The Truth About Acne Pills
Saturday, November 15th, 2008Wondering how to get rid of acne? Are you fighting that interminable battle with chin acne, acne on the back or chest? Then you certainly don’t require any introduction to the gargantuan range of acne pills. But with the deluge of homeopathic medicines, creams, lotions and herbal pills flooding the market, you have your task cut out. However, the type of medication will depend on the severity of the case.
Quite A Staggering Array
Since the massive assortment of treatments can obfuscate matters quite a bit, the advice of a seasoned dermatologist is an absolute necessity before you choose any particular acne treatment. There are three different ways to treat this condition:
- Hormones: These are birth control pills that are used to treat any imbalance in hormones in the body that cause mild to severe acne. The condition arises when there is an increase in the male hormone in the body. Since these contraceptive pills contain estrogen or progestin, the female hormone, they have a countervailing impact. The practice of prescribing these hormones for teenage girls is fairly common.
- Antibiotics: These are used to negate the effects of skin bacteria that cause redness and irritation. Erythromycin and tetracycline are some of the most common antibiotic drugs for treating acne. However, you will have to bear the brunt of a gush of side-effects that include stomach upsets and vomiting.
- Isotretinoin: This is the last resort when all other treatments fail to yield desired results. Needless to say, this treatment is the most potent, and helps in reducing the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands. However, the side-effects of this treatment can be pretty severe, and range from eye irritation, joint and muscle pain to headaches, depression and hair fall.
A word of caution though- it is always beneficial to consult a qualified skin specialist before you venture into unchartered territory.