Which acne medication works best

Dermatologists usually recommend isotretinoin for cystic acne and other severe acne that can cause permanent scarring. Like tretinoin, isotretinoin usually produces a noticeable reduction in acne within several weeks of use. And like tretinoin, in some cases, isotretinoin can lead to a temporary increase in acne and dry skin for the first few weeks of treatment.

This usually goes away within a few months of regular use. A retrospective study of isotretinoin users showed that more than 95 percent of users experienced excellent, good or fair results from the medication over a period of one to 12 months, with only 5. However, one downside of isotretinoin is its side effect profile. In the study linked above, 56 percent of participants experienced some degree of side effects, with around seven percent of patients discontinuing the drug completely due to significant side effects.

Additionally, isotretinoin can cause serious birth defects and therefore should not be used by pregnant women or while breastfeeding. Women of child-bearing age need to be careful about when they use isotretinoin if they intend to get pregnant. A range of different antibiotics are used to treat acne.

Antibiotics tend to be prescribed for short periods — often in combination with a topical retinoid or other acne medicine — as long-term use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.

Like all prescription medications, antibiotics can cause side effects. People that use antibiotics for acne commonly experience things like photosensitivity, gastrointestinal issues and, in rarer cases, allergies in people sensitive to certain antibiotic medications.

Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline, minocycline and lymecycline, are frequently used as treatments for acne. Of the tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline is the most commonly used for acne. Doxycycline is usually prescribed to treat inflammatory acne — a form of acne that results in red, inflamed skin blemishes that can be nodular large, deep pimples or cystic large and severely inflamed.

Doxycycline is almost always used with a retinoid or other topical prescription acne medication, such as benzoyl peroxide. When used daily, it works quickly and effectively to stop inflammation and bacteria, helping you deal with outbreaks of acne and prevent them from coming back. An oral antibiotic, erythromycin is also used primarily to treat cases of inflammatory acne. As with doxycycline and other antibiotics, erythromycin works by killing the bacteria that can worsen acne and cause skin inflammation.

Trimethoprim is another widely used antibiotic for treating acne. In addition to oral antibiotics, some dermatologists prescribe topical antibiotic creams and gels for treating and preventing acne. Topical antibiotics have fewer potential side effects than oral antibiotics and are usually prescribed for less severe and persistent cases of acne. Drying formulas dry up active breakouts and draw out impurities from the skin, which are more beneficial for treating current acne than preventing future breakouts.

Evans notes that OTC skin care products containing active ingredients like sulfur and salicylic acid can be helpful in treating acne. This award-winning spot treatment by Mario Badescu contains both. To apply, avoid shaking the bottle. Separation in the formula is expected.

Dip a clean cotton swab into the sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Let dry overnight and rinse in the morning. Both oral and topical antibiotics may be prescribed for more severe types of acne. It is suitable for inflammatory and cystic acne. Clindamycin phosphate works by stopping the growth of acne-causing bacteria on the skin. This results in fewer acne lesions over time. In more severe cases of acne, your dermatologist may prescribe 1 percent clindamycin phosphate gel or lotion.

You may purchase clindamycin phosphate with a prescription at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and through services like GoodRx. Cystic acne is an especially uncomfortable form of inflammatory acne. While benzoyl peroxide has been a proven contender against inflammatory acne, OTC spot treatments alone may not clear up cystic acne entirely.

In conjunction with dermatologist visits, products containing benzoyl peroxide can be an effective part in treating acne. Derived from sugarcane, glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that weakens the bonds that hold together dead skin cells, which can clog pores. This may result in fewer skin cells since there are less skin cells on the surface that can end up in hair follicles.

Glycolic acid is available in a variety of OTC product types, including cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and more. It works by decreasing oil production that can lead to the formation of acne.

Since isotretinoin is associated with serious side effects, it should only be used as advised by a medical professional. You may purchase isotretinoin with a prescription at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and through services like GoodRx. Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States, yet finding an effective treatment can be a mystery. Experts agree that OTC skin care products containing ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, azelaic acid, and more may serve as a steppingstone to improving mild to moderate acne.

Lacey Bourassa is a health, wellness, and beauty writer based in Southern California. She holds a BA in English. You can keep up with her by visiting her website or her blog. What are retinoids and how do they help your skin? You may have heard surprising facts that sing its praises or myths about its dangers.

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Learn more about what the research has to say about using Nizoral to treat…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What causes acne? How can you determine which treatment is best for you? How we chose. Shop now at Curology. If you become pregnant while taking isotretinon, the drug must be stopped immediately.

If treatment is prescribed, you would be enrolled in the iPledge program , an FDA-approved initiative designed to reduce the number of birth defects caused by isotretinoin.

Everyone has to enroll, even men, although the requirements for men and women who can't get pregnant are different than those for women who can get pregnant. You'll also be monitored for side effects during the course of your treatment. But, the good news is most people only need one or two courses before acne is gone for good.

Your dermatologist will help you decide if this is the right option for you. Acne, no matter how severe, can be frustrating. If topical treatments alone aren't improving your acne, or if your acne is quite severe or widespread, an oral medication is the best option.

In some cases, you'll only need to take oral medications short term, to get acne under control, and then maintain your skin with topical medications. Other times, though, you may need to take them for longer periods of time. If you're at all worried about taking an oral acne medication, or if you have questions or concerns about your treatment, talk to your dermatologist.

Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients. Int J Womens Dermatol. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women.

Zouboulis CC, Bettoli V. Management of severe acne. Br J Dermatol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

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