Different Acne Treatments Options

By Author: beth0101a
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Millions of people from around the world, including teenagers and adults, suffer from acne problems. Unfortunately, there is no definite cure for acne. Still, there are different acne treatments that you can try in order to control their breakout. There are three categories of these treatments - procedural, systemic, and topical. However, the exact procedure will depend upon the type and severity of your acne.

Grade Of Acne

If you are looking for the best treatment plan, it is important for you to be first aware of your grade of acne. Acne problems are usually divided into four grades - grade I, grade II, grade III, and grade IV. If the problem is mild to moderate, it is put under grade-I and grade-II. Likewise, if the problem is moderately severe to severe or if it is cystic acne, it is put under grade-III and grade IV. In case of grade-III and grade-IV acne, you are strongly recommended to visit a dermatologist. On the other hand, if you are suffering from grade-I and grade-II acne problems, you could try some over-the-counter products.

Topical Acne Treatments

Topical acne treatments include ...
... the use of skin care products like lotions, ointments, or creams. Your dermatologist will suggest the right product for you depending upon the severity of your problem. However, you may not necessarily need a prescription to buy these products. Some of them, especially the products for mild to moderate acne, are also available over-the-counter. Still, you are strongly recommended to consult a dermatologist first. The over-the-counter products may include Resorcinol, Sulfur, Benzoyl peroxide, and Salicylic acid. On the other hand, the products that may require a prescription include topical antibiotics (such as, sulfacetamide, erythromycin, and clindamycin), topical retinoids (such as, tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene), and Azelaic acid.
Systemic Acne Treatments

Systemic acne treatments work internally. These treatments are recommended for severe and cystic acne. They are in the form of pills and injections. In some cases, when the topical treatment does not prove to be very effective, even moderate acne may require systematic treatment. It is very important for you to understand that these products are not available as over-the-counter products. They are available by prescription only. The medications may include Isotretinoin, hormonal treatments, and oral antibiotics.

Procedural Acne Treatments

Procedural acne treatments are therapies that are performed by an esthetician, a health care practitioner, or a dermatologist. These therapies can be very effective for those suffering from mild to severe acne. However, these treatments are often performed in conjunction with systematic and/or topical treatments. They are meant to be supportive. The different therapies that are used include corticosteroid injections, phototherapy, microdermabrasion, light chemical peels, and comedo extractions.

In most cases, you will probably have to visit a dermatologist or an esthetician. They are two different people. The dermatologist is actually a medical doctor, estheticians are not. Estheticians are skin care therapists with specialization in the treatment and beautification of the skin. On the other hand, dermatologists specialize in the science of skin, types of skin diseases, and treatment.

Acne Care is a site dedicated to providing acne information and treatment product reviews. For more details about acne treatment options and to know more about acne scare prevention, visit Acne Care.