also, will not work if your acne is not hormonal based.
Spironolactone -
I am not personally familiar with this drug, but it seems like it works well for a lot of acne sufferers. Many reviews on acne.org is very positive for this prescription drug. Although there are lots of "weird" side affects associated with it. But when your acne is so bad that the pimples actually hurt on a daily basis definitely needs to explore all the options. If many other effective acne treatments failed you (including Roaccutane), this drug could be on your list to try next.
Accutane / Roaccutane -
Roaccutane is one of the most effective acne treatments in treating moderate to severe acne. It works through reducing oil production and somehow stop acne in its tracks. Some people will never have acne again after a course of Roaccutane. It is very effective but has lots of side affects. It makes your lips very dry at the very least, results in pain in your joints, damages your liver and has severe birth defects for pregnant women. Think twice before deciding to get Roaccutane and you will have to be on pills to use the drug.
Antibiotic (many different ones) -
There are some antibiotic drugs that dermatologist will prescribe for you when you have moderate to severe acne. It is somewhat effective at first because it works by killing bacteria thus reducing inflammation and pimples. However, bacteria will acquire resistance to these antibiotic overtime. Antibiotic will become less effective for your acne eventually. Personally, I don't believe in taking antibiotic for your acne problems. Its effectiveness decreases the more you take them. And I think it should be for something like an bacterial infection that has to be treated by antibiotic.
Panoxyl 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel -
Benzoyl peroxide gel is one of the most effective acne treatments out there with little side affects compared to all other kinds of prescription drugs. 10% Benzoyl peroxide needs a prescription while the lower percentages can be bought over the counter. Also, 10% Benzoyl peroxide will irritate your skin more than the lower percentages. In most cases, you will have to get your skin use to it by slowly working your way up. For me, Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% is good enough. But many people with moderate to severe acne choose to use 5% to 10% Benzoyl peroxide gel. Unlike antibiotics, bacteria never develop resistance to it and acne seems to go away in a very short time. However, the cons are dryness, irritation and redness. Some people are more sensitive than others. I definitely think it's one of the most effective acne treatments out there.
Birth control pills -
This is the only effective way at controlling hormonal acne that flares up once a month during your menstrual cycle. Although it can give you flawless skin with smaller pores and smoother surface, it can also have some unwanted side affects as well. Once you stop the medicine, some people experience a severe breakouts with lots of spots on the face all of sudden. Approach with caution if you decide to go down this route. Also, will not work if your acne is not hormonal based.
Spironolactone -
I am not personally familiar with this drug, but it seems like it works well for a lot of acne sufferers. Many reviews on acne.org is very positive for this prescription drug. Although there are lots of "weird" side affects associated with it. But when your acne is so bad that the pimples actually hurt on a daily basis definitely needs to explore all the options. If many other effective acne treatments failed you (including Roaccutane), this drug could be on your list to try next.
