Anti Aging Skin Care » Acne Skin Care » Anti-Acne Treatment

Anti-Acne Treatment

• Benzoyl peroxide gel: This has been around for nearly thirty years and has proved it efficacy. you should start with a formulation of 2.5 per cent strength to be applied very sparingly on the affected areas every night. After a month, if this has not dried your skin, then you can go up to 5 per cent strength. Remember, the gel must not dry your skin. Benzoyl peroxide gel is available under the trade names 'Benzac AC', 'Bengel' or 'Persol'.

• Antibiotic gels: Clindamycin and erythromycin are the most effective. You can use them during the daytime or on alternate nights with benzoyl peroxide. Antibiotic gels should be used only for red bumps and pus-filled pimples. Gels containing clindamycin are available as 'Clindac A', 'Erytop', 'Clincin' or 'Femcinol'. Erythromycin gels are available as 'Eryacne' gel or 'Acnesol' solution.

• Azelaic acid: This is one of the entrants available for the last fifteen years. It is a relatively milder therapy and is effective even for dark blemishes. It is used in a strength of 20 per cent and is available as 'Aziderm' cream. You can use it every night or alternate it with either one of the antibiotic gels or benzoyl peroxide.

• Tretinoin: This is a very effective cream but has to be used under the supervision of a dermatologist. If used injudiciously, it can cause a lot of reaction, which can lead to more blemishes.

• Nose strips: They are very effective for blackheads. However, you will need to use it every five to ten days.

  If, in spite of following a judicious skin care routine and application of over-the-counter products, your acne does not get controlled in a month or two, then do consult a dermatologist.
  Today, with so many effective treatment modalities available for acne, one should have no reason to go through the agony of a scarred face. However, as mentioned before, early treatment is essential to prevent deep and ugly scars. Your dermatologist may recommend any of the following treatments.

• Antibiotics: These are the most commonly used agents for treating acne. Antibiotics used to treat acne need to be continued for at least two to three months. Tetracyclines have been in use for the last fifty years and have stood the rest of time. Contray to what is commonly believed, they are not harmful and have no long-term or short-term side effects. Sometimes, other antibiotics may also be prescribed.

• Isotretinoin: This is a vitamin A derivative and must be used strictly under a dermatologist's supervision. It gives excellent results, but is very expensive.

• Hormonal pills or oral contraceptive pills: Sometimes a hormonal imbalance, which causes acne, is due to an internal disorder. Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) is one such common disorder for which hormonal pills or oral contraceptives are recommended. But these can only be given after a through investigation, which might include a sonography as well as testing of blood hormonal levels.