서면피부과 Acne is caused when the hair follicles beneath your skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. Treatments work to clear away these factors and prevent new ones from forming.
Mild to moderate acne usually responds well to topical medications. These include products that contain the substances benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which reduce excess oil and fight inflammation.
Topical medications
Acne is a common skin condition in which the pores become clogged with oil, dirt, 서면피부과 and dead skin cells. This clogging can lead to redness, pimples, and pus-bumps. These spots and bumps may also cause scarring if they aren’t treated promptly.
Topical medications can be effective in treating mild and moderate acne. These can include antibacterial creams and gels (benzoyl peroxide), antibiotic ointments or solutions (tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin), and hormonal treatments (spironolactone and certain birth control pills).
Benzoyl peroxide is the most commonly used topical medication for acne treatment because it reduces the number of bacteria on your skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can be applied to your face twice a day or more, depending on how oily your skin is.
Some doctors prescribe oral antibiotics to treat mild acne and can be effective if topical antibiotics aren’t working. Oral antibiotics work by killing the bacteria in your skin pores. Some people have trouble adjusting to oral antibiotics, so it’s best to start with a low dose and slowly increase the dose as tolerated.
Doctors can also prescribe oral retinoid drugs, which speed up the rate at which skin cells shed and reduce sebum production, which can help keep pores clear of acne. Using retinoid drugs can be a little uncomfortable at first, but they can help improve your skin tone and texture over time.
If your acne is getting worse, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Your doctor will 서면피부과 assess your symptoms, suggest a treatment plan, and prescribe medications.
Your dermatologist will also recommend lifestyle changes that can help prevent or lessen your acne. These may include taking your medications correctly, drinking plenty of water, and keeping your skin clean and dry at all times.
You should follow your physician’s instructions closely to get the most out of any treatment. Be sure to let your doctor know about any other prescription or over-the-counter medications you take, since some can interact with the prescribed drugs.
Most doctors can prescribe a combination of topical and oral medications to treat mild and moderate acne. If the combination doesn’t work, your doctor may suggest a stronger prescription medicine, such as an antibiotic or a hormonal treatment.
Antibiotics
Whether you are dealing with mild or severe acne, antibiotics can help to reduce your breakouts and control your skin’s oil production. They work by killing the bacteria that cause breakouts, reducing inflammation, and decreasing redness and swelling.
Antibiotics are available as topical creams and gels, or as tablets or capsules that you take orally. They are often prescribed for mild to moderate acne, but can also be used in combination with other treatments.
Many topical antibiotics have benzoyl peroxide mixed in, so they are less irritating. Benzoyl peroxide is used to treat your acne by killing the bacteria that cause it, and helps prevent antibiotic resistance.
Your dermatologist may recommend a topical antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide in addition to an oral antibiotic. This is especially helpful if your skin is very sensitive to antibiotics.
You should not continue taking an oral antibiotic for more than 3 months at a time. This is because it can increase your risk of developing a condition called antibiotic resistance, which can make the medication ineffective and potentially dangerous.
Oral antibiotics, such as erythromycin (E-Mycin) or tetracyclines, like doxycycline and minocycline, can be effective in treating some types of acne, but they are not always as effective as topical medications. They are best used in conjunction with a benzoyl peroxide product to further reduce the development of antibiotic resistance and to shorten your treatment duration.
When you take oral antibiotics, you should always follow the instructions on the bottle and stick to a regular regimen of daily doses. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan that will work for you and give you the best chance of success.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using a combination of oral antibiotics with a topical antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide as the first line of treatment for moderate to severe acne. This can be a very effective method of controlling your acne.
You will need to stick with your oral antibiotics for the entire course of treatment. If you stop the treatment early, your bacteria will grow back and this will likely result in new breakouts. You should also see your doctor regularly for follow-up care to make sure your acne doesn’t worsen after you stop taking the drugs.
Hormonal treatments
Hormonal acne is a type of adult acne that develops during a woman’s menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and after beginning or stopping birth control pills. It’s a common problem, but not one that should be ignored.
In this case, your dermatologist will take a look at your hormone levels to determine what causes it. If it’s hormonal, it can be treated by using medications or changing your diet to reduce inflammation and oil production.
Treatments for hormonal acne can be oral or topical, depending on the severity of your symptoms. A dermatologist will customize a treatment plan that’s right for you and your skin goals.
Many of the prescription medications for hormonal acne work to decrease androgens in the body, which can be a major cause of this condition. Anti-androgen medications, like Spironolactone and Roaccutane, can help control hormone levels and reduce the number of breakouts a person has.
A combination of these medications may be the most effective way to treat hormonal acne. Oral contraceptives, including Ortho Tri-Cyclen and YAZ, can also be used to decrease the risk of acne outbreaks.
If you’re taking oral contraceptives, it’s important to check your blood work regularly to make sure your hormone levels are staying balanced. If you’re on a combination pill, you should use it exactly as your doctor prescribes.
Another option for treating hormonal acne is a steroid injection that decreases inflammation. Your dermatologist can perform this in the office, and it’s often a good idea to try it mid-cycle as well, says Dr. Levin.
It’s also important to avoid certain foods and drinks that can aggravate your acne, including dairy products, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, red meat, and overly processed grains. These ingredients can clog pores and increase the amount of oil in the body, which can lead to breakouts.
If you have more severe cases of hormonal acne, your provider may recommend isotretinoin (Accutane). This is a strong drug that can clear up cystic acne in some people. It is usually prescribed for women who have inflammatory and/or severe acne that won’t respond to other treatments.
Isotretinoin
The oral retinoid isotretinoin (brand names include Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan and Sotret) is the most effective treatment for severe acne. It works by shrinking your oil glands, which can prevent pimples from forming.
It may also help to unplug clogged pores. It may be a good idea to use it in conjunction with other treatments, like antibiotics or creams that contain benzoyl peroxide.
If you are considering isotretinoin as part of your acne treatment plan, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits and ask if it is right for you. You should also make sure to follow the instructions on your medication bottle.
When you first start taking isotretinoin, your acne may get worse before it gets better. It usually takes six to nine months for the medicine to clear your skin completely.
During that time, your doctor will likely change the dose of isotretinoin as needed to keep your skin healthy and clear. You should also report any new symptoms, such as redness, rash, or swollen skin.
Before you start taking isotretinoin, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are, you will need to use birth control during your treatment and for a year after your last dose of isotretinoin.
You may also need to be tested for pregnancy in a laboratory before you start your medication and every month during your treatment and 30 days after you stop taking it. Your doctor will give you a consent form to sign, which states that you have been told about the possible risks to a fetus if you take isotretinoin while pregnant.
In the rare cases of birth defects, doctors often recommend that you discontinue taking isotretinoin if you are pregnant or plan to be. This is because it can cause certain defects in the baby, such as a brain tumor or heart defects.
Other side effects of isotretinoin can include dry lips, a weaker immune system and more sensitivity to sunburn. These effects can be prevented by using lip balm and other moisturizers.