Ask your doctor about prescription-strength drugs if you've used over-the-counter (nonprescription) acne remedies for several weeks and they haven't worked. Getting advice from a dermatologist can:

- Manage your acne

- Avoid getting scars or other skin damage.

- lessen the visibility of scars

Acne treatments function by lowering sebum production, curing bacterial infections, and/or reducing swelling. Results from the majority of prescription acne medications could take four to eight weeks to appear. Your acne may not totally clear up for several months or even years.

The course of therapy that your doctor suggests is determined by your age, the type and severity of your acne, and the level of commitment you are ready to make. For several weeks, for instance, you might need to cleanse and treat the damaged skin twice a day. Combinations of topical treatments and oral pharmaceuticals (drugs taken by mouth) are frequently employed. Due to the possibility of negative effects, pregnant patients have few treatment options.

Consult your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of any drugs or other therapies you are thinking about. Additionally, schedule follow-up visits with your physician every three to six months until your skin begins to improve.

Skin care products

The top prescribed topical acne treatments include:

Retinoids and retinoid-like medications. Moderate acne is frequently treated with medications that contain retinoic acids or tretinoin. Creams, gels, and lotions are available for these. Adapalene (Differin), tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage, etc.), and tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, among others) are a few examples.

As your skin adjusts, you use this drug every day in the evening, starting with three applications per week. The hair follicles are not plugged as a result. 

Avoid using benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin at the same time.

Topical retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun. In addition, especially in those with brown or Black skin, they might cause dry skin and redness. The most tolerable drug can be adapalene.

Antibiotics 

These function by eliminating extra skin bacteria and lowering inflammation and redness. You might use a retinoid and an antibiotic together for the first few months of treatment, applying the antibiotic in the morning and the retinol in the evening. To lessen the possibility of the emergence of antibiotic resistance, benzoyl peroxide is frequently used with antibiotics. Examples include erythromycin with benzoyl peroxide in clindamycin (Benzamycin), Benzaclin (Duac), and other medications. It is not advised to only use topical antibiotics.

Salicylic acid and azelaic acid. A yeast produces a naturally occurring substance called azelaic acid. It's antimicrobial in nature. When applied twice daily, a 20% azelaic acid cream or gel appears to be just as effective as several common acne treatments. You can get azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea) on prescription if you're pregnant or nursing. It can also be applied to treat some types of acne-related discolouration. Skin redness and slight skin irritation are side effects.

Both wash-off and leave-on hair care products contain salicylic acid, which may help prevent clogged hair follicles. There are few studies that demonstrate its efficacy. Minor skin irritation and skin discolouration are side effects.

Dapsone

For inflammatory acne, particularly in acne-prone women, dapsone (Aczone) 5% gel twice day is advised. Dryness and redness are undesirable outcomes.

There isn't enough proof to recommend topical therapies for acne that contain zinc, sulfur, nicotinamide, resorcinol, sulfacetamide sodium, or aluminum chloride.

Pills taken orally

Antibiotics. Oral antibiotics may be necessary to reduce bacteria in cases with moderate to severe acne. A tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) or a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin) is typically the first option for treating acne. For those who cannot take tetracyclines, such as pregnant women and young children, a macrolide may be a choice.

Antibiotic resistance should be avoided by using oral antibiotics as little as feasible. In order to lower the chance of the emergence of antibiotic resistance, they should be used in combination with other medications, such as benzoyl peroxide.

Antibiotics rarely have severe negative effects when used to treat acne. These medications do make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Oral contraceptives in combination. The FDA has approved four combination oral contraceptives for women who also want to use them as a form of birth control. These products (Ortho Tri-Cyclen 21, Yaz, and others) contain both progestin and estrogen. Using other acne drugs with this treatment for the first few weeks may help since you might not feel the benefit of it for a few months.

Combination oral contraceptives frequently cause weight gain, breast soreness, and nausea as adverse effects. Additionally, these medications are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

Anti-androgen substances

For women and teenage girls, spironolactone (Aldactone) may be an option if oral antibiotics are ineffective. It functions by preventing the impact of androgen hormones on the oil glands. Breast soreness and painful menstruation are potential side effects.

Isotretinoin

A vitamin A derivative is isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, among others). People with moderate to severe acne who haven't responded to prior therapies may be prescribed it.

Inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and serious birth abnormalities are among the possible side effects of oral isotretinoin. An FDA-approved risk management program is required for everyone receiving isotretinoin. And to keep an eye out for any adverse effects, they will need to visit their doctors frequently.

Therapies

The following treatments, either by themselves or in conjunction with drugs, may be beneficial for some patients.

Luminous treatment

Numerous light-based therapies have been tested, with varying degrees of success. The majority will necessitate numerous trips to your doctor's office. To identify the best procedure, light source, and dose, more research is required.

Peeling agent

A chemical solution, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinoic acid, is applied repeatedly during this process. This procedure treats minor acne. It might make the skin look better, but the improvement is usually temporary and requires more treatments.

Removal and drainage

Whiteheads, blackheads, or cysts that haven't gone away after applying topical treatments may be gently removed by your doctor using specialized instruments. This method gives your skin a temporary aesthetic boost, but there is a chance that scarring could result.

Injectable steroids. Treatment for nodular and cystic lesions involves injecting a steroid medication into them. Rapid improvement and pain reduction have been achieved with this therapy. In the treated area, skin thinning and discolouration are possible side effects.

Taking care of kids

The majority of studies on acne medications have used participants aged 12 or older. More and more young kids are also developing acne. The number of topical medications that the FDA has approved for use in children has increased. Additionally, according to American Academy of Dermatology recommendations, topical benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, and tretinoin are effective and don't increase the risk of adverse effects in preadolescent children.

Take into account seeing a pediatric dermatologist if your youngster develops acne. Inquire about pharmaceuticals that should be avoided in children, suitable dosages, drug interactions, side effects, and how a child's growth and development may be impacted by treatment.