any people suffer from very severe forms of acne that cannot be treated with conventional medications and creams. Using the wrong products to treat severe acne may cause irritation, infections and scaring. In these cases, it is recommended to consult your dermatologist about a variety of prescription medications available to clear severe acne. There are 2 types of methods for treating severe acne:
• Topical medications – This type of medication is applied to the skin and is prescribed for mild to severe acne. Topical retinoids (like Retin-A), for instance, are a derivative of vitamin A and work to unclog pores and prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming.
• Systemic therapy – This works internally and treats severe acne and may also be used for moderate cases. Oral antibiotics work to reduce the P.acnes, a contributing factor in acne, which decreases inflammation. Antibiotics are generally prescribed for 6 months or less and usually begin with a higher dosage.
It is important to note that in order to achieve long term control and resolution, dermatologists may combine treatments. The following are other treatments that are used to clear severe acne:
Interlesional Corticosteroid injection – To treat severely inflamed cysts and prevent scarring, dermatologist may inject cysts with a much-diluted corticosteroid. This procedure lessens the inflammation and promotes healing over a period of 3 to 5 days.
Isotretinoin (Accutane) – This oral retinoid treatment is potent and reserved to treat very severe cystic acne that has been resistant to other medications.
Oral contraceptives – Oral contraceptives (like Yasmin) suppress the overactive sebaceous glands and can be used as a long-term acne treatment because it has shown to be very effective in clearing acne among women.
Topical Antimicrobials – This medication inhibit the P.acnes and are used to treat mild to moderately severe inflamed acne. Topical Antimicrobial treatments may be used alone or combined with other medications.