What Types of Acne Treatments are There?

Careful Targeting

Each of the following acne treatments is aimed at the causes, type, and severity of the acne, and in consideration for the type of skin you have.

Before recommending any acne therapy, a dermatologist will evaluate your acne and give serious consideration to the severity of your condition. The degree of severity will help to determine whether an OTC or prescription medication is best and whether it should be topical (applied to the skin) or an oral medication. In some cases a combination of topical and oral acne medications may present the best solution.

A sample list of OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription treatments follows:

Over-the-Counter Topical Medications

Topical medications (applied to the skin) are available in several forms: gels, creams, lotions, soaps and pads. They include:

• Benzoyl Peroxide(BPO)
• Resorcinol
• Salicylic Acid
• Sulfur

Resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur are used in mild acne cases to break down blackheads and whiteheads, while benzoyl peroxide(BPO) attacks Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the bacteria that causes inflammation.

Salicylic acid also minimizes the rapid shedding of dead skin cells within the sebaceous hair follicles, helping to prevent the formation of comedones, the clogged pores that result in blackheads and whiteheads.

Prescription Medication

• Topical Antimicrobials
• Topical Retinoids
• Oral Antibiotics

Topical Antimicrobials

Prescribed topical antimicrobials such as clindamycin and BPO are used in mild to severe acne cases. By attacking the bacteria P. acnes and its inflammatory effects, this acne medication may help to minimize and eliminate papules and pustules.

Topical Retinoids

Topical retinoids are a derivative of vitamin A and are used for mild to moderately severe inflammatory acne. They unclog pores and prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming. Retinoids can, however, cause irritation and increased sun sensitivity. So be sure to use sun protection and follow your doctor's advice.

Oral Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are used for the treatment of more severe acne and only occasionally for moderate cases. Like topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics reduce the P. acnes bacteria and subsequently decrease inflammation. As with all antibiotics, it is important to use only as directed by your doctor since bacteria may become resistant to the drug.

Physical Treatments

• Chemical Peels
• Comedo Extraction
• Drainage and Surgical Extraction
• Light Therapy

Chemical Peels

Dermatologists sometimes use light chemical peels of glycolic acid mixed with other chemical agents to loosen blackheads and minimize acne papules (inflamed comedones that are firm, pink, and tender to the touch).

Comedo Extraction

Comedo extraction or more simply put, the removal of whiteheads and blackheads, can be beneficial in certain cases. A dermatologist uses a sterile instrument to extract the comedones (whiteheads and blackheads).

Do not try this at home where you run the risk of bacterial infections as well as an increased risk of permanent scarring.

Drainage and Surgical Extraction

When cysts do not respond to medication, it may become necessary to drain and surgically extract them. The procedure reduces the pain that can be generated by larger cysts and decreases the chances of scarring.

This "acne surgery" is performed under sterile conditions in the dermatologist's office.

Light Therapy Treatments

In some cases a dermatologist may determine that light or laser therapy is appropriate. These therapies can be useful in treating hard-to-reach areas such as the back.

However, these expensive treatments may only target P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne and not the other factors that contribute to the condition such as sebum production (oily secretion of the sebaceous glands) and abnormal skin cell shedding.

The long-term effectiveness of these treatments has not yet been proven.

Laser therapy does play a useful role in the treatment of scars. In some cases, a superficial application of laser energy can resolve irregular surface scarring. Another form of laser that allows for deeper penetration tightens the underlying skin tissue and can help depressed scars.