Oral Medication Options for Treating Acne

The team at Full Spectrum Dermatology believes in helping patients look their absolute best, promoting healthy skin and healthy living. In a number of cases, that means dealing with acne and other unsightly blemishes.

We offer a host of acne treatment options at our Fullerton skin care practice. Many patients wonder when it's best to consider the use of oral medication for their acne. Let's address these matters right now.

About Acne

Acne is the most common skin condition experienced by people in the United States. The result of clogged pores and inflammation, pimples can be a major source of self-consciousness in adults as well as teens since the unsightly blemishes can have a dramatic impact on the appearance,

What Causes Acne?

There are a wide variety of factors that cause acne, including diet and lifestyle and the environment, but the vast majority of acne cases are the result of genetics. It's estimated that around 80 percent of all cases of acne are related to genes.

Are Oral Medications Effective at Treating Acne?

Yes. In fact, oral medications are often used as a treatment for moderate to severe cases of acne when over-the-counter products prove ineffective at controlling outbreaks.

Oral medications for acne can address the problem through a number of different means, which include:

• Unclogging pores
• Combating bacteria
• Reducing oiliness of the skin
• Managing hormone levels

By determining the cause of causes of a patient's acne, the right oral medication can be prescribed to a patient.

Types of Oral Medications Commonly Used

There are a few kinds of oral medications commonly used to fight acne:

• Antibiotics – Prescribing antibiotics is one option for controlling bacteria levels and preventing severe inflammation if you being to break out. Some commonly prescribed antibiotics include tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline. Use of antibiotics is typically discontinued as soon as patients see improvements of acne symptoms.

• Oral Contraceptives – Oral contraception can have anti-acne benefits when used by women and adolescent girls.

• Anti-Androgen Agent – Anti-androgen agent blocks the effect of androgen hormones. As with oral contraception, this is an option for women and adolescent girls.

• Isotretinoin – Isotretinoin is an oral medication only used for people with very severe cases of acne that do not respond to other treatments. The powerful retinoid drug has a number of serious side effects, including an increased risk of depression, birth defects, and ulcerative colitis.

Other Medication Options for Acne

It's important for most patients to first consider over-the-counter remedies for acne before turning to prescribed drugs. Topical treatments, improving your diet, and keeping your face clean can go a long way toward managing acne. When this proves ineffective, of course, that's when we can discuss oral medications and which ones might be best suited to you.

Learn More About Treatments for Acne

If you have acne and would like to learn what you can do to get rid of it, be sure to contact our cosmetic dermatology and skin care center today. The team at Full Spectrum Dermatology has a host of treatments to consider for acne itself as well as acne scars and other kinds of unsightly blemishes.