How Is
Acne Treated?
Adapted by
Tracee
Cornforth
By the time many
people consult a doctor for their acne, they usually have tried a
drawerful of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Acne is often
treated by a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases and
disorders of the skin. Dermatologists treat all kinds of acne,
particularly severe cases. Doctors who are general or family
practitioners, pediatricians, or internists may treat patients with
milder cases of acne.
The main goal of
acne treatment is to prevent scarring. Additional goals are to reduce
the number of painful lesions and to minimize the psychological
stress and embarrassment caused by this disease. Doctors often use
drug therapy as the first choice for treating acne. Drug therapy is
aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne:
abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, increased oil
production, the bacterium P. acnes, and inflammation. Depending on
the severity of the person's acne, the doctor will recommend one of
several OTC or prescription topical medications (medication applied
to the skin) or a prescription systemic medication (medication taken
by mouth). The doctor may suggest using more than one topical
medication or using both an oral medication and a topical medication
at the same time.
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|
Common
Over-the-Counter Topical Medications Used To Treat
Acne
|
|
Generic
Name
|
Common
Brand Names*
|
|
•
Benzoyl peroxide cream, gel, lotion,
or soap
|
•
Clearasil, Fostex, PanOxyl Dryox,
Persa-Gel
|
|
•
Salicylic acid
|
•
PROPApH, Stridex, Oxy Night Watch,
Clearasil Clearstick Maximum
Strength
|
|
•
Sulfur
|
•
Sulpho-Lac Acne Medication, Liquimat,
Therac Lotion, Sulmasque
|
|
•
Benzoyl peroxide and sulfur
|
•
Dryox 10S, Dryox 20S 10, Sulfoxyl
|
|
• Sulfur and resorcinol
|
•
Sulforcin Lotion, Rezamid Lotion,
Acnomel Cream
|
|
*Brand
names included in this fact sheet are provided as examples only, and
their inclusion does not mean that these products are endorsed by the
National Institutes of Health or any other Government agency. Also,
if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or
imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Reprinted from The
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
(NIAMS)
Acne
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