Friday, March 13, 2009

Acne Part 8

Prescription medications

Various prescription medications are available for the treatment of acne. These include the antibiotics and retinoids. These prescribed medications are generally administered for moderate to severe long standing acne which has failed to respond to all other measures.

Antibiotics have been used for a long time in the treatment of acne. They are most effective in the treatment of acne which is red and tender. The antibiotics kill the bacteria and cause decrease in redness and swelling. However, these antibiotics do not work in all individuals and the results are not always predictable. The antibiotics can be applied topically or be taken as a pill.

In general, most individuals show a poor response to antibiotic. Judging from the number of antibiotics prescribed to treat acne, should indicate that one antibiotic alone does not always work for all individuals.

Topical antibiotics

Topical antibiotics can help reduce acne. Types of topical antibiotics include erythromycin, clindamycin, and sulfa drugs. The topical approach is sometimes effective because the medication is applied directly to the skin lesions. In addition, because the drug is not swallowed, there are fewer side effects.

A disadvantage of all antibiotic treatment is that bacteria often develop tolerance and resistance to the medication over time, and thus become difficult to eradicate. Almost all topical antibiotics are associated with some minor skin irritation which may be due to the solution in which the antibiotic is dissolved.

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