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Acne Products>Acne Treatments>
Oral antibiotics are used for moderate to severe acne and in cases where topical preparations alone have been inadequate. These preparations are prescription only medicines and should not be taken unless prescribed by your physician/dermatologist. Side effects from these preparations can be severe and you may have to stop taking them for this reason. Stomach upset is the most common side effect with all the antibiotics and they may interfere with your existing medication (for example, the oral contraceptive pill and some anticoagulants). They may have to be taken for long periods. (6 months to a year is quite common). A lot of people find that their acne returns as soon as they stop therapy with an antibiotic.
OXYTETRACYCLINE
This appears to be the preparation of choice when an antibiotic is first considered. Some metals tend to bind with this antibiotic and form a complex that prevents its absorption into the body. It is therefore important to avoid taking this antibiotic with iron, calcium and some antacids that may contain calcium and aluminium. Dairy products containing calcium also need to be avoided with the antibiotic. However you should know that any of these products may be used/taken ONE hour before or TWO hours after taking the antibiotic. It is important to avoid them TOGETHER.This antibiotic is usually prescribed to be taken FOUR times a day, at least half to one hour before any food and can be quite difficult to achieve. Some doctors prescribe the total dose as a single dose in the morning, before breakfast.
TETRACYCLINE
Very similar profile to Oxytetracycline.
DOXYCYCLINE
This antibiotic works in a similar way to oxytetracycline but has the advantage of a ONCE daily dosage. It may cause a photosensitive reaction on a bright day during the summer months. It tends to be more expensive than oxytetracycline.
LYMECYCLINE
This is an improved version of Tetracycline with the advantage of having a convenient ONCE a day dosage. It has a similar profile to MINOCYCLINE and is slightly cheaper. (Although more expensive than Tetracycline or Oxytetracycline)
MINOCYCLINE
This antibiotic is commonly used in the treatment of Acne and has been found very effective in most cases. It may be taken as a single once a day dose but is often prescribed at a lower dose twice a day. Very high doses of this antibiotic may cause skin pigmentation (Blue-black, slate-grey, purple or brownish colouration).
ERYTHROMYCIN
Erythromycin is rarely used to treat acne before the other antibiotics have been tried. However it is one antibiotic which is safe during pregnancy. The main disadvantage with this antibiotic is that it interacts with a lot of other medications and may not be suitable for long-term treatment in some cases.
TRIMETHOPRIM
This antibiotic is quite effective for the treatment of acne but has to be used at a high dose to be effective. With the high dose comes side effects and so is rarely prescribed.back to top
Oral Retinoids for Acne. (ISOTRETINOIN)
Usually reserved for severe acne, especially on the back and chest and when all other avenues have been tried without much success. It may also be prescribed in less severe acne if this is associated with scarring or psychological stress. Retinoids when used orally address the processes involved in the cause of acne and have been found very effective. They really have revolutionized the treatment of severe acne. Retinoids reduce SEBUM production. Retinoids reduce the hypercornification (the excessive production of skin cells in the lining of the follicle) of the pilosebaceous duct. Retinoids do not have any antibacterial properties but appear to reduce the bacterial population on the skin by removing some of the factors that allow their growth on the skin. Retinoids reduce the inflammation associated with the fatty acids that are produced by bacterial action on the plugs in the skin pores. (These plugs are a mixture of dead skin cells, sebum and bacteria) Retinoid therapy is expensive and is available only via the supervision of a dermatologist. Regular blood tests to check on liver function are quite common.
Side effects in some cases can be quite severe. Retinoids are TERATOGENIC and appropriate contraceptive precautions need to be taken in the female patient. Treatment can last for up to 16 weeks and if there is a relapse, a second course of treatment may be prescribed by your dermatologist. Retinoids when taken by mouth can produce dyness of the facial skin. Itching and peeling of the skin is quite common. Dryness around the mouth, lips and nose is common. Fissures on the lips may develop and can be treated with moisturizing lip balms, especially those containing a sunscreen. Nosebleeds are also quite common and the application of petroleum jelly is recommended.
Irritation in the eyes and on eyelids is also to be expected. This may be alleviated by using lubricating eye ointments such as LUBRIDERM, VIDISIC GEL, TEARS NATURAL, GEL TEARS or a similar product. Pigmentation and sensitivity to the sun can develop but is very rare. There have been reports of oral Retinoids causing depression but this link has not been conclusively proven. One must remember that severe acne itself can cause anxiety and depression. On first starting treatment with a Retinoid you may experience headaches or body/muscle aches.
Photograph showing Chelitis:Dryness and skin peeling around the mouth,lips and nose back to top
PHOTOTHERAPY http://www.theskinhealthclinic.com
Acne improves during the bright summer months. Light therapy has been used to treat acne for a long time but has recently been much improved with better success by identifying the light frequency for maximum benefit and improving on the lamps that produce this light.
UNCONVENTIONAL AND UNUSUAL TREATMENTS
SPIRONOLACTONE is diuretic agent used in cardiovascular medicine. It has mild ANTI-ANDROGENIC action and has been known to be used to reduce sebum production.It is often used in combination with an antibiotic in women who fail to respond to a course of antibiotics.Spironolactone has mild hormonal activity and may cause menstrual disturbances so it may not be suitable for everybody.
SAW PALMETTO is a natural herb and its extracts have an inhibitory action on the enzyme that converts TESTOSTERONE to the more active DIHYDROTESTERONE.It is thought that in acne the receptors in the skin that respond to DIHYDROTESTERONE are over sensitive to this substance and produce excessive amounts of sebum when activated. A reduction in the production of DIHYDROTESTERONE would cause a reduction in sebum production and so improve/prevent acne. An oily product called REGUSEB is claimed to contain an extract of the herb and reduce sebum production. These products alter hormonal balance and should NOT be used without medical supervision,especially Female patients.
Zinc is often claimed to help in the treatment of acne. It is often used in acne preparations to reduce the chances of antibiotic resistance but Zinc has not been proven to have any beneficial action on acne when either taken orally or applied as a cream/ointment.back to top
Add Devina`s choice to your skin care regime
Acne is best treated and prevented by addressing ALL the factors that lead to the formation of lesions. Therefore it is logical to combine treatment with products that address different causative factors(sebum, bacteria, dead skin). The action of each preparation will be ADDITIVE and lead to a more effective and faster result than can be achieved by a single product alone. It is usual to apply one product in the morning and a different one in the evening. However there are also products available that contain TWO of the active agents in the one application. All sufferers want instant results. You can help yourself by using this technique.
Complement, augment and enhance your existing acne treatment by taking advantage of the fact that by adding a product that addresses a different causative factor to your regime will enhance the existing treatment synergistically (An additive action) by producing FASTER and more EFFECTIVE results. Add DEVINA`S CHOICE peel-off face and body mask to your existing medical treatment for acne to enhance its effects.back to top |
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