Oral Medications:
- Oral antibiotics: The commonly-prescribed ones are tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, and erythromycin
- Birth control pills for women: Certain birth control pills have an anti-male hormone effect, decreasing sebum production and
  improving acne
- Isotretinoin (brand names include Oratane, Roaccutane, Accutane): In cases of unresponsive or severe acne, isotretinoin may be used.
  Patients using isotretinoin must understand the side effects of this drug. Monitoring with frequent follow-up visits is necessary. Pregnancy
  must be prevented while taking the medication, since the drug causes birth defects.

How is Acne Treated?
There are many treatment options for acne. The options chosen depend on the severity of the acne and on patients’ preferences. Control of acne is an ongoing process. All acne treatments work by preventing new breakouts. Treatments usually include one or more of the following approaches:
1. Comedolytic: decreasing pore clogging
2. Antibacterial methods
3. Reducing sebum production
Treatment can be topical (applied directly to the skin), or systemic (oral treatment), or a combination of both.

Topical Treatments:
- Topical medications / skincare ingredients that have comedolytic effects   include benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid
- Topical antibiotics
- Light chemical peels such as AHA peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Laser Facials or Photodynamic Therapy to reduce acne-causing bacteria
- Thermage (monopolar radiofrequency treatment) to suppress sebum
  production
- Injections of corticosteroids may be used for treating large red bumps
  (nodules) to help them to go away quickly

　

Acne

Acne is a skin condition that commonly affects teenagers. However, it can also affect adults. Acne may be uncomfortable, upsetting and even cause permanent scarring in some cases. To avoid acne scarring, we should begin treating acne as early as possible.

What Causes Acne?
Acne is caused by clogged pores. At puberty, the hormones that cause physical maturation also cause the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin to produce more sebum (oil). The hormones with the greatest effect on sebaceous glands are androgens (male hormones), which are present in both females and males, but males usually have a higher concentration of androgens. Sebaceous glands are found together with a hair shaft in a unit called a sebaceous follicle. During puberty, the cells of the skin that lies on the follicle begin to shed more rapidly. For people who develop acne, these cells stick together more easier than on those who do not develop acne. When cells mix with a considerable amount of sebum, they can plug the opening of the follicle.
In addition, a normal skin bacteria called P. acnes, begins to multiply rapidly in the clogged hair follicle. During this process, these bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation and hence, a pimple.

Different approach of treating acne

Acne on forehead

Acne on back