How To Treat Acne Using Home Remedies and Over-The-Counter Medications

You will be surprised to know that the most common treatment for acne is topical antibiotics. The usual type is tetracycline, which kills the bacteria referred to as p.acnes by offloading it to another area of the skin. It does have side effects like redness, swelling, and minor infections and it may be just all right to use in some cases. This does not however mean that this is the best treatment for acne. In order to get to the root of the problem, you need to know about how topical antibiotics work and what you should expect from them.

Tetracycline is one of the many antibiotics used to treat acne. It works by plugging up the pores in the skin so that there is no dirt or oil that can accumulate. P.acnes is the bacterium behind many of the inflammatory conditions in the skin, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts and even severe conditions like pustules. By plugging up these pores, tetracycline helps to remove the food sources for these bacteria, thereby reducing the inflammation. This results in fewer pores being blocked, hence reducing the risk of new pimples appearing.

Another common antibiotic used to treat acne is a birth control pill. As with tetracycline, the birth control pill also kills the bacteria that causes acne but in a different way. It reduces the amount of estrogen that is produced by the ovaries and reduces the levels of progesterone as well. The reduced levels of estrogen mean that there are less oils produced in the skin, less sebum produced and less bacteria living on the skin. The result is a more controlled skin oil production and fewer breakouts.

If your acne persists despite taking these medications, it is wise to visit a dermatologist. A dermatologist may prescribe topical retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene, retinaldehyde or isotretinoin to help treat acne. These medications are taken in orally, meaning that they are available to be taken on an as needed basis. You will need to stop any other treatments and take the medication when you see the doctor as too much medication may need to be prescribed.

Topical treatments can include salicylic acid, which acts against the bacteria that cause inflammatory acne. Oral medications that act against the bacteria include tetracycline, adapalene, retinaldehyde or isotretinoin. Antibiotics may also be taken to treat inflammatory acne, which can help control the effects of redness. Oral antibiotics such as erythromycin or trimethoprim have minimal side effects and are usually recommended for long term use. However, certain antibiotic drugs have been known to cause changes in the liver, which can cause some people to experience adverse reactions to other oral medications.

Surgical excision of pimples or scars is a method used to treat severe acne called acne scars. This procedure involves the surgeon making a small cut inside the skin and removing some of the pore. This is done so that the blood does not circulate to the area around the wound, which may result in swelling. Some of the benefits of this treatment are that it can help reduce the appearance of scarring, and it can help bring back the contour of the skin in some cases. It can be quite painful and can leave a small scar.

Retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene or isotretinoin can be used as topical medications. These medications are applied directly to the pimples or acne. They work by exfoliating the skin, preventing new pimples from forming, and by reducing oil production. Side effects of topical retinoids include redness and irritation of the skin, and they can cause a slight change in the color of the skin. Tretinoin should be used as a part of a comprehensive skin care routine, and should be used with other medications for acne management, such as benzoyl peroxide.

Topical gels, creams and lotions containing tea tree oil may also be used to treat acne. Tea tree oil is considered to have antibacterial properties, and it has been found to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne. Salicylic acid, another natural ingredient, is used in many acne gels and lotions, and it is also effective in treating mild to moderate cases of acne. However, it may take several weeks before the acne begins to clear up.

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