How Is Acne Treated?
Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads and Mild Inflammatory Acne
Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne
Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne
Acne is often treated by dermatologists (doctors who specialize in skin problems). These doctors treat all kinds of acne, particularly severe cases. Family practitioners, pediatricians and internists may treat patients with milder cases of acne.
The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring, and minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by acne.
Treatment with medication is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne:
- Abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles
- Increased oil production
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
Depending on the extent of the problem, your doctor may recommend one of several over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and/or prescription medicines. Some of these medicines may be topical (applied to the skin), and others may be oral (taken by mouth). Your doctor may suggest using more than one topical medicine or combining oral and topical medicines.
Keep in mind that all medicines can have side effects. Some medicines and side effects are mentioned in this article. Some side effects may be more severe than others. You should review the package insert that comes with your medicine and ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about the possible side effects.
Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads and Mild Inflammatory Acne
Doctors usually recommend an over-the-counter or prescription topical medicine for people with mild signs of acne. Topical medicine is applied directly to the acne or to the entire area of affected skin.
There are several over-the-counter topical medicines used for mild acne. Each works a little differently. Following are the most common ones:
- Benzoyl peroxide — destroys P. acnes, and also may reduce oil production
- Resorcinol — can help break down blackheads and whiteheads
- Salicylic acid— helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. Also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles
- Sulfur— helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.
Topical over-the-counter medicines are available in many forms, such as gels, lotions, creams, soaps or pads. In some people, over-the-counter acne medicines may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which often get better or go away with continued use of the medicine. If you experience severe or prolonged side effects, you should report them to your doctor.
Over-the-counter topical medicines are somewhat effective in treating acne when used regularly; however, it may take up to eight weeks before you see noticeable improvement.
Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne
People with moderate to severe inflammatory acne may be treated with prescription topical or oral medicines, alone or in combination.
Prescription Topical Medicines
Several types of prescription topical medicines are used to treat acne. They include:
- Antibiotics— help stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation
- Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) — unplug existing comedones (plural of comedo), allowing other topical medicines, such as antibiotics, to enter the follicles. Some may also help decrease the formation of comedones. These drugs contain an altered form of vitamin A. Some examples are tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac)
- Others — may destroy P. acnes and reduce oil production or help stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Some examples are prescription strength Benzoyl peroxide, sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur-containing products or Azelaic acid (Azelex).
Like over-the-counter topical medicines, prescription topical medicines come as creams, lotions, solutions, gels or pads. Your doctor will consider your skin type when prescribing a product. Creams and lotions provide moisture and tend to be good choices for people with sensitive skin. If you have very oily skin or live in a hot, humid climate, you may prefer an alcohol-based gel or solution, which tends to dry the skin. Your doctor will tell you how to apply the medicine and how often to use it.
For some people, prescription topical medicines cause minor side effects, including stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling or discoloration of the skin. With some medicines, such as tretinoin, these side effects usually decrease or go away after the medicine is used for a period of time. If side effects are severe or don't go away, notify your doctor.
As with over-the-counter medicines, the benefits of prescription topical medicines are not immediate. Your skin may seem worse before it gets better. It may take from four to eight weeks to notice improvement.
Prescription Oral Medicines
For patients with moderate to severe acne, doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of bacteria and reducing inflammation. Prescription oral and topical medicines may be combined. Common antibiotics used to treat acne are tetracycline (Achromycin V), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin) and doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx and Monodox).
Other oral medicines less commonly used are clindamycin (Cleocin), erythromycin or sulfonamides (Bactrim). Some people taking these antibiotics have side effects, such as an upset stomach, dizziness or lightheadedness, changes in skin color, and increased tendency to sunburn. Because tetracyclines may affect tooth and bone formation in fetuses and young children, these drugs are not given to pregnant women or children younger than age 14. There is some concern, although it has not been proven, that tetracycline and minocycline may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Therefore, a backup or another form of birth control may be needed. Prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne
People with nodules or cysts should be treated by a dermatologist. For patients with severe inflammatory acne that does not improve with medicines such as those described above, a doctor may prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane), a retinoid (vitamin A derivative). Isotretinoin is an oral drug that is usually taken once or twice a day with food for 15 to 20 weeks. It markedly reduces the size of the oil glands so that much less oil is produced. As a result, the growth of bacteria is decreased.
Advantages of Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Isotretinoin is a very effective medicine that can help prevent scarring. After 15 to 20 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin, acne completely or almost completely goes away in most patients. In those patients where acne recurs after a course of isotretinoin, the doctor may institute another course of the same treatment or prescribe other medicines.
Disadvantages of Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Isotretinoin can cause birth defects in the developing fetus of a pregnant woman. It is important that women of childbearing age are not pregnant and do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. Women must use two separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for one month before treatment begins, during the entire course of treatment, and for one full month after stopping the drug. Ask your doctor when it is safe to get pregnant after you have stopped taking isotretinoin.
Some people with acne become depressed by the changes in the appearance of their skin. Changes in mood may be intensified during treatment or soon after completing a course of medicines like isotretinoin. There have been a number of reported suicides and suicide attempts in people taking isotretinoin; however, the connection between isotretinoin and suicide or depression is not known. Nevertheless, if you or someone you know feels unusually sad or has other symptoms of depression, such as loss of appetite, loss of interest in once-loved activities, or trouble concentrating, it's important to consult your doctor.
Other possible side effects of isotretinoin include:
- Dry eyes, mouth, lips, nose or skin (very common)
- Itching
- Nosebleeds
- Muscle aches
- Sensitivity to the sun
- Poor night vision
- Changes in the blood, such as an increase in fats in the blood (triglycerides and cholesterol)
- Change in liver function.
To be able to determine if isotretinoin should be stopped if side effects occur, your doctor may test your blood before you start treatment and periodically during treatment. Side effects usually go away after the medicine is stopped.
* Brand names included in this booklet are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that these products are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Publication Date: January 2006
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health
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