EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS OF ACNE

The goal when treating Acne is to heal existing lesion, stop new lesion from forming, prevent scarring, and minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by this condition. How your acne is treated may depend on how severe and persistent it is.
TREATING MILD ACNE
The majority of people who get Acne will develop mild Acne. This can usually be treated with OTC (over-the-counter) medications. OTC medications can be bought at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. They are usually applied to the skin. Most Acne OTC (Over-The-Counter) products may contain the following active ingredients:

·         Resorcinol - Helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. It is a crystalline phenol and comes from   various resins. Resorcinol is also used for treating dandruff eczema and psoriasis.

·         Benzoyl Peroxide - Kills bacteria and slows down your glands' production of oil. Benzoyl peroxide is a white crystalline peroxide used in bleaching (flour or oils or fats) and as a catalyst for free radical reactions. It works as a peeling agent, accelerating skin turnover and clearing pores, which in turn reduces the bacterial count in the affected area.

·         Salicylic Acid - Helps break down Blackheads and Whiteheads also reduces shedding of cells which line the follicles of the oil glands, effective in treating inflammation and swelling. Salicylic acid is a white crystalline substance which is also used as a fungicide, or in making aspirin or dyes or perfumes. It causes the epidermis to shed skin more easily, prevents pores from becoming blocked while at the same time allowing room for new cells to grow. It is commonly added to shampoos used for treating dandruff.

•   Sulfur - Helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. Sulfur, in its natural form, is a yellow crystalline  solid. Sulfur has been used for centuries for treating acne, psoriasis and eczema. Scientists are not sure how sulfur works to help skin diseases. We do know that elemental sulfur does oxidize slowly to sulfurous acid which is a mild reducing and antibacterial agent.
•   Retin-A - Helps unplug blocked pores. Retin-A contains Tretinoin, an acid form of vitamin A, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Tretinoin is also used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Retin-A has been used widely to combat aging of the skin, it also acts as a chemical peel.
• Azelaic Acid - Strengthens cells that line the follicles, stops oil eruptions reduces bacteria growth. It is a saturated dicarboxylic acid found naturally in wheat, rye, and barley. Azelaic acid also mops up free radicals, which reduces inflammation. It is useful for patients with darker skin who have dark patches on their face (melasma), or whose acne spots leave persistent brown marks.

You can buy Acne medications in the forms of gels, soaps, pads, creams and lotions. If your skin is sensitive you may prefer a cream or lotion. Gels, which are usually alcohol based and tend to dry the skin, are better for people with oily skin. OTC medications will have these ingredients in different concentrations. It is advisable to start with the lowest strengths. You may experience skin irritation, redness, and/or burning when you first try them. These side effects usually go away after continued use. If they don't you should see your doctor.

TREATING MORE SEVERE CASES OF ACNE
If your acne is more severe you should consider seeing a dermatologist - a skin specialist. The specialist may prescribe a treatment that contains some of the active ingredients mentioned above, such as Benzoyl Peroxide, Azelaic acid, as well as Adabalene. Prescription medications for acne are presented in many forms, such as creams, lotions, etc. Your dermatologist will decide what is best for you. You may be prescribed an oral or topical antibiotic. Antibiotics can combat the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Most commonly Erythromycin and Tetracycline are prescribed as antibiotics for the treatment of acne.

• Treating a Cyst With Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection
  If an acne cyst becomes severely inflamed there is a high risk of rupturing. A rupturing acne cyst can often result in scarring. The specialist may inject a diluted corticosteroid to treat the inflamed cyst and to prevent scarring. The injection will lower the inflammation and speed up healing. The cyst will "melt" within a few days.
• Isotretinoin
  This is a strong oral retinoid, used for the treatment of severe cystic acne, as well as severe acne that has not responded to other medications and treatments.
• Oral Antibiotics
  Oral antibiotics are frequently prescribed for patients with severe acne and some patients with moderate acne too. The aim of such oral antibiotics is to lower the population of Propionibacterium Acnes (P. acnes), a bacterium commonly found on the skin, which will multiply rapidly in blocked follicles. The dosage will be initially high, and then as the acne reduces so will the dosage. Antibiotics are not taken for more than six months. As time passes the P. acnes can become resistant to the antibiotic and another antibiotic is needed. Some American studies have indicated that it is better to use oral broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Oral Contraceptives
  The majority of women with acne find that taking certain oral contraceptives clears it up. Oral contraceptives suppress the overactive gland and are commonly used as long-term treatments for acne in women. If the woman has a blood-clotting disorder, smokes, has a history of migraines or is over 35, she should not take this medication without checking with a gynecologist first.
• Topical Antimicrobials                                                                                              As with oral antibiotics, the aim of topical antimicrobials for the treatment of acne is to reduce P. acnes populations. Topical antimicrobials are used for patients with moderate to severe acne. Examples may be clindamycin Erythromycin, and Sodium Sulfacetamide.

The Dermatologist may prescribe a topical retinoid. Topical Retinoids are a derivative of Vitamin A and are very popular for the treatment of Acne. They unclog the pores and prevent whiteheads and blackheads from developing. Examples of topical Retinoids prescribed in the USA are Adapalene, Tazarotene, and Tretinoin.