Hormonal therapy is typically given in an oral contraceptive to women. This helps level out the amount of sebum being produced; which in turns helps acne less severe.



Topical Antimicrobials are used to treat the mild to moderate inflammation of acne. Topical antimicrobials can come in four different solutions: cream, lotion, gel or foam. Choosing the right form needs to be done by your dermatologist as this decision is made on your skin type.

There are also different kinds of topical antimicrobials available on the market right now; they are azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin, and sodium sulfacetamide.

Azelaic acid is prescribed for mild to moderate inflammatory acne, and can create peeling of the skin. Benzoyl Peroxide is available over the counter and in many over the counter acne treatments and will kill the acne bacteria in your pore.

Clindamycin is an antibiotic that can be administered as a pill or a topical cream, it can cause dry skin. Erthromycin helps to reduce inflammation and acts as an anti microbial. Sodium sulfacetamide is a topical ointment that helps treat inflammation and open the pores.

Topical retinoids are used for mild to moderate severe acne. It works by unclogging pores, and allows the antibiotics to enter the hair follicle and kill the bacteria. There are three types of topical retinoids, they are as follow: adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin. Adapalene is a gel or cream that unclogs pores to allow the medication to kill the acne bacteria. Tazarotene is available in a gel or cream and is used to keep pores to clean.

Tretinoin is used to gradually unclog pores and keep them unclogged.

Oral antibiotics are prescribed for moderate to severe recurring cases of acne. They reduce redness and inflammation by killing the responsible bacteria. There are three types of oral antibiotics, they are as follows: erythromycin, tetracycline, tetracycline derivatives.

Erythromycin in the oral form is used to kill and prevent many different types of acne causing bacteria.

Tetracycline is used to treat papules, and pustules. This is typically prescribed when you are the victim of pus filled lesions. Tetracycline derivatives are doxycycline, and minocycline. Doxycycline is used to treat inflammatory acne, and minocycline is used to fight acne.

Alternatives to Medicine:

If you do not like the options listed above there are also several alternative routes that you can take to treat your acne. They are as follows: nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, detoxification, fasting, and colon therapy, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and meditation.

Nutritional therapy involves taking supplements of vitamins that are known to strengthen your skin and help fight acne. The vitamins are as follows: zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E. Some foods that contain zinc are dried beans, wheat germ, oysters and clams.

Herbal medicines that help with acne can be derived from different types of plants. These herbal remedies can help eliminate the bacteria that cause the acne and inflammation. Some different herbs that can do this are as follows: tea tree oil, calendula, burdock and cleaver, and vitex.

Tea tree oil is made from a shrub that grows in Australia, and is well known for the antibacterial properties it possesses.

Calendula is also known as marigold. The marigold can be used as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial after the dried flowers have been placed in hot water and steeped. After the flowers have been steeped and cooled they are applied to the skin like a face wash.

Burdock and cleaver are used in an alcohol and water solution that can be used as a cleanser. Vitex is also know as chasteberry. The chasteberry has been used to level out hormone levels in women. Aromotherapy products can be placed in water and used a face wash. The following herbs have proved to work: bergamot, chamomile, juniper, and lavender.

Detoxification, fasting and colon therapy can help with acne because some view acne as the body saying it can not get rid of the waste.

Homeotherapy can be used with the following prescriptions: kali bromatum, hepar sulphuris calcareum, and sulphur. But the prescription needs to be chosen specifically for each person.

Hydrotherapy works by placing ice on inflamed areas, soaking your skin in ocean water, or quickly rubbing your body with a cold wet washcloth.

Meditation can help lower yoru stress level and then help prevent acne caused by stress.