Prescription acne treatments are often needed to treat moderate acne. As acne progresses from mild to moderate, blackheads and whiteheads become more numerous. The frequency of papules and pustules also increases. With moderate acne, breakouts will be more obvious, and there will be slight inflammation apparent on the skin. Often, those with moderate acne will start noticing breakout activity on areas other than the face.
Some cases of moderate (Grade II) acne can be treated with over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and/or salicylic acid. However, if visible improvement of the skin is not seen in six to eight weeks of home treatment, it is time to see a dermatologist. Your doctor will be able to prescribe medications that will effectively treat your acne.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is a prescription cream or gel for mild to moderate acne. It is believed that azelaic acid works by reducing Propionibacteria acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. It also helps normalize shedding of dead skin cells, and decreases inflammation. Azelaic acid has the added benefit of improving post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the discoloration left after an acne lesion has healed.Azelaic acid is sold under the brand names:
- Azelex
- Finacea
Topical Retinoids
Retinoids are popular and effective acne treatments, derived from synthetic vitamin A. Topical retinoids rapidly exfoliate the skin, thereby keeping pores unclogged and preventing comedones. Retinoids adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin are prescribed for those with moderate to severe acne.Retinoids, especially tretinoin, have other advantages. It is often used to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, making it a popular treatment choice for adult onset acne sufferers.
Some common topical retinoids include:
- Differin (adapalene)
- Retin-A (tretinoin)
- Retin-A Micro (tretinoin)
- Avage (tazarotene)
- Tazorac (tazarotene)
Topical Antibiotics
Topical antibiotics improve acne by inhibiting the growth of bacteria. They may also help reduce inflammation and decrease the amount of blocked pores, depending on the form used. Topical antibiotics are most often prescribed to treat moderate to severe acne.Common topical antibiotics used to treat acne include:
Topical Combination Therapy
Topical combination therapy, as the name suggests, include medications which contain combinations of topical antibiotics with other acne-fighting ingredients. The benefits of these medications include the ability to kill acne-causing bacteria, normalize the shedding of dead skin cells, keep pores clear, and reduce the number of comedones. An important feature of topical combination therapy is the fact that less antibiotic is often needed to kill bacteria compared to using topical antibiotics alone.Topical combination therapy medications include:
- Benzamycin (benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin)
- BenzaClin (benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin)
- Duac (benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin)
- Ziana (tretinoin and clindamycin)
- Sulfacet-R (sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur)
