Acne appears as whiteheads, blackheads, cysts or pimples. Because acne often appears on the face and other visible areas of the body, people who suffer from the condition may feel embarrassment about their appearance. When good skin care habits do not keep acne under control, several medications reduce the appearance of acne and prevent future breakouts.
Over-the-Counter Topical Medications
Over-the-counter medications available for acne contain resorcinol, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur or lactic acid as their active ingredients. Applied directly to the skin, these topical medications treat mild acne by killing bacteria or drying up the oil that clogs the hair follicles of the skin. Common side effects of these topical treatments include dry skin, skin irritation and flaky skin. Drugs.com reports that these side effects usually go away after one month of treatment.
Prescription Topical Medications
If over-the-counter drugs do not work, your doctor may prescribe a topical medication that has stronger effects on acne. These products prevent the hair follicles from clogging and also promote faster turnover of the skin cells. Examples of prescription topical medications include tretinoin, tazarotene and adapalene. Topical antibiotics treat acne by killing bacteria and preventing the growth of new bacteria. Some products contain a topical antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide. Side effects of these drugs include burning, peeling, redness and stinging of the affected area.
Oral Antibiotics
Systemic antibiotics treat moderate to severe acne by fighting inflammation and killing bacteria. Because long-term use of antibiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance, the Mayo Clinic indicates that you will need to taper off of these medications within three to four months. To reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance, your doctor may prescribe a topical product that contains benzoyl peroxide. Using the topical product with the oral antibiotic seems to reduce antibiotic resistance in people with acne. Side effects of oral antibiotics include dizziness, nausea, upset stomach, vomiting and discoloration of the skin.
Isotretinoin
Severe cases of acne may not respond to topical treatments or systemic antibiotics. For acne that causes deep cysts, doctors prescribe isotretinoin. This powerful drug treats cystic acne that causes scars, or other forms of acne that do not respond to other treatments. Because the drug increases the risk of severe birth defects, the Food and Drug Administration requires that people taking the drug register in a monitoring program to receive a prescription. Women must sign an informed consent form to acknowledge the risks and promise to use two forms of birth control for one month before the treatment. Women must continue taking birth control for the duration of the treatment, as well as one month following the treatment.
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