Acne: Does It Need Medication

Acne is considered to be one of the most common skin disorders seen all over the world. Although, we see acne to be affecting a lot of teenagers or young adults, it can also cause skin problems in people who are more than 25 years of age. Normally, acne is said to wade off over a period of time, especially until adulthood in teenagers. Acne may cause psychological problems in some teenagers and can restrict the teenagers to be indoors and not go out in public. Acne occurs due to the over production of oils by the sebaceous or oil glands, which in turn results in pores getting clogged and blocked.

The cause of acne in teenagers is attributed to the hormonal changes that occur in their body during puberty. Several other reasons that cause acne are: improper diet, lack of exercise, lack of cleanliness, exposure to harmful sun rays etc. It is better to treat an acne problem in the beginning stages itself. Although there is no permanent cure for acne, taking proper medication can bring the problem under control. For mild acne problems, home remedies can be tried. For severe acne problems, it is better to consult a dermatologist.

The tried and tested medication for acne is Benzoyl Peroxide. It is available as gels, creams or as face washes. It is a strong medicine and hence drying and peeling of the skin may be seen in some people. Other medications include Salicylic acid, Sulfur and Resorcinol. All these medicines work by removing excessive oil from the skin and are also effective in removing white or blackheads. Resorcinol is an excellent medicine that will remove acnes from hard and tough skin. All the above said medicines are over the counter medicines. There are prescription medicines like Erythromycin, Oral Antibiotics, Oral contraceptives, Retinol A, Tretinoin, and Adapalene that can be used to combat acne.

Take prescription medicines only after consulting a dermatologist as most of the prescription medicines are very strong and highly reactive causing major side effects. Moreover different types of acne need specific medication. Accutane or isotretinoin is very powerful and most expensive medicine that is used to treat people suffering from severe acne conditions. These medicines work by reducing the secretion of excess oil in the oil glands of the skin. As this drug has serious side effects like liver damage and birth defects, it has to be administered only as a final resort.

The latest method, though is still in its experimental stages, to treat severe acne problems is the phototherapy, wherein the person having acne is exposed to special red or blue lights that will cure acne more effectively than many prescribed medications. Infrared saunas are another effective method in removing dirt from the body and thus preventing acne outbreaks. Chemical peeling, fruit peeling and dermabrasion methods are also used in removing the scars caused by severe acne. Your dermatologist can choose the proper medication to treat acne in you depending upon the severity of your acne problem and according to the type of the skin you have. So, medication is necessary to treat people with moderate to severe acnes.

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