If you haven't had any success with over the counter acne products the next step would be Medical Treatment For your Acne
Acne is not life threatening; neither is it contagious. Yet acne remains a serious problem for many people; the tissue scars it leaves are nothing compared to the emotional and psychological damage acne sufferers sustain. Acne cannot be cured, it can only be treated.
Most people will experience some form of mild acne from puberty until their early twenties. Mild acne means occasional breakouts; a pimple here and there; and some blackheads and whiteheads. In most cases, mild acne can be treated and controlled through self-medication. There are thousands of products available in supermarkets specially formulated for treating mild acne; from facial washes, soaps, to pimple gels and pore strips. It takes two weeks for the skin to adjust to new products; if the acne persists or worsens beyond two weeks of self-medication, professional help can be sought.
The areas of the body commonly affected by acne are the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Acne is considered as moderate or moderately severe if it occupies anywhere from a fourth to three fourths of the face, neck, back, chest or shoulders area; or when the total area of infection, for example the face and chest, amount to at least a fourth of the aggregate area of the mentioned body parts. Moderate to moderately severe acne needs immediate help from a dermatologist for two reasons: moderate acne tends to leave deep scars; and if left untreated, it may progress to severe acne. Combinations of oral, physical and topical remedies are commonly prescribed by dermatologists to treat and control moderate to moderately severe acne.
The more severe forms of acne are cysts and lesions that cause extensive tissue scarring. Like moderate to moderately severe acne, severe acne is treated through a combination of oral, physical and topical remedies.
Oral remedies:
• Oral antibiotics are prescribed by dermatologists to treat moderate to severe acne. The antibiotics help reduce inflammation by decreasing bacteria growth. Although antibiotics are proven to be effective against acne; they are also known to have numerous side effects. It is also known that certain forms of acne become or are resistant to oral antibiotics. More on antibiotics
• Birth Control Pills and other hormone suppressing pills suppress the production of hormones that cause or aggravate acne. They also normalize the production of oil by sebaceous glands.
More on Birth Control and Acne
• Accutane (Isotretinoin) is the very controversial miracle drug. Studies show that it is extremely effective in treating acne and preventing scarring; it has a 90% success rate. The same studies also reveal the numerous side effects of the drug. The most serious side effects of this drug include birth defects and changes in blood composition.
More About Accutane
Physical remedies:
• Comedo extraction. Prior to the extraction, the face is thoroughly cleansed and a topical medicine is applied to loosen the blackheads and whiteheads. A thin pen-like instrument is then used to pop pimples and extract whiteheads and blackheads.
• Chemical peels. Powerful chemical agents specially formulated to loosen whiteheads and blackheads, and promote instant peeling of the outermost layer of the skin, are applied on the skin.
• Drainage and Extraction. Drainage and extraction are resorted to when cystic acne remains unresponsive to topical and oral medications.
Topical remedies:
Topical remedies are predominantly over the counter; they usually contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, salicylic acid and resorcinol. These ingredients attack acne differently; some dry pimples; some control oil production; others kill bacteria or cause the skin to peel. Prescribed topical remedies include topical antibiotics and Retin A. They are more potent than their over-the-counter counterparts; they are more effective but are riskier to use. Higher doses of the likes of benzoyl peroxide also need prescription.