Benzoyl peroxide is another safe and effective topical agent for the early treatment of acne. Available in varying strengths, this chemical works by penetrating into the oil glands of the skin and killing bacteria responsible for acne inflammation. By peeling the skin, benzoyl peroxide also prevents new pimples from forming.
"Always apply it to thoroughly dry skin and carefully avoid the eyes, mouth and nostrils. Start with a five percent gel once a day, then twice a day, then try a 10 percent gel. If your skin becomes irritated, go back to the five percent. The first week of use may result in a worsening condition, so be patient," said Kurt Butler and Dr. Lynn Rayner of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, in The Best Medicine.
"Beware of too much burning and peeling; prolonged discomfort can aggravate your case and discourage you from following through. However, some irritation, tightness and dryness is a sign that the product is doing its work. The idea is to expose and toughen the skin in gradual stages, to build up tolerance slowly," added Dr. Frederic Haberman, a dermatologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, in Your Skin; A Dermatologist's Guide to A Lifetime of Beauty and Health.
Like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin works by suppressing the growth of bacteria. Because it contains alcohol, this topical antibiotic may irritate the skin and should be kept away from heat because the solution is flammable.
"Before applying topical clindamycin, wash the affected area thoroughly with a mild soap and warm water. Then rinse well and pat dry. To avoid skin irritation from the alcohol, wait at least 30 minutes after washing or shaving before applying this medication," according to Consumer Guide's Prescription Drugs. Results are visible in six to 12 weeks.
If there is no improvement, be sure to consult your doctor, especially if there are persistent or bothersome side effects. Clindamycin may cause diarrhea, dry skin, fatigue, headache, nausea, oily skin or stomach irritation but these should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
Major side effects are bloody or pus-containing diarrhea, increased urination, itching, sore throat, or swelling of the face. Although it appears to be safe, Consumer Guide said extensive studies in humans have not been conducted so be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using clindamycin.
"If you are using another topical medication as well as clindamycin, it is best to apply them at different times to increase their effectiveness and to reduce the chance of skin irritation," Consumer Guide added. (Next: Tretinoin for acne.)
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Side Effects Of Acne
Among the most severe forms of acne that need to be treated by special medication are nodular acne and cystic acne. A popular prescribed medication used for treating these forms of acne is Accutane. This medication is usually applied after other treatments haven't had any positive effect on the acne condition. Cystic acne is characterized by nodules that form under the skin. With time, these nodules become harden and finally turn into painful cysts.
If you have tried different treatments and none of them have had the effects you've expected, you might be tempted to make use of Accutane as an ultimate treatment for your acne. However, you should be aware of the possible side effects that this drug can cause before making the decision to take this medication.
There are cases in which Accutane has been found to be effective in treating severe types of acne such as cystic acne. Again, unfortunately, this medication can have serious side effects. Therefore, before taking this drug, you will usually be asked to read and sign a form covering these side effects. You can only use Accutane until you understand and agree with the possible negative effects that this medication could cause you.
Among the worst possible side effects caused by Accutane is that it can cause serious birth defects. Experts recommend that women who are or plan on using Accutane take a pregnancy test every month. This test is simply to make sure the drug is stopped should they become pregnant. In fact, physicians don't recommend taking Accutane for women who plan to become pregnant. On the other hand, experts also suggest that it is safe for women to get pregnant only after having stopped taking the drug for at least a month. This will prevent women from going through a possible miscarry during pregnancy, premature birth, or stillbirth. So it is really important to consult a physician to learn about all the possible side effects in women caused by Accutane.
Another negative side effect that Accutane can cause in acne sufferers is the development of serious mental problems. In fact, many patients with these mental problems can even result in suicide! Some of the most common symptoms associated with these mental problems include: feeling angry, empty, sad or anxious, irritated, loss in social activities, sleeping too little or too much, changes in weight or appetite and thoughts of suicide. Accutane is a very powerful drug and these are only a few of the possible side effects this drug has been reported to cause. So, it is very recommended to consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms or any other feeling associated with depression.
Some of the other different adverse physical effects linked to Accutane include the following: muscle aches, lip inflammation, itching, inflammation of the mucous membrane on the eyes, and dry mouth, nose, or skin. Also, patients taking this drug are subject to experiment more serious side effects such as abnormal liver enzymes and decreased levels of blood cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride. Because the negative side effects Accutane can produce are so extensive, most patients are generally monitored by a physician. As soon as the physician finds out that the drug is causing any of the mentioned side effects, patients are then recommended to stop its usage. The good news is that for most patients, these side effects usually disappear not long after stopping taking Accutane.
As one of the most preferred acne treatments, Accutane can be a very effective prescribed medication used against serious forms of acne. If you've tried many treatments and you have not had any positive results, then Accutane could be your ultimate solution. However, as you might know by now, the most recommended advice is to consult a professional physician who can help you decide whether or not you should try this acne medication.
Both Sharon Bell & Hector Morales are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sharon Bell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Mens Health and Asthma. Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine
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