Best Acne Medications
The best acne medication is different for every acne patient. Each patient that we see at the Clear Clinic in NYC has a different type of acne, different needs for their skin, and different schedules in which to fit their treatments into. Some patients prefer to do in-office treatments, such as Photodynamic Therapy, in order to clear up their acne as quickly as possible. These patients generally follow up in the office once weekly for approximately five weeks. Each week there is a different treatment performed to treat the multiple factors that lead to acne. Some patients have schedules that preclude them from stopping into the Clear Clinic each week and prefer to start with prescription medications. It is important that these patients receive the best and most appropriate prescription acne medications for their skin type.
Patients with moderate to severe inflammatory acne can benefit from oral medications. Oral antibiotics (such as Doryx and Solodyn) are commonly used to decrease the p. acnes bacteria that leads to acne. Oral anti-androgen medications (such as Spironolactone) and oral contraceptive pills (such as Yaz or Yasmin) can be used to decrease the androgenic influence that leads to the formation of acne. Oral isotretinoin, aka Accutane, is used to address many of the factors that lead to acne.
All acne patients can benefit from the use of topical acne medications. Patients with mild acne may use only topical medications, while patients with moderate to severe acne will benefit from a combination of topical and oral medications. The most common topical medications are retinoids (ex. Atralin, Retin-A Micro, Differin, and Tazorac), topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, dapsone (ex. Aczone), and combination medications (ex. Duac, Acanya, Epiduo, Veltin, and Ziana.)
Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Dermatologists and Physician Assistants specializing in the treatment of acne will determine the best acne medications for the type of acne that you have. It is important to use acne medications that are specific to the type of acne that you have, whether it be inflammatory or non-inflammatory. At the Clear Clinic in NYC, we often combine prescription medications with in-office laser acne treatments, in order to achieve the best results and to clear acne quickly.”
