Question:
What treatment options are available for acne?
Answer:
Given the wide array of acne treatment options available today,
virtually every acne sufferer should be able to control their
acne.
Prescription
and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Acne Treatment
The
US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has divided acne medications
into two categories: those that must be prescribed by a physician
and those that can be chosen by an individual. Both categories
have been tested and proven to be effective, but prescription
medications generally have a higher risk of side effects requiring
a physician’s knowledge to manage their use.
Over-the-Counter
Acne Treatment
The
FDA has reviewed the evidence of effectiveness of a wide range
of potential ingredients for acne treatment. According to FDA
regulations, only products with the following medication ingredients
may be sold for acne treatment:
-
Benzoyl peroxide
- Salicylic acid
- Sulfur
- Sulfur with resorcinol
According
to FDA regulations, if a product doesn’t contain those ingredients,
they can’t be sold as an acne treatment – without
a prescription. OTC acne treatment products differ from each other
in the concentration of the medication used and the non-medicinal
ingredients in the formulation.
Diet
as an acne treatment
Numerous
studies have been conducted trying to determine if there is a
connection between acne and diet. Only one study to date has shown
a conclusive link between diet and acne. In that study, there
was a statistical connection between most dairy foods and acne.
How those foods contribute to acne was unclear from the data,
though the authors raise the possibility of hormones in the milk
being involved since there is a strong hormonal influence on acne.
Another
observation has been made about diet and acne. In studies of primitive
tribes on two different continents that have no processed foods
in their diets, there is a remarkable absence of acne. Otherwise,
outside those primitive societies, acne is a disease that affects
all cultures. Some have suggested that the highly refined, high-carbohydrate
diets of modern cultures may play a role in acne.
Light
as a treatment for acne
A
chemical compound (porphyrin) found in the bacteria that plays
a central role in acne (P acnes) has been harnessed in acne treatment.
In the presence of blue light, the compound creates toxic free
radicals that ultimately kill the bacteria. The FDA has approved
the use of blue light as a non-prescription treatment for acne
and several companies now manufacture units for this purpose.
More recent data is now suggesting that red light may be able
to even more effectively harness this effect.
Laser
as an acne treatment
The
FDA has also approved the use of laser, prescribed under the care
of a physician, for the treatment of acne. Studies show that a
number of different types of laser can be effective.
Other
relevant information about acne treatments:
What
Role Do Antioxidants Play In Treating Acne?
Get
Rid Of Acne By Using A Combination Acne Treatment
