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Medications for Acne

The following medications are all useful for treating acne on a variety of skin types and colors. If you have darker skin, be especially careful about what you use on it. Some acne treatments such as Retin-A (for preventing blackheads and fighting more serious cases of acne) and 10% benzoyl peroxide gel (for getting rid of pimples) may irritate your skin and cause it to darken. If you're not sure, ask a dermatologist before using anything new on your face.

Benzoyl peroxide works by fighting the bacteria that causes acne. It causes an exfoliating effect that might cause some slight peeling. It's good for mild cases of acne, and you can get it without a prescription.

Salicylic acid dries out the skin and helps exfoliate it to make dead skin cells fall away faster. It's good for mild cases of acne, and is available without a prescription.

Birth control pills have many risks associated with them, and it's not clear how well they work to treat acne. Talk to your health professional to see if taking birth control pills will help the kind of acne you have.

Topical antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause acne, and by reducing inflammation. Topical antibiotics are often used along with oral antibiotics. Some examples of topical antibiotics are erythromycin and clindamycin. Antibiotics are available only with a prescription.

Oral antibiotics are usually used for moderate to severe acne, especially on the back or chest. The ones most commonly used are tetracycline and erythromycin. Like all antibiotics, they can cause yeast infections and can interfere with the action of birth control pills. If you are taking birth control pills and antibiotics at the same time, you will need to use another form of birth control while you're taking the antibiotics. Antibiotics are available only with a prescription.

Tretinoin is an acid made from vitamin A. It's used to help unblock pores and reduce the bacteria that cause acne. A common brand is Retin-A. It works best on blackheads and whiteheads, and is available only with a prescription.

Isotretinoin (Accutane) is used in severe cases of acne when nothing else works. It does work very well, but it also has many side effects, including dry lips, eyes, and skin. It causes severe birth defects, so you have to use birth control while you take it. It also can cause depression in some people. It's available only with a prescription.