With a perplexing and diversified range of
anti acne products saturating the market, it is quite inevitable for anyone to get illuded while selecting the right acne remedy. The intricacies of human body chemistry define a separate and unique physiological mechanism for every individual. For this reason the same medicine often works differently on different people. Therefore, a clear and thorough concept on the classification, components, and impacts of these drugs and other over-the-counter products on one’s skin might be helpful in making the right choice.
Common Anti Acne Drugs
The basic reason behind acne formation is clogging of the hair follicles. Natural process of exfoliation of the skin is often found to be in an impaired state among most of the acne patients. As an inevitable outcome, the dead skin cells around the follicle lining enter and block the pores instead of flaking out, thereby trapping the sebum within the follicle itself. This is the root cause of acne formation which is worsened by further bacterial attack. Most of the acne drugs are targeted primarily at destroying these microorganisms called Propionibacterium acnes and healing up the inflammation, reducing the excess amount of oil secreted by the overactive oil glands, peeling off unwanted dead cells, and restoring the damaged skin.
Some
anti acne drugs also serve the purpose of regulating the hormonal balance since it is one of the major factors playing behind the occurrence of skin blemishes. Studies have revealed that excessive secretion of male hormones or androgens is responsible for over stimulating the oil glands embedded in the epidermal layer of our skin. More often than not certain types of birth control pills are used by female acne patients for this purpose. Combination acne pills which contain estrogen and progesterone in their synthetic forms are usually suggested for this purpose.
Antibiotic medicines are also widely used to deal with stubborn cases of acne. Antibiotics, which are chiefly recognized for their strong ability in killing bacterial growth, work well on inflamed skin eruptions by destroying the bacterial microorganisms. Tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin are a few names of such antibiotics which are commonly suggested by the physicians for acne patients.
Retinoid is one more kind of
anti acne medicine which is also used widely as a very effective acne medicine for severe cases. This is an element which is derived from vitamin A. Due to this reason additional intake of vitamin A or foodstuffs enriched with vitamin A should be restricted as long as one is under the medication of this drug. Retinoid drugs are also sold under several brand names for example Accutane.
Antibiotics and retinoid are available both in oral and topical form. Both types are equally powerful depending on their implication and the acne condition of the patients. Antibiotics and retinoid are relatively stronger drugs which also might cause mild to serious side effects, some of which might even be psychological in nature. Patients who are pregnant or planning to conceive are strictly forbidden to consume Accutane since this drug is quite likely to generate serious birth defects in the unborn baby.
These
anti acne drugs are therefore never sold without prescription. And it is mandatory that the consumption of these medicines should be done strictly under the supervision of an experienced physician only.
Of all topical drugs, benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin are quite well-approved by dermatologists all over the world. Although their initial application tends to initiate some irritation on the skin, if continued with proper advice from the concerned skin expert, these side effects gradually diminish, leaving a desirable impact. Some more associated side effects are red and dry skin. Also an extra sensitivity to sunlight has been observed among the users of tretinoin. Therefore the patients are often advised to use an oil free sunscreen cream or lotion in order to protect their over sensitive skin from the sun. Regardless of these impacts, the benefits of benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin have surpassed the side effects so efficiently that they are used massively as legendary remedial factors in many topical
anti acne skin products.
In recent days combination drugs are often used for better outcome. Certain antibiotics are mixed with benzoyl peroxide to be applied topically on the inflamed skin blemishes. It is found that a combination of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin (one type of antibiotic) is used in some topical medicines which work with efficiency on inflamed lesions.
Apart from drugs, many
anti acne medicines, topical creams, lotions or gels, and natural or herbal products are being massively used as good substitutes of acne remedy. If your skin is too sensitive to the aversive impacts of drugs, you can try these products instead. They have gained rapid popularity due to their less complicated, risk free and cooling effect, easy affordability and availability.
