Acne medication is of different types. You may have topical or oral medication. The medication may include antibiotics, retinoids, antimicrobials etc. During pregnancy one has to be extremely careful before applying or oral intake of any medication. Some medication cause birth defects in the fetus and some are dangerous for breast-feeding child. Please take any medicine or apply any medicine after talking to your doctor if you are planning pregnancy, you are pregnant or while breast-feeding your child.
Please avoid every type of Vitamin a derivative either topical or oral. Medications such as Isotretinoin, which is one of the favorites of acne medicines, should be strictly avoided. Other topicals containing tretinoin, tazarotene and other Vitamin A derivatives should be strictly avoided. Please don’t use any topical skin care product before asking your doctor. Please avoid any oral medication after talking to your doctor. Many OTC skin care products contain Vitamin A derivatives. Please avoid all such products.
Please avoid antibiotics from the group of tetracycline such as tetracycline, doxycycline etc. They may damage the fetus or breast-feeding child. No antibiotic should be taken innocently.
Please avoid any hormone preparation that you may be using for your acne. Many hormones such as estrogen and other anti androgen hormones can damage the fetus and also get passed to the breast-feeding child. Avoid as many medicines as possible. Avoid all skin care and makeup products. Get everything certified by your doctor, if you are planning to get pregnant, or are pregnant or breast feeding your child.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
Over the years acne has affected millions of people in their early teens and for many on into their adult life. Each year new acne treatments hit the market, each claiming to stop further acne breakouts. Yet no one medication for acne has been proven to do that.
If you’re like so many acne sufferers, and have a medicine cabinet full of various acne medications that don’t work, you need to stop and get back to the basics of acne care. Your first step is to become knowledgeable about what acne is and how it develops. Visit your doctor, or better yet consult with a dermatologist about your acne condition. Your dermatologist may recommend over-the-counter medications for acne or if your acne is severe, you may need perscription acne medication.
Much of the medications for acne available today consist of several products (systems for controlling acne), which includes an acne face wash, exfolliator or toner and some lotion. The combined use of these acne medications can have dramatic results in acne blemish control. Though they will likely not cure your acne, they will, when used properly, significantly lessen the number of acne breakouts.
These acne blemish control systems include:
Face wash or cleanser:
The face wash or cleanser is used to fight bacteria. Some are designed to combat bacteria, both on the surface and within the pores. At the same time many contain tiny granules to help exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities. The two most common ingredients of face washes is either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Each of these ingredients approach acne control in different ways.
Benzoyl Peroxide:
Benzoyl peroxide used as an antiseptic to lessen the number of surface bacteria and skin yeasts. It is available as a gel, cream, lotion or face wash in varying concentrations.
Salicylic Acid:
Salicylic acid helps to slow down shedding skin cells inside the follicle, which in turn reducing clogging. It also helps breakdown, both blackheads and white heads. Salicylic acid is available in varying forms, like gels, lotions and medicated pads (Stridex) and in varying concentrations.
Exfolliator or toner:
The purpose of this gel or cream is to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and remove excess oil. This one step is essential to acne blemish control. While not visible to the naked eye, clogging of the pores are a major contributor to acne breakouts. Again, depending on the manufacturer, either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid or another medication for acne may be included in this step.
Lotion:
The final step is applying a lotion. These lotions are usually oil free and used to moisturerize, re-hydrate and reduce irritation of your skin. Some lotions may contain benzoyl peroxide to heal inflammation, which helps prevent future breakouts.
No matter which medication for acne you choose to use, following the acne treatment listed above will help to lessen your acne breakouts. Each step is an important step in active acne blemish control. The combined use of these medications can help to keep your skin clear and acne free. As with use of any medications, you should always consult with your doctor or dermatologists before starting any acne care treatment.
Copyright (c) 2006, by Paul E. Web This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright, author’s information and live link with anchored text is published with the article:
Most people will suffer from acne at some point in their life. Everyone’s skin condition and chemistry are different so there can be no set remedy to prevent or clear existing acne. The good news is that it can be treatable. People make the mistake of letting it run its course, thinking they will outgrow it. Sometimes that is just not good enough.
With so many acne medications available over-the-counter or by prescription, it can be frustrating finding one that works. But something out there will work for you if you just keep trying. If you find that you are getting nowhere with your acne, try finding something more specific to your skin type.
Common over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications available are: Stri-dex, Clearasil, Oxy, Neutrogena On-the-Spot, Cetaphil, and Persa-Gel 10. These can be found in most drug and grocery stores. The prices may vary ($4-$14) but price does not necessarily mean it will work the best on your acne. There is also a variety in the form of the medication, such as: gels, lotions, creams, and medicated pads. The form of the acne medication does not usually effect how well it treats your skin. Do not be discouraged if a product that you try makes your acne worse. Sometimes we must take a step back to make progress. Make a note of the ingredients in what you used and, in the future, only use medicines that do not contain any or much of this. You should always read the labels before purchasing a product. You wouldn’t order a dish at a restaurant if you didn’t know what was in it, would you? If you skin is oily, then you may choose to purchase something that is especially for treating oily skin.
If your skin is too sensitive for OTC acne medications that you have tried, then perhaps you should consult a Dermatologist. Some forms of acne can not be treated without a prescription. The doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic instead of a topical acne medication for severe cases. These are commonly used to decrease inflammation that can contribute to acne.
Topical prescription acne medication for severe cases of acne usually contains retinoids. Retinoids prevent blackheads and whiteheads, while un-clogging your pores. The downside to this is that you could have increased sensitivity to the sun or develop an irritation. It is possible for fine lines and wrinkles to be reduces with this treatment, which is a bonus advantage to having younger and healthier looking skin.
In addition to typical acne medication options, there are some home remedies include treating with Hydrogen Peroxide, toothpaste, or diluted alcohol. If you experiment with these, you may end up with a cheap solution to your acne. Peroxide could speed up the healing process of existing acne. It kills germs to drastically reduce inflammation. Toothpaste can be applied lightly on spots that appear before the actual acne has formed. Usually, this is left on overnight and washed off in the morning. It dries up excess oils that can contribute to the formation of acne. Pure alcohol should never be applied to the skin. However, if you dilute it half with water to gently wash your face, you can dry up excess oils without completely drying out your skin.
Acne is a common problem and getting treated is nothing to be ashamed of. No one should have to live with the embarrassment of acne. There is an effective method out there for you, as long as you are willing to take the time to find it.
