A side effect of benzoyl peroxide is local irritation, especially with the higher strengths such as 10 percent gels. Mild acid solutions of fruit origin , including salicylic and glycolic acids, can be effective on acne. These encourage the peeling of the top layer of skin and the opening of plugged follicles, which helps reestablish the normal skin-cell replacement cycle. Tea tree oil is a naturally occurring oil with antibiotic properties. Research is ongoing to determine whether it can be an effective acne treatment.
Oral medication can be useful when acne affects the skin on multiple areas of the body.
Antibiotics kill the bacteria that have colonized the follicles. This reduces inflammation. Tetracyclines are the most frequently prescribed oral antibiotics. Because bacteria tend to develop resistance, doctors use systemic antibiotics for short-term treatments. Common side effects of tetracyclines are few, but they have been known to cause increased sensitivity to the sun and decreased efficacy of birth control pills in some cases.