Common Acne Medications: How They Work for You

Why Your Acne Needs Medical Treatment

Oftentimes, the initial response to acne breakouts is to use over-the-counter treatments. However, if you’ve tried several products over the course of a few weeks and haven’t seen a significant change in your skin condition, you might want to talk to a dermatologist. Ano ang gamot sa tigyawat sa mukha?

A dermatologist is a medical specialist qualified to diagnose and treat skin, nail, and hair conditions⁴. They can help you evaluate and manage your acne with prescription medication.

It is important to address acne breakouts right away and with the appropriate treatment in order to prevent complications such as acne scarring. Problems with acne and acne scarring don’t just affect one’s skin – they can also affect one’s self-esteem, cause inconveniences, as well as anxiety and depression.

Use of any medication must be weighed against the risk and good it will do to your overall health condition¹. You must also consider the delay in treatment outcome with the wrong choice of medication applied.

Gamot sa Tigyawat sa Mukha: Common Medication and Treatments

There are many medications that your doctor might prescribe to help you manage your acne. Ang mga gamot sa tigyawat sa mukha na maaaring ireseta ng dermatologist ay ang mga sumusunod²:

Adapalene

Adapalene may come in the form of a gel or cream. It is an example of a retinoid, a retinoic acid derivative that has better tolerability and more potent anti-inflammatory activity as compared to tretinoin, another anti-acne medication.

You may initially be recommended to use adapalene three times a week at night. After your skin becomes used to it, you may use it on a daily basis. It is also safe for long-term use to prevent future breakouts.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide helps to reduce the amount of bacteria that might bring about acne. Compared to other antibiotics, it does not cause bacterial resistance³.

Azelaic Acid

This prescription medication is a naturally occurring acid produced by a certain yeast. Azelaic acid can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women. When used twice a day, it has been observed to be just as effective as other common treatments. It also helps manage discoloration that could stem from certain types of acne².

Antibiotics

Ang antibiotic ay isa sa mga gamot sa tigyawat sa mukha na maaring topical or oral. Ang ganitong uri ng gamot sa tigywat sa mukha ay nagbubunga ng resulta sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalis ng bakterya o pagpigil sa kanilang pagdami.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics in combination with other medications. For instance, your doctor may recommend that you apply a retinoid and an antibiotic for the initial acne treatment. You may also take this with benzoyl peroxide to minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.

Examples of antibiotics are clindamycin and erythromycin, which may be paired with benzoyl peroxide and adapalene to manage your acne.

Combination of Retinoid and Anti-Microbial

This combination targets 3 out of the 4 factors of acne, including unplugging the pores, stopping the bacteria C. acnes, and addressing inflammation. It is the ideal treatment for mild, moderate, and severe acne. It also helps improve patient compliance because of its convenient once-daily application.

Steroid Injection

Steroids can help with deep-set and painful lesions, resulting in fast improvement and diminished pain. Side effects may include thinning skin and discoloration within the treated area.

Extraction

Your dermatologist may utilize devices to remove whiteheads and blackheads (also known as comedones) that haven’t cleared up with topical drugs. This method may improve the appearance of your skin, but it might also cause scarring². Proper technique is very important to avoid scarring.

Gamot sa Tigyawat sa Mukha: Talking to Your Dermatologist

Bago magsimulang uminom ng gamot sa tigyawat sa mukha, mahalagang ipaalam sa dermatologist ang mga sumusunod¹:

Allergies

It’s vital to inform the dermatologist about any unusual or allergic reactions to certain medications. It is also helpful to tell your doctor if you have allergies to other things, including food or animals.

Age

The dosage of prescription medicine will vary based on the age of the patient.

Breastfeeding

Even though there are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding, precautions are still advised1.

There are currently not enough adequate studies to determine risk in infants during breastfeeding while using certain medications like adapalene and benzoyl peroxide. It is important to get your doctor’s advice before trying any new medication while breastfeeding.

Preparing for Your Visit

Ang maagang pagbisita sa dermatologist ay makakatulong sa tama at mabilis na paggamot sa tigyawat at mapipigilan ang paglala nito.

Prepare for your doctor’s appointment by preparing the following details so you can share them with your dermatologist2.

1. When did the acne start?
2. Medications you have tried or are currently taking
3. Possible triggers such as stress or menstrual cycle
4. Skincare products that you’re using
5. Family history of having acne and acne scars

Dealing with acne complications and acne scarring is both time consuming and expensive. The best way to manage acne concerns is to get the appropriate treatment as soon as possible by speaking with your dermatologist.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Suffering from acne? Try our acne severity screener and our acne scarring risk screener, and get connected to a dermatologist.

Please click here to send your questions or concerns. Foods, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act prohibits dispensing of ethical or prescription medicines without prescription. For suspected adverse drug reaction, report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph.