Acne Medicine Helps Keep Acne Away

It happened… you hit the teenage years and now you are waking up to new blemishes every day. Fun, right? More school work, more pressure, and now more acne.

Is Acne Medicine Safe for Teens?

Just about everyone has seen and heard commercials, online ads, and magazine ads for acne fighting systems and acne medicines; but are they safe? If you are a teen dealing with acne you should understand the basics on acne products and acne medicine before you start any new regime. Some regimes you can start on your own and others require the advice and guidance of a dermatologist.

Over the Counter Acne Medicine

The minute you get a pimple your first reaction might be to run and grab a topical over-the-counter treatment. Generally, OTC products are safe to use for both teens and adults. Inside OTC acne medicine you will normally find benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide works on the top layer of skin and acts like an exfoliant to painlessly peal it off. In low doses, benzoyl peroxide is widely used in almost every product you will find walking down the “acne aisle” and is completely safe.

If benzoyl peroxide is not present you may find salicylic acid on the ingredient list. Some individuals with acne prefer salicylic acid depending on how their skin reacts to the benzoyl peroxide. No matter what OTC product you choose, you must follow the instructions! Each brand and product line will give you specific instructions on the use of their acne medicine. For the best results, follow each instruction guide or pamphlet.

Just like with anything else, it will take some trial and error if you are shopping for products or acne medicine without the assistance of your dermatologist. Be patient. It can take up to 6-8 weeks to see signs of improvement from your new acne medicine.

Your Dermatologist Prescribing Acne Medicine

If your acne is persistent and you have the chance to go to a dermatologist… then go! A dermatologist is trained to deal with any type of acne and acne treatment. More importantly, he or she can discuss the option of prescription acne medicine with you and your parents.

Prescription acne medicine can either come in a topical or oral form. Any prescription topical treatment is more potent than anything you have purchased OTC. Your dermatologist will talk to you about any other medications you currently take and the side effects of each individual product. Unfortunately, prescription acne medicine is effective, but can pose other complications. Be sure to review all the pros and cons with your dermatologist before filling any prescription.

If your acne is stubborn and/or severe your dermatologist will likely talk with you about oral acne medicine. There are a variety of effective oral acne medicine brands, but as mentioned early they often come with other side effects.

Acne is a normal occurrence for almost every teen. You can try and depend on safe acne medicine options and fight your acne today.