Teen girls are emotionally concerned about their skin. Acne treatment is three layered, depending on the stubbornness of them, although it is not so in all the cases. Milder acne in early teens generally goes off even without any treatment, while the persistent eruptions in mid teens or later may require a line of treatment. Three stages of acne treatment are as follows,

1. Topical Acne Treatment

2. Systemic Therapy

3. Alternative Medicine

Topical Treatment of Acne

Topical treatment of acne has evolved a lot in the past years. What generally used to be a peeling agent, with incipients such as resorcinol, lactic acid, salicylic acid and sulphur is now redundant and more effective preparations with retinoic acid in varying percentages are effectively employed more.

Retinoic acid is available in ointment and cream bases for topical application generally in 0.05% concentration. Your doctor may advise you to apply it on dry skin rather than wet as wet skin has a potency to absorb more retinoic acid which cause irritation, erythema and sometimes exfoliation. This concentration is enough in dealing with black heads too, as black heads soften under retinoic acid but you may have to avoid exposure to Sun.

For better feeling with acne, consider using creams or ointments with milder concentrations of retinoic acid (0.025%) initially with benzoyl peroxide preferably on alternate days, unless under medical advice, and gradually increase to 0.5% concentration in a couple of weeks time. Here is an advice; apply the cream/ointment over the entire area for better results than on the visible lesions.

Systemic Therapy (Internal Therapy)

Your doctor may decide on systemic therapy when

1. Sustained topical treatment hasnt yielded results

2. Systemic therapy is more effective on back and chest acne

3. Skin is sensitive to topical treatments followed by irritations and redness

Minocycline, Erythromycin and Tetracycline are commonly used antibiotics in acne treatment and occasionally Cotrimoxazole. Initial dosage for Tetracycline is 1gm/day which is enough to reduce the Pripriono Acnes and inflammation. In rare cases the dosage may be increased to 2gm/day. But mind you, Tetracycline should be taken on empty stomach if not advised to the contrary.

Ampicillin and Isotretinoin are also used with the former showing results in 4-6 weeks and followed-up by topical antibiotic. Minocycline 50-100mg/day is found more effective than Tetracycline in which it takes on irritation, and stubborn acne.

You respond better to antibiotics in ages past teens as acne has already begun resolving.

Warning: Oral Isotretinoin is dangerous for pregnant women for the dangers of high teratogenic effects (deformation of embryo.)