Very Effective Acne Treatment Options

Acne is one of the most common of skin disorders. It often starts in adolescence and mainly afflicts the teenage age group. With 70% of adolescents afflicted with this common skin problem, it is often considered to be one of the most irritating diseases especially during an adolescent's life. Although it may not always be serious in the sense that is not fatal, it can cause serious emotional trauma to any person ridiculed because of their complexion.

There are numerous medical interventions to help people of all ages to resolve their acne problems. Physicians and researchers are continually seeking the ultimate treatment and the question always is as to which is the most effective.

Natural and artificial compounds are continually being tested and combined in an attempt to make a super-treatment. Here is a breakdown of a number of acne treatments which claim to be successful in dealing with different types and severity of acne spots;

Mild and Juvenile Acne

This kind of acne - often described as teenage spots - can be effectively treated using over-thecounter (OTC) medicines available in most good drugstores. This kind of acne is considered to be amongst the easiest to treat but many prescription medical interventions are also effective as acne treatments. These include a range of antibiotics, adapalene, benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin.

These treatments help prevent or stunt the development of bacteria and decrease inflammation and reddening. Depending on the person's skin type a doctor may choose to prescribe an acne treatment they believe to be appropriate and effective. As an example, if a patient has oily skin then certain creams and lotions would not be advisable, mainly as these are oil-based medications.

Certain Gels and liquid solutions will be more suitable in this case since they are predominantly alcoholbased and therefore tend to dry out the skin. Physicians and medical researchers would test a vast range of treatments before allowing them to market, and individual physicians would test a number of products on their patients before committing to a specific course of treatment for any one person. Because there is such a range of options this is very prudent.

Moderate or more severe acne

Those who have oily skin or those who used to have a form of mild acne (often this is in their later teens and early twenties) may experience worsening acne as they grow older. This may develop into a moderately severe form of acne requiring more advanced intervention. Moderately severe acne is often characterized by an increased number of whiteheads and increased redness around sores.

This is often due to ruptured blood vessels. Severe acne is categorized as when it has spread to cover a larger area, often the entire face, or parts of the back and neck. Often this will involve the development of larger spots and this type of acne is often treated with oral antibiotics.

They work by preventing or reducing the development of bacteria which can contribute to or cause acne and reducing any inflammation. When dealing with this increased level of acne a combination of medications may be required. Often oral medication and skin rubs or creams used together may be necessary.

Certain topical medications such as sulphur drug preparations have been considered extremely effective as acne treatments. Sulphur creates a peeling effect on your skin and this loosens the poor dead skin and can dislodge blackheads from their pores. Sulphur has no known side effects and as such is an effective acne treatment.

However it is always advisable to test any medication on a small area of your skin before applying them, and only take medicines oraly if instructed to do so. Examples of effective acne treatments come in the form of oral antibiotics are tetracycline, minocycline, isotretinoin, doxicycline and erythromycin.

Most of these effective acne treatments when taken orally are deemed hazardous to pregnant women and their children's health. Of the above, only erythromycin is reputed to be safe for use by those who are either expecting a baby or breastfeeding.