Certain drugs that you take can do more than just treat your medical condition; they can lead to troublesome side effects. When you take medications, one way your body can respond is through physical symptoms that manifest themselves both internally and externally. One symptom of drug use is acne. Acne can appear in mild or severe forms, depending on the dosage and how your body reacts to the medication.
Causes
Acne occurs when the sebaceous oil glands in the skin work overtime and cause more production of sebum, explains Skin Care Physicians. Some drugs can stimulate hormones that cause the glands to work harder to create more oil. If the skin around a follicle sheds more than it should, this can plug the opening of the follicle and create a pimple. An increase in bacteria on the skin in and around an existing pimple can cause inflammation, leading to blackheads and cystic acne. There can also be ingredients in certain makeup and skin-care products that can produce acne breakouts or make your existing acne worse. If you have sensitive skin, you should use noncomedogenic products.
Drug Types
There are many different types of drugs that can cause an acne outbreak. Some medications may just irritate your skin and cause inflammation because you have an allergic reaction; this is different than acne. Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and cystic acne, or painful nodules, are the direct result of trapped oils and dirt under the skin. Other than puberty or normal hormone fluctuations, acne is caused by corticosteroids, barbiturates, lithium and androgens, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Symptoms
Acne can show up anywhere on your body, but primarily in areas where you have the most functional oil glands: the neck, chest and face. The Mayo Clinic explains that there are five main types of acne: pustules, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) papules, nodules and cysts. Pustules are red bumps with pus just below the skin's surface. Blackheads are clogged follicle openings with a dark appearance. Whiteheads are skin-colored bumps, sometimes with a small white head. Papules are inflamed, tender bumps under the skin. Nodules are large, hard bumps on the skin. Cysts are pus-filled lumps that are slightly larger than a nodule.
Treatment
It is important to pinpoint which drug is causing the acne to occur. If it is from a street drug or illegal steroid, drug rehabilitation may also be necessary in order to gain insight on how to control cravings and regulate or diminish usage. The American Academy of Dermatology states that an immediate cure for acne isn't available. But if you have severe acne, discontinuing medication and instituting treatment from your dermatologist is only the start of ridding acne and healing the skin that has been affected.
Warning
Sometimes acne caused from drugs can be the result of the wrong dosage or a reaction to the medication. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that if you experience any type of extreme redness or severe acne outbreak after taking a topical or oral treatment for your acne, you should seek medical care at once.
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