ACNE TREATMENTS

Treatment of acne is aimed at trying to correct the cellular turnover with medications like topical retinoids (i.e. Retin A, Differin, Tazorac). Glycolic acid and Salicylic acid help to exfoliate and remove plugs that have already formed. These products can be used at home or as part of a specialized acne treatment done in the office.

Another goal is to control the amount of oil present on the surface of the skin and in the pores. However, you need to be careful not to over dry or irritate the skin with aggressive scrubbing or alcohol products as this will lead to irritation and even more oil. As a rule gentle cleansers are the best to use if you are acne prone.

Bacteria that cause acne are treated with oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics or benzoyl peroxide products. Oral antibiotics can be very helpful but are not a long-term solution. Benzoyl peroxide is one of the best ways to control bacteria because they do not induce bacterial resistance like topical or oral antibiotics.

Since 99% of all adults have the "acne bacteria" on the skin recent research suggests it's a person's response to the bacteria, not the bacteria itself that is the main issue. More recent research is looking at the ways to treat the response to the bacteria rather than the bacteria itself.

People who have hormonal factors influencing their acne may need this addressed as well with things like birth control pills or spironalactone.

Accutane, which is a retinoid taken by mouth, may be necessary for severe case of acne or inflammatory acne that has failed to respond to standard treatment protocols. This medication can not be used during pregnancy so it is not an option for women who have immediate plans to become pregnant. It is an excellent medication otherwise especially if acne is leading to scarring. Currently we have no great treatment for acne scarring.