There are a lot of options. There are antibiotics, for starters. Then, there is something that you can put for moderate acne, which should be oral antibiotics. This should minimize the presence of bacteria. But there are a lot more options when treating acne. From oils to creams, the options can be endless. Once in a while, we get to see treatments for acne available over the counter. You can use some of these products for many weeks without seeing any result. When this happens, you can get yourself a doctor. A dermatologist would be able to help you with your concern. A dermatologist would be able to help you control your acne. At the same time, he would also prevent your skin from getting scars and other damages. Plus, if there are scars, the dermatologist would ensure to make the scars less visible. When it comes to acne medications, they generally do one thing. And that is to reduce the production of oil. The other thing it can do is to rid you of bacterial infection that causes acne. Most prescription drugs work depending on how your body reacts to them. Some may have to wait for about four to eight weeks before seeing results. For others, the results may come in faster. Yet, some do not see results at all. The treatment would be dependent on a lot of things. Age is one. Then, the doc would also have to consider how severe the acne is. Plus., there is the matter of how much you are willing to work to get rid of it. And when it comes to the mode of treatment, there are a lot of options. The simplest would be washing the face and applying medications. Another option is an oral medication. Sometimes, it can be a combination of both. One would have to talk to the dermatologist about the risks of these medications. Discuss the risks as well as the benefits. Here are the most common topical medications there are. Retinoids These are those that contain retinoid acids. Ideal for moderate acne, they are common as creams or gels. Sometimes, they also come in lotion forms. This type of medication is usually applied in the evening. You start by doing it thrice weekly. Once your skin gets used to the medication, you can make daily applications. This medication prevents you from clogging hair follicles. Please note that this medication makes your skin more sensitive to the skin. It can also cause dry skin and redness. Also, do not use tretinoin together with benzoyl peroxide. Antibiotics Antibiotics work by getting you rid of excess skin bacteria. This then reduces redness and inflammation. Some would use antibiotics and a retinoid in the first few months. The antibiotic is in the morning, the retinoid in the evening. Usually, antibiotics get mixed with benzoyl peroxide. This would ensure that the body does not resist antibiotics. Azelaic Acid or Salicylic Acid Azelaic acid is something that naturally occurs. It is something produced by yeast and brings with it some antibacterial benefits. A 20% azelaic acid cream-gel is as effective as any other treatment when used twice a day. You can use this twice daily. There are side effects to this. This should include skin redness and minor skin irritations. On the other hand, salicylic acids help you in getting rid of hair follicles. This type of medication may come as a wash-off product. Sometimes, there are also leave-on products. This may not be as effective as other types of medications. And this has side effects, including skin discoloration and minor skin irritations. Dapsone This is something that you can use to treat cases of inflammatory acne. Women commonly use this. There are side effects like redness and dryness of the skin. Oral Medications Aside from leaving on and wash off medications, some are usually taken orally. Here are a few examples. Antibiotics This is something ideal for moderate to severe acne. Oral antibiotics are for the reduction of bacteria. This type of medication should not be an option in the long run. It should be something taken for the shortest time possible. This should ensure that the body prevents antibiotic resistance. There are side effects to oral antibiotics. But these are rare. It makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, though. Combined Oral Contraceptives There are always combined oral contraceptives. These are FDA-approved for the treatment of acne in women. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. You use contraception and at the same time manage acne breakouts. The typical combinations are progestin and estrogen. The results may not be visible in the first few months. Use acne medications at the start. And as always, there are side effects. One of these is weight gain. There is also breast tenderness and bouts of nausea. One word of caution as well. These medicines are sometimes associated with a few complications. Examples are cardiovascular problems and some types of cancer. Anti-androgen Agents These types of medications should be for women and adolescent girls only. And this is only if the antibiotics don’t work. What this does is block off the effect of androgen hormones. There should be side effects to this medication, though. Typical examples are breast tenderness and painful monthly periods. Therapies While medications are the most common ways by which to treat acne, there are also methods. Some would go to therapies. These may be therapies alone or something combined with medications. Here are a few examples Light Therapy One of the most common therapies that saw success is light therapy. This method would need you to make many doctor’s visits. While this method saw a certain level of success, there is a need for further studies to confirm a few things. One of these should be the ideal method to take. Another consideration should be on the light source as well as the dose. Chemical Peel This method makes use of the help of certain chemicals like salicylic and glycolic acids. There are also times when retinoic acid is in place. The chemical solution is repeatedly applied to the skin until results are visible. This is good for mild acne. The thing about this method is that the result may not last long. There is always a need for repeated treatments. Steroids Steroid injections are also common methods to treat acne. The method sees rapid improvements. There is also a decrease in pain in most patients. The thing, though, is that it also has side effects. Some of these are the thinning of the skin. There is also a certain discoloration in the area treated. Acne and Children This may be a rare instance, but some children get acne. Over the years, drugs are usually tested on participants that are 12 years old and above. As such, the FDA decided to expand the scope of drugs that are also applicable for children below 12 years old. Some of these are medications like topical benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin. Adapalene is also safe for children below 12 years old. But as always, please consult a pediatric dermatologist. Make sure to ask about the medications that are appropriate to your children. Discuss the risks, side effects, and how the medications can affect the child in general.