Proven Acne Medications

Home
>
Acne
>
Proven Acne Medications

There are a plethora of acne medications currently on the market. Some of these are prescription medications, such as accutane. Others are over the counter chemical compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. There are even herbal based acne medications, such as tea tree oil. However, many of them are not as effective as advertised.

Part of the problem with finding the right acne medication is that there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to acne. Different people respond differently to the various medications and treatments. However, there are several acne medications that have been clinically proven to be effective in treating acne, and these are the medications that will stop acne for most people.

Prescription Acne Treatments

Of the prescription medications, Accutane is one of the best. It is a chemical derivative of vitamin A, and is often referred to as the "miracle drug" for acne. Accutane is most effective in the treatment of severe cystic acne, and not to be taken lightly. For some people, the many side effects can be worse than the acne itself. However, this is one treatment that works.

Retin A and Renova are also prescription medications. These are topical derivatives of vitamin A, and are also good at clearing up fine lines, wrinkles, and slight skin discolorations. One of the biggest downsides is sunlight and other topical acne treatments must be avoided while using either of them. However, they are proven to reduce acne.

Birth control pills and antibiotics round out the acne medications most commonly prescribed. Birth control pills are used exclusively by women to help regulate hormones, and therefore lessen the hormonally related acne that many women experience. Antibiotics work by attacking the acne causing p.bateria as it grows deep in skin pores.

Over the Counter Acne Treatments

There are some over the counter acne treatments that work well. The two best are benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.

Benzoyl peroxide works by penetrating the skin pores, and eliminating the acne causing bacteria that grows deep in the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is the most commonly used acne treatment because it is affordable, easily available, and nearly as effective as most prescription medication.

Salicylic acid works by removing the top layers of dead skin cells. This helps the skin renew itself faster, and decreases the chance for pore blockage and a subsequent acne breakout.

Herbal Acne Treatments

The vast majority of acne treatments fall under the heading of "herbal" acne treatments. The reason is because of the lack or regulation for herbal products. This can be very frustrating to the general consumer, because it is impossible to tell which herbal treatment will work to stop acne, and which ones will do very little at all.

Of every herbal treatment available, there are only 2 that are currently proven to stop acne. Tea tree oil will help get rid of acne, and so will green tea cream.

Tea tree oil is an oil derived from one tea tree plant that is unique to Australia. For several hundred years it was touted as a cure all, until penicillin was introduced to fight bacteria. However, tea tree oil has seen a recent revival due in part to study conducted in 1990 that proved it is as effective in treating acne as 5% benzoyl peroxide. Furthermore, it had none of the side effects that benzoyl peroxide does.

Green tea cream has been validated more recently, at the 2003 American Academy of Dermatology conference. It was proven that green tea is as effective in treating acne as a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution. Though the study has not been corroborated yet, it demonstrated that there is another herbal treatment besides tea tree oil.

These are some of the acne medications proven to work. For those who are experiencing acne, any of the aforementioned treatments would be well worth trying.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and the editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

In The News:

CaymanMama.com (press release)
Roche ordered to pay $13M to users of acne drug
The Associated Press - Nov 20, 2008
All three began using Accutane a decade ago to treat teenage acne. One of the group is expected to soon have his colon surgically removed while the others ...
New Jersey Jury Awards $12.9 Million to Three Patients Whose Use ... MarketWatch
Roche drug litigation suit pays $13M to Accutane users CaymanMama.com (press release)
all 88 news articles

Three acne creams recalled
AAP News (subscription) - 5 hours ago
by David Ma - Editorial Intern Potential danger of bacterial infection from certain acne creams has prompted CSI USA, Inc., to recall all lots of 1 ounce ...

Meet the Parents
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
I’ll bet they kind of thought he was, through the six expulsions, likely the flu and croup — acne and appendicitis maybe? Two years ago my daughter found ...

AsiaOne
The pill isn't the best answer for acne
AsiaOne, Singapore - Nov 19, 2008
By Thidakarn Ratanabanangkoon, MP Q. Does the birth-control pill cure acne? My 13-year-old daughter is getting a lot of pimples. ...

Alternatives for People Usig Antibiotics for Skin Conditions
American Chronicle, CA - 7 hours ago
Nobody can question their significance in medicine world but in this article we will see how they could be the cause of aggravated acne and other skin ...

Acne gel being recalled
Capital News 9, NY - Nov 17, 2008
DG Maximum Strength Acne Medicated Gel sold at Dollar General and the Equate Medicated Acne Gel sold at Wal-Mart are being pulled off the shelves. ...

The Money Times
CSI USA, Inc. Issues Voluntary National Recall of Topical Acne Cream
MarketWatch - Nov 13, 2008
No other acne medications sold by Dollar General, Kroger or Wal-Mart are affected by this recall. CSI USA, Inc. 170 Commerce Way Gallatin, TN 37066 Attn: ...
Various brands of acne creams are recalled The Money Times
all 13 news articles

Medicated Acne Gel Recall: Sold at Wal-Mart, Kroger and Dollar General
AboutLawsuits.com - Nov 18, 2008
A recall has been issued for 1 ounce tubes of 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream, which were sold as “Kroger Acne Gel”, “DG Maximum Strength Acne Medicated ...

Benzoyl peroxide topical acne cream recalled
Prescribing Reference, New York - Nov 18, 2008
CSI, Inc. has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of all lots of 1oz (28g) tubes of 10% benzoyl peroxide acne cream because product samples were found to ...

The truth about acne - Part II
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Nov 17, 2008
Often times, acne involves an increase in oil production, so persons with acne may notice that they have a more oily skin than others. ...

acne - Google News

Proven Acne Medications

Acne Acne