For those who suffer from acne, today is fortunately an age of medical advancement, discovery, and innovation. Treatments for acne are constantly being created and developed to give the best possible treatment available for all types of acne.
As little as 15 years ago, teenagers were advised that the only treatment for acne was simply to wait it out, and it would fade of its own accord. It was also believed that the main cause of acne was an unclean face. Furthermore, teenagers were advised that diet and exercise has little or no effect on the prevalence of acne on their skin. Of course, now we know that the causes of acne problems cannot be categorised so easily.
In today's medical environment there many, many treatment options for acne, including prescription medications as well as over-the-counter treatments like Lipovox. Prescription medicine may cost more than the non-prescription kinds, but acne experts believe they may offer a far better performance against acne problems. There are several courses of treatment on the market today:
Retinoic acids, which are substances developed from vitamin A, are one acne treatment option that can be found in prescription-strength lotions, creams, and gels intended for acne treatment. These substances are topically applied to affected areas of the skin and help to clean blocked pores, oxygenate the skin, and kill acne-causing bacteria that thrives on the skin. The market name for retinoic acid is Tretinoin, and one oral variant of Tretinoin is called Isotretinoin. This alternative offers a solution to acne problems that are resistant to topical applicators and is known by the marketing labels Accutane or Roaccutane.
Accutane has revolutionised the prescribed treatment of acne, and has helped many people with severe or cystic acne to feel better about themselves once again. It works by altering the DNA transcription of the sebaceous glands so that their sebum-output is reduced. Therefore, when dead skin cells are sloughed off from the skin, they do not become blocked or trapped in the pores due to an over-abundance of sebum. This means that the prevalence of blackheads and whiteheads is reduced.
If oral medication will not work as well for you as you would like, Accutane could very well be a viable solution. You should be aware, though, that in some cases Accutane has been linked to depression and suicide due to its side effects. It can also dry out your skin and your lips. Because of this, you should consult a doctor before getting on Accutane.
Antibiotic acne medications are there for those who do not suffer from severe acne that may require more powerful medications that cause strong side effects. As their name suggests, antibiotics reduce or kill the amount of bacteria on your skin that causes acne to occur. You can get antibiotics either in oral form via tablets, which can work internally to help bolster your body's defences against bacteria, or in topical creams that you can rub onto your face and skin. In short, by using antibiotics you can eliminate harmful bacteria as well as reduce chemical irritants and the fatty acids in your skin's sebum that can make your skin become inflamed and irritated.
Finally, for female sufferers of acne, prescribed birth control pills can have the welcome side effect of reducing the severity of acne. In low doses, oral contraceptives can stem hormone fluctuations which are to blame for some acne breakouts.
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