our practice

contact information

EVOLUTION MEDICAL SPA of Northern Cambria Medical Center
1106 BIGLER AVENUE
BOX 776
NORTHERN CAMBRIA, Pennsylvania 15714
Tel: 814-948-5444
Fax: 814-948-8436
Map
Visit our other website
Email Us

The From Your Doctor service powered by Vivacare

This service should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your healthcare provider.

Communicate promptly with your provider with any health related questions or concerns.

 

Acne Treatment

Almost all cases of acne can be effectively treated. Treatment goals are to heal existing acne lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent acne scars from developing.

Acne treatment aims to control one or more of the underlying causes of acne. For instance, topical retinoids may help unclog sebaceous glands and keep pores open. Antibiotics may be used to fight the P. acnes bacteria. Isotretinoin (Accutane) or hormonal agents, such as birth control pills, may be used to reduce sebum (oil) production.

What is the best acne treatment plan?

Your doctor will recommend an acne treatment regimen based on these factors:

  • Severity of your acne. Mild acne may respond well to a topical retinoid alone. Moderate acne may respond better to a combination of topical retinoid with an antibiotic or other medication. Severe acne with scarring may need treatment with an oral retinoid (Accutane, Sotret).
  • Results of previous treatments. Medications may be added in a step-wise fashion, only if previous treatments are found to be ineffective.
  • Degree of scarring. More aggressive therapies may be started earlier if acne scars have already started developing.
  • Gender. Some treatments are available only for females, such as birth control pills.

Whatever your treatment plan, it is important that you give it enough time to work. This may mean waiting 6 to 8 weeks to see results. While the older acne lesions are healing, the medication is hard at work keeping new lesions from forming. Staying on your medication is the most important step to getting acne under control.

Boy with acne before treatment
Before Acne Treatment
(See larger image)

Boy with acne after treatment
After Acne Treatment
(See larger image)

  

Topical medications (applied to the skin)

Without a Prescription (Over-the-counter)

Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is found in many products including Clearasil and Proactiv. It is a mild antibiotic that kills the P. acnes bacteria. It is available in different concentrations. Higher concentrations are more likely to irritate the skin. It does not unclog blocked pores so is not as helpful for reducing whiteheads and blackheads.

Sulfur and salicylic acid. these have some mild ability to break down whiteheads and blackheads. This is found in many non-prescription acne medications.

Prescription

  • Topical retinoids - These are among the most effective and commonly used prescription acne medications. Topical retinoids are unique in their ability to unclog swollen pores. They may be used alone for mild acne or combined with other medications for moderate to severe acne. They may also be recommended for long-term use, even after the acne is under control, to keep the skin clear. Common brands of topical retinoids include Differin™(adapalene), Epiduo™(adapalene + benzoyl peroxide), Retin A Micro™(tretinoin), Tazorac™(tazarotene), and Ziana™(tretinoin + clindamycin).
  • Topical antibiotics - Antibiotics applied to the skin, such as clindamycin (Clindagel, Evoclin) and erythromycin, kill the P. acnes bacteria that leads to inflammation.

Oral medications (taken by mouth)

  • Oral antibiotics - These medications, which include tetracycline, doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx), and minocycline (Dynacin, Solodyn), act systemically and can reach bacteria in the deep layers of the dermis. They are also used for their anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Oral contraceptives (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz) - For women who experience hormonally triggered acne, birth control pills may be prescribed to reduce sebum production.
  • Anti-androgen drugs - Some drugs used for other medical conditions are known to reduce androgen levels, such as spironolactone (Aldactone). These may be used in some cases of acne.
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane, Amnesteem, Sotret) - Isotretinoin remains the most effective treatment for severe acne or acne that does not respond to other treatments. Isotretinoin treats all causes of acne: excess sebum, clogged pores, bacterial overgrowth, and inflammation. Most patients take the medicine for 15-to-20-week periods that may be repeated if necessary. Treatment requires monthly office visits, monthly lab tests, and strict contraception. It is critical that women of child-bearing age do not get pregnant while taking isotretinoin because of the serious risk of birth defects. The iPledge program was developed to reduce the likelihood of birth defects and other side effects.

Many of these acne medications have side effects, such as burning, redness, and irritation. With some medicines, such as topical retinoids, these side effects usually decrease or go away after the medicine is used for a period of time. If side effects are severe or don't go away, tell your doctor.

Procedures

For persistent acne lesions that are inflamed or unresponsive to medications, some doctors recommend additional methods, including extraction, photodynamic therapy, or corticosteroid injections.

_________________________________________________________________

© 2010 Vivacare. Last updated July 19, 2010.

This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.

Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
View Content Policy