Acne Medication
There is a range of safe and effective acne medications
There’s no one size fits all when it comes to medical treatment for acne.
The good news is that with so many types of acne medications, there’s bound to be one that works for you!
Different acne medications act via multiple mechanisms. Each person will need treatment according to their type of pimples and individual circumstances.
Your doctor will typically start with the mildest form of treatment for your type of acne. If it doesn’t work there are many other choices.
They will either choose a treatment that unblocks pores, controls oil production, reduces bacteria or regulates hormone levels. The decision on which type of medication to use will depend not only on the extent and severity of acne, but also the presence of scarring.
Your medical condition, other medications you are taking, lifestyle and allergies are also critical in choosing which medication to prescribe.
Importantly, doctors need to recognise the emotional and social impact your acne can have on your life so tell them!
For all these reasons and so many more, it’s vital to see your doctor and if they recommend a prescription medicine, then ensure you buy it from a pharmacy.
It may be tempting to buy medicines online but the risk is not worth it. You don’t know what you’re actually getting and just because a certain treatment worked for someone you know, there’s no guarantee it’s going to work for you.
If you have any questions or concerns about your acne or the treatment your doctor has prescribed, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s important that you’re confident and comfortable with what your doctor has recommended.
Dermatologist and All About Acne member Dr Mei Tam explains some of the medical treatments for acne in this video:
Side effects are a possibility with any over-the-counter or prescription medication, including acne medications. Most should be mild and manageable.
We’ve detailed the more common or potentially serious side-effects on each treatment page listed below, along with advice on how these can be minimised or prevented.
Ready to find out more?
How much do you REALLY know about acne?
It’s amazing there are still so many myths about acne. It seems the more information, the more confusion, which can feel really frustrating.
Take our quiz to get your zit mythbusting score and check your acne facts.
