Acne treatment can involve several different steps throughout the healing process. When less powerful creams and solutions do not work or bring about the full desired result, it is often necessary to switch to another form of medication that has a higher level of the active ingredient or a more potent one. Taking medication for acne treatment should always be done with proper guidance from a trained professional. Every case of acne is different and should be treated individually.
These are some forms of acne treatment for severe cases of acne. Isotretinoin is a powerful form of medication that is used in treating severe cystic acne and acne that has not been solved by less potent medications. Isotretinoin is a synthetic retinoid in pill form. It is generally taken once or twice a day for 16 to 20 weeks.
Isotretinoin is currently one of the most effective forms of acne treatment available because it is the only method that will work on four of the main factors that contribute to the formation of acne – high levels of sebum or oil production, blocked pores, P. acnes and inflammation. The results obtained through isotretinoin are often long lasting, and can continue for years. Some patients have been known to achieve desired results after only a single course of isotretinoin therapy.
Although isotretinoin is one of the most effective forms of acne treatment available, it cannot be prescribed to everyone due to a number of potentially harmful side effects. One very serious side effect is the possibility of causing birth defects in a developing fetus. There are strict controls in place and regimented by the FDA to ensure safety of women who are undergoing treatment with isotretinoin.
Other negative side effects you may experience while taking isotretinoin include severe pains in the chest or abdomen, painful or troubled swallowing, severe headaches, blurred eyesight or dizziness, pain in bones and joints, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, depression and sulkiness, skin, eye and nose dryness, and hair loss. If you experience these or any other side effects while taking medication, be sure to contact your physician immediately for guidance.
Other forms of acne treatment are oral antibiotics; these have long been used as a form of controlling severe acne. Similar to topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics help reduce the P. acnes and, in turn, decrease inflammation. Oral antibiotics treatment generally starts out with a high dosage that is slowly reduced as the acne clears up. This form of treatment must always be closely monitored by a doctor so that it can provide optimum results.
