Prescription Treatments

Most of the time mild to moderate acne can be easily treated with over-the-counter treatments. With severe cases the only recourse may be to seek treatment from a dermatologist. In most cases the doctor will prescribe some form of medication to treat the condition. These medications are generally more effective than what is available over-the-counter.

Prescription acne medications generally can be oral or topical.

Antibiotics

These are a common defense against acne in the fight against acne. Antibiotics may be taken orally or applied topically as a lotion. Topical prescription medications may also include such ingredients as zinc or retinoids. Tetracycline is the oral antibiotic most commonly used to treat acne. It can kill the bacteria that cause acne and also can reduce inflammation. Treatment with Tetracycline can take several weeks or even months to be effective. Normally antibiotics continue to be used even after the acne has cleared up. Increased sensitivity to sun light is a common side affect of tetracycline. This can result in bad sunburns of the patient stays in the sun for too long. Dizziness, hives, and upset stomach are also know to be side affects. It has also been noted that women who are taking tetracycline may be more susceptible to yeast infection.
Ointments and topical solutions

Antibiotic ointments normally have fewer complications than oral antibiotics. Like oral antibiotics, topical treatments are quite effective in killing bacteria that are responsible for acne. If you use these antibiotic ointments along with other topical treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, the bacteria is less likely to develop resistance to the antibiotics. This does increase the level of prevention that you will attain.

Retinoids

Retinoids are a form of acne medication that is derived from vitamin A and may be applied directly to the skin usually in the form of a lotion or cream. Topical retinoid medications are useful for treating blackheads and whiteheads by helping to open clogged pores.

Oral retinoids are used to treat the more severe forms of acne, because they have a better chance of dealing breakouts and lesions which don't respond to other treatments. Oral retinoids cause the upper layer of the skin to peel thereby opening pores. They also cause the body to produce less sebum - the substance which causes oily skin.

As with many other types of prescription strength medication, a number of serious side effects are associated with oral retinoids. They can also cause liver damage and depression, so regular medical attention is needed to make sure the patient is not being adversely affected by retinoid treatment. It is not unheard of for this kind of medication to cause birth defects if mothers are taking them when pregnant, so females should consult their doctor if pregnant, or suspect pregnancy.

Other medications

Birth control pills are sometimes effective in treating acne in women. They change hormone levels in the body and can reduce the acne causing effects of testosterone.

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