Acne Treatments - Part Four

Ointments for Acne Treatment

Antibiotics can also be applied topically in the form of ointments. Antibiotics which are contained in ointments usually have fewer side effects than oral antibiotics. Ointments are used for killing the bacteria which cause pimples and help to reduce the redness and swelling of the acne.

In addition, ointments can also contain other active materials besides antibiotics. This is useful for attacking the acne from different angles - an important consideration because the bacteria which cause acne can develop resistance to antibiotics. These acne treatments may contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide.

Retinoids for Acne Treatment

A dermatologist may sometimes prescribed retinoids as an acne treatment. Retinoids can be taken orally or can be an active ingredient in a lotion or cream which is applied directly to the skin. Retinoid lotions dry the skin and this may become uncomfortable.

Retinoids are used for treating blackheads and whiteheads by opening clogged pores. Oral retinoids are useful for the more severe forms of acne because they reduce sebum production which causes excessively oily skin and clogged pores. They also cause the upper layer of skin to peel off which opens the clogged pores.

Care must be taken when using retinoids because they have several serious side effects. They should never be taken by pregnant women because they can cause birth defects. Other side effects include liver damage and depression. Patients using retinoids must be monitored by their physician to avoid any of these complications.

Other Acne Treatments

Some women find that birth control pills help to clear up their acne. This is because the levels of testosterone are reduced when taking birth control pills.

Zinc is a promising new treatment that has proven effective in some cases of acne. Speak with your dermatologist to see if this acne treatment would be useful for you.