Although acne is primarily associated with teenagers and young people, it can also affect infants, children and adults. Typical treatments used to help improve symptoms associated with acne, include topical and oral treatments.
Oral Treatments for Acne - Oral Antibiotics
While mild acne is usually treated using topical treatments, such as products containing benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotics, oral treatments are often utilised in combination with these approaches for helping those suffering from moderate to severe acne. A common form of oral treatment for acne includes being prescribed oral antibiotics. In Acne: The Essential Guide, Mariconda (2009) highlights that there are several different types of oral antibiotics now available, making it possible to switch if one type is not proving to be effective.
Oral antibiotics are able to kill the bacteria responsible for breeding inflammatory acne spots, although they take several weeks to work. In Spotless: The Essential Guide to Getting Rid of Spots and Acne, Mummery (2009) identifies common types of acne oral antibiotics, to include as follows:
- Tetracycline
- Minocycline (Minocin)
- lymecycline (Tetralysal)
- Erythromycin
Hormone Acne Treatments - Co-Cyprindiol (Dianette)
Another form of oral treatment for moderate to severe acne includes taking hormone tablets, which are used to help female acne sufferers, as a means of reducing the influence of male hormones. Mariconda (2009) explains that male hormones cause female skin to become more oily, leading to acne spots. A hormone tablet known as Dianette (co-cyprindiol) is used for both acne treatment and as an oral contraceptive, making it unsuitable for those who are pregnant.
Severe Acne Treatment Includes Isotretinoin
For those who are suffering from severe acne, the family doctor will usually provide a referral to a skin specialist known as a dermatologist. A powerful form of treatment prescribed to treat severe acne is isotretinoin, commonly known as Roaccutane. Essential information about isotretinoin, as identified by Mariconda (2009), includes the following:
- helps treat acne resistant to other treatments
- blood tests before/during treatment
- course of treatment lasts 15-20 weeks
- may result in serious side-effects
- only available through dermatologists
- will not work for all acne cases
- only use under medical supervision
As highlighted above, in addition to topical treatments, those suffering from moderate to severe acne may be prescribed oral antibiotics. Female acne sufferers may be offered a hormone treatment known as Dianette, also used as a form of oral contraception, while severe acne sufferers are sometimes prescribed isotretinoin (Roaccutane) by a dermatologist. Acne treatments will largely depend on the type of acne spots and the severity of the condition.
Sources:
Mariconda, A. (2009) Acne: The Essential Guide Peterborough: Need 2 Know
Mummery, E. (2009) Spotless: The Essential Guide to Getting Rid of Spots and Acne Leicester: Matador
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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