Sunday, December 23, 2007
How to treat acne
Acne Cure Treatment
DRUGSTORES offer a mind-boggling array of products and treatments that range from the Power Pimple Peel to the Teminator 10 next to long-time standards like Clearasil and Stridex.
'The over-the-counter stuff isn't necessarily bad for mild acne,' Dr Jodi Ganz says. 'Look for topical cream products with salycic acid or benzoyl peroxide.'
But you might want to see a dermatologist if the over-the- counter products don't work after two months, Dr Ganz and Dr Leslie Lawley advise.
Be patient, both doctors say. Even with prescription medications, it can take six to 10 weeks before these drugs show any signs of working.
The following is a brief list of the types of medications usually prescribed by dermatologists for moderate to severe acne. Check with your doctor for details.
Retinoids, also known as Retin A
One of the gold standards in fighting acne, retinoids work well getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads, Dr Lawley says. Don't take any retinoid pill if you're pregnant, however, or want to become pregnant, since it has been linked to birth defects.
Combination of oral antibiotic and topical antibiotic creams
The oral antibiotic (pills) acts as an anti-bacterial to reduce infection while the topical antibiotic reduces inflammation.
Doctors commonly prescribe a member of the tetracycline antibiotic family for the oral dose. Doxycycline is one of the more common names, which is usually prescribed with a high-percentage benzoyl peroxide cream.
'But we do worry about antibiotic resistance,' Dr Ganz says. 'We try not to keep a patient on an antibiotic for too long.
'If someone needs an oral treatment, we start both on cream and oral antibiotic and decrease his reliance on oral and maintain the topical. In addition, researchers are looking at treating acne with more anti-inflammatory agents, as opposed to just antibiotics.'
Accutane
'If the patient has seen no results and has been on oral antibiotics, Accutane is an option but you cannot take it if you're pregnant,' Dr Lawley says, noting that it has been linked to birth defects in children born to women taking the drug.
It has also been associated with depression and suicide, according to US Food and Drug Administration reports.
Birth control pills
For women who aren't trying to get pregnant, low-dose birth control pills can be helpful in controlling hormones, which aggravate acne. They're another option if the antibiotics are not working, Dr Lawley says. But she doesn't prescribe them before ruling out risk factors such as age and whether the patient smokes. She also typically recommends an examination by a gynaecologist.
Corticosteroid injections
These are shots used to dissolve acne cysts that do not respond to other therapies and to treat scar tissue.
Microdermabrasion or dermabrasion
Also known as 'power peels', this method can reduce noticeable scarring and pock marks.
Photodynamic therapy
Also known as laser treatments. ALA (a 20 per cent solution of aminolevulenic acid) is painted on the skin and a laser light activates the solution, killing the main bacteria. Dr Ganz says: 'This is good for people who don't want to be on antibiotics or have problems with antibiotic resistance.'
