Table of contents:
- Nonprescription medical acne medication options at the pharmacy
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Salicylic acid
- Sulfur and resorcinol
- List of topical acne medications that doctors usually prescribe
- Tretinoin
- Topical antibiotics
- Vitamin A.
- Azelaic acid
- List of oral acne medications prescribed by your doctor
- Oral antibiotics
- Isotretinoin
- Family planning pills
- Aldactone
Acne cannot be treated carelessly. Each drug may have a different way of working to get rid of acne. The type of medication you need may be different from what the next person needs, because your acne type and their own may also be different. However, which acne medication is the most effective?
Nonprescription medical acne medication options at the pharmacy
Over-the-counter medical acne medications are suitable for treating mild acne types such as blackheads (whiteheads and blackheads) and moderate acne. The average non-prescription acne medication is a topical type (topical medication) that is available in the form of creams, foams, soaps, gels, lotions, or ointments.
The following are non-prescription drugs that are most commonly used to treat acne:
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is effective for those of you who have mild to moderate acne. Red, inflamed pimples can also be treated with benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide eliminates acne by killing acne-causing bacteria and preventing dead skin cells from clogging the pores.
Medicines containing benzoyl peroxide are available in the form of creams, lotions, face washes, and gels in concentrations of 2.5-10 percent. Usually, drug effects will take as soon as 4 weeks to show optimal results.
Although it is quite effective in treating acne, also pay attention to the risk of side effects from using benzoyl peroxide. These chemicals can make dry skin reddish and feel hot, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Also, be careful when using drugs that contain benzoyl peroxide, as they can stain hair and clothes.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is the most common acne medication. Rough skin problems due to blackheads or small pimples can also be treated with salicylic acid. Salilisic acid can help speed up the process of forming new skin cells.
In addition, this drug is recommended to clean pores so that they don't become clogged and cause pimples or blackheads in the future. The difference with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid does not affect sebum production and does not kill bacteria.
Salicylic acid is available in various product forms such as lotions, creams, and facial cleansers with concentrations between 0.5-5 percent. This drug needs to be used regularly on an ongoing basis so as not to stimulate blackheads and pimples to reappear.
Side effects that can occur from using this drug include skin irritation such as itching, red skin and dry skin.
Other side effects that can occur are allergic reactions, such as:
- Difficulty breathing, dry and flaky skin
- Fainting
- Swollen eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- Thick throat
- Hot skin
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should consult before using drugs containing salicylic acid.
Sulfur and resorcinol
In some acne medications, the sulfur content is usually found with resorcinol. Both have different ways of working, which when combined can be effective in treating acne.
Sulfur treats acne by reducing excess oil production and clearing clogged pores. Meanwhile, resorcinol helps prevent blackheads in the future by removing dead skin cells.
Acne medications that contain two combinations of these substances are usually available in the form of creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, liquids, or gels with a dosage of 2% sulfur and 5-8% resorcinol.
It is important to understand that the use of sulfur and resorcinol can cause side effects in the form of skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. The side effects of irritation usually subside as your body adjusts to the medication.
However, if the skin irritation persists and becomes irritating or gets worse and becomes drier, reddish and peels after a few days, you should consult your doctor further.
List of topical acne medications that doctors usually prescribe
If your acne does not go away or even gets worse after using non-prescription drugs, this is a sign that your skin problem needs special treatment from a dermatologist (dermatologist). Severe acne, such as nodules or cystic acne (cystic acne), also usually requires special medication from a doctor.
For cases of severe acne, the medicine that doctors give on average is in the form of a topical in a stronger dose or it can be oral medicine.
The following are some acne medications that are usually prescribed by dermatologists.
Tretinoin
Tretinoin is a derivative of retinoic acid or vitamin A. Tretinoin is still popularly prescribed by dermatologists in Indonesia as the top choice drug for dermatologists to treat acne and acne scars.
Tretinoin is commonly prescribed at a concentration of 0.025 percent. Tretinoin works to get rid of acne by opening pores clogged with dirt or bacteria. At the same time, this drug also stimulates the exfoliation of dead skin cells to be replaced by new, healthy skin cells.
However, it should be understood that in the first few weeks after using tretinoin, your acne may look worse. This is a normal reaction called purging to clean the acne "buds" that are still inside. Usually, drug effects will be seen as early as 8-12 weeks after routine use.
Some of the side effects that can be caused by tretinoin include:
- Hot, warm, piercing
- Tingling sensation
- Itchy rash
- Redness
- Swollen
- Dry skin
- Peeled skin
- Irritation, or change in skin color
Before you use tretinoin, tell your doctor if you have eczema. This medicine may make your skin more sensitive if exposed to the sun. So, the use of tretinoin drugs is highly recommended to be done at night.
In addition, the use of tretinoin in some cases can cause allergic reactions in the form of hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to certain medications, including vitamin A and any derivatives from vitamin A.
Topical antibiotics
Topical antibiotics are drugs that are applied directly to acne. Antibiotics work to kill the bacteria that cause acne and stop skin inflammation.
Doctors will usually prescribe topical antibiotics to avoid some of the side effects that may occur due to taking oral antibiotics.
The topical antibiotics most commonly used for the treatment of acne are erythromycin, which is a macrolide antibiotic, and clindamycin, which is a lincosamide derivative. The topical antibiotic clindamycin used in combination with benzoyl peroxide can reduce the risk of developing bacterial resistance.
Even so, topical antibiotics usually take longer to get rid of acne than oral medications.
Some of the side effects that may occur when using topical antibiotics include irritation or allergies.
Vitamin A.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends topical retinol (retinoids) to help treat and prevent inflammatory types of acne.
Retinol is a derivative product of vitamin A which contains antioxidants to fight free radicals that cause cell damage.
Retinol can help treat acne by reducing inflammation, increasing the growth of new skin cells, and reducing the production of excess sebum or oil. Furthermore, regular use of retinol can help smooth the skin and even out the skin tone.
Even so, it needs to be understood that acne medications containing retinoids can cause side effects in the form of skin irritation, redness, and even peeling. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use retinoids in stages.
Don't forget to use sunscreen afterward, as retinol can make your skin sensitive to sun exposure.
Azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is prescribed for treating mild to moderate acne, as well as rosacea. Azelaic acid can also be found in some OTC acne medications, but in lower concentrations.
Azelaic acid helps clean pores, and soothes acne caused by bacteria.
Dosage forms for drugs with azelaic acid are gels, lotions and creams.
Some of the side effects that can be caused by azelaic acid include:
- Itchy
- Burnt
- Redness
- Dry or flaky skin
List of oral acne medications prescribed by your doctor
If topical treatments don't make your acne go away, or if your acne is severe or spreading, your doctor can prescribe oral medications.
In some cases of acne, oral medications are only taken for a short period of time, and then you will be prescribed topical medications.
The following are various oral acne medications that are commonly prescribed by doctors.
Oral antibiotics
Oral antibiotics have been used to treat acne for many years. Oral antibiotics are commonly used to treat moderate to severe acne, or persistent acne.
Like topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics work by reducing acne-causing bacteria. Oral antibiotics also help reduce inflammation of the skin.
Oral antibiotics are most effective at killing acne when used in conjunction with topical acne medications, such as topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or other topical treatments.
Often oral antibiotic treatment starts at a high dose and then moves to a lower dose as the acne improves.
The most commonly prescribed oral antibiotics for acne treatment are:
- Erythromycin
- Tetracyclines
- Minocycline
- Doxycycline
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin is prescribed to treat severe acne and acne that has not responded to other treatments, causing redness and pain due to inflamed skin conditions.
This drug is very effective in getting rid of acne. Not only that, isotretinoin is also useful in reducing the amount of oil on the face that is produced.
Before using this medicine, it is advisable to consult a doctor first because the side effects that occur can include ulcerative colitis or autoimmune diseases of the intestines, depression to cause suicidal thoughts, and birth defects if used by pregnant women.
Other side effects that can be caused, such as:
- Allergy
- Itchy rash
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat.
- Feeling weak and numb
- Convulsions
- Hearing problems appear
- Diarrhea
- Fever, and so on
Family planning pills
The hormones in birth control pills can help reduce acne because they can reduce circulating androgen hormones, which reduce sebum production.
Birth control pills used to treat acne must contain both estrogen and progestin to be effective against acne.
If you are prescribed birth control pills to treat acne, you should be aware of the side effects of these pills. Side effects of birth control pills can include:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Weight gain
- Weight loss
- Menstrual cycle changes
- Headache
- Breast pain
- Dizzy
- Fainting
Aldactone
Aldactone (spironolactone) is another acne medication that is specifically prescribed for adult women only.
This acne medication is prescribed only under certain circumstances to treat hormonal fluctuations that contribute to the appearance of acne.
Aldactone is not very commonly used, and is not a first-line acne treatment option.
But for some women, aldactone is very helpful in treating pimples that don't go away.
Aldactone can also cause side effects, such as
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Breast pain
Other possible side effects include:
- Thirst or dry mouth
- Stomach cramps, vomiting, and / or diarrhea
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Blood potassium level increases
- Low blood pressure
It is important to know each type of medication available and consult a dermatologist so that you can find the best one for yourself. Choosing the right acne medication can help get rid of acne quickly and completely, minimizing the risk of side effects, and preventing future acne breakouts.
