Acne Treatments
No matter what type of acne you have, whether it be acne, acne scars, whiteheads, or blackheads, chances are that it can be helped. It is very critical to know that all of your acne problems will not be solved overnight. To truly solve your skin care problems, it can take several weeks to several months to get the answer that you are searching for. The first thing to do to treat acne is to try some over-the-counter drugs, especially if you have mild acne, to see if they might help. After you have tried a few over-the-counter medicines, you may want to consider seeing a dermatologist. They can help you decide the best medication for your individual skin type.
Here is a list of some of the most popular types of acne treatments:
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines can be classified as acne treatments that are prescribed by a dermatologist. A dermatologist will usually prescribe something mild to see how your skin will react to different treatments. If that is not working, he will usually prescribe something stronger. Treatment options generally come in two forms. They can come in a cream or gel that you rub onto your skin, also known as topical treatments. Or they will prescribe something in tablet form, also known as oral treatments.
Topical Treatments
Topical treatments are treatments that you rub directly to affected areas of the skin. Topical treatments are usually applied once or twice a day and can be used for up to six months to see optimal results. Some side effects might include dry or flaking skin or irritated skin.
Oral Treatments
Oral treatments, that come in tablet form, are usually prescribed for inflammatory acne. They will usually be taken daily for about three months. Longer dosages might be necessary if the patient is not seeing optimal results. Oral medications are usually only prescribed for mild to moderate acne because the effects are not usually as strong as topical treatments. Oral treatments can cause side effects such as diarrhea, upset stomach, indigestion, and drying of the skin.