For teens, treating acne early is very important thing to do to prevent acne from getting worse or causing scars. Acne Treatments for teens range from over-the-counter (OTC) topical medications to oral drugs for the worst cases.
Many teenagers choose to treat their acne at home using non-prescription medications, such as proactive or sensiclear. They’ll soon discover that their OTC acne treatment they choose take too long to work, prolonging the acne and increasing the risk of developing acne scars.
For teenager who had moderate acne, or mild acne that doesn’t respond to OTC acne treatments, you may need a prescription-strength medication. A dermatologist can prescribe one or more effective acne medications that act faster and provide longer-lasting benefits. In many cases, your dermatologist may prescribe a topical retinoid, a mainstay of acne therapy. Topical retinoids help to clear up acne quickly and provide ongoing clear skin. Topical retinoids include Differin (adapalene), Retin A Micro (tretinoin), Tazorac (tazarotene), tretinoin, Epiduo (adapalene + benzoyl peroxide) and Ziana (tretinoin + clindamycin). These may be used in combination with other medications, such as antibiotics.
For the worst acne cases, your doctor may prescribe isotretinoin. This oral medication has shown to be the effective acne treatment, but it has serious side effect and should never be taken by pregnant women. Women using isotretinoin must agree to use two types of birth control, and abstain from sex within a month before and after taking the medication.
No medication can do their jobs properly unless it is given time to work. It’s very important to be patient and take your medication as directed, for as long as directed. If you don’t see results right away, don’t be discouraged. Your medication is hard at work preventing new lesions from forming. Stopping treatment early will likely cause pimples and zits to reappear.
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