There are many medications available only by prescription for persons that suffer from acne. Topical medications are applied directly to one's skin and may be helpful in cases of acne found to be mild to severe. Systemic medications work internally and are often useful for moderate acne problems. These medications can offer important help in the treatment of acne and work by attacking factors that cause acne. For the best long-term solution to an acne problem, your doctor might combine different therapies. The following are some of the prescription acne medications for adults that work best:
Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection
Often, acne cysts that are severely inflamed will eventually rupture leading to scarring. In order to treat such severely inflamed cysts, the dermatologist might inject each cyst using a diluted corticosteroid, which can reduce the chance of scarring. The medication can reduce the amount of inflammation and allow the cyst to heal. These injections work by causing the cyst to melt within 3-5 days.
Isotretinoin
This medication is an oral retinoid which is very potent and reserved for use with the most severe cystic acne along with acne that has been shown resistant to other kinds of medication. You will find more information concerning isotretinoin under Treating Severe Acne.
Antibiotics (Oral)
Many patients who have persistent, severe acne find that oral antibiotics offer an excellent choice for therapy. Like the topical antibiotics, the oral medications work to help reduce the population of the bacteria P. acnes and in turn reduce the inflammation. Treatment using oral antibiotics requires an initial higher dosage that is gradually reduced as the problem is resolved. In most cases, the antibiotics are used for less than six months.
As time passes, antibiotics become less effective on P. acnes bacteria as they grow in resistance to it. When the bacteria becomes resistant the antibiotics can no longer control it. At that time, the treatment must be changed to an alternative treatment or antibiotic prescribed by the dermatologist. Broad-spectrum oral antibiotics have been shown as effective in use for the treatment of acne, including:
- Erythromycin
This broad spectra antibiotic is effective against many bacteria, including those responsible for acne. Gastrointestinal irritation is the most common side effect.
- Tetracycline and derivatives
These antibiotics are effective at reducing papules and pustules or the inflammatory lesions caused by acne. The medications are not appropriate for children younger than 8 due to the possibility of affecting growth and staining teeth. In addition, they should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Tetracycline, when used during pregnancy or breastfeeding may affect child development of bones and teeth, resulting in skeletal defects.
Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection
Often, acne cysts that are severely inflamed will eventually rupture leading to scarring. In order to treat such severely inflamed cysts, the dermatologist might inject each cyst using a diluted corticosteroid, which can reduce the chance of scarring. The medication can reduce the amount of inflammation and allow the cyst to heal. These injections work by causing the cyst to melt within 3-5 days.
Isotretinoin
This medication is an oral retinoid which is very potent and reserved for use with the most severe cystic acne along with acne that has been shown resistant to other kinds of medication. You will find more information concerning isotretinoin under Treating Severe Acne.
Antibiotics (Oral)
Many patients who have persistent, severe acne find that oral antibiotics offer an excellent choice for therapy. Like the topical antibiotics, the oral medications work to help reduce the population of the bacteria P. acnes and in turn reduce the inflammation. Treatment using oral antibiotics requires an initial higher dosage that is gradually reduced as the problem is resolved. In most cases, the antibiotics are used for less than six months.
As time passes, antibiotics become less effective on P. acnes bacteria as they grow in resistance to it. When the bacteria becomes resistant the antibiotics can no longer control it. At that time, the treatment must be changed to an alternative treatment or antibiotic prescribed by the dermatologist. Broad-spectrum oral antibiotics have been shown as effective in use for the treatment of acne, including:
- Erythromycin
This broad spectra antibiotic is effective against many bacteria, including those responsible for acne. Gastrointestinal irritation is the most common side effect.
- Tetracycline and derivatives
These antibiotics are effective at reducing papules and pustules or the inflammatory lesions caused by acne. The medications are not appropriate for children younger than 8 due to the possibility of affecting growth and staining teeth. In addition, they should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Tetracycline, when used during pregnancy or breastfeeding may affect child development of bones and teeth, resulting in skeletal defects.
