Acne- Treatment Regime For Severe Acne

This kind of acne requires intensive treatment over a period. Your doctor will treat you with combination therapy to control and cure the acne while trying to take care that minimum scars form. The treatment regimen for severe acne may include physical as well as oral and topical treatments. The options ay include- Isotretinoin, Oral antibiotics,
Oral contraceptives for female patients, Injecting corticosteroid in the lesion and
Surgical procedure. Let us look at them.
Isotretinoin: Isotretinoin is one of the most potent treatments fore severe form of acne which has not responded well to other therapies. Isotretinoin is the best treatment option for cystic acne. Isotretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. The normal course of Isotretinoin is one or two pills a day for up to twenty weeks. Your dermatologist best decides this. Isotretinoin should never be taken without medical supervision. Isotretinoin is one of the best options because it helps treat all the four factors of acne formation- excess oil, clogged pores, inflammation and the bacteria P.acnes. Isotretinoin can also have many side effects.
Side effects of Isotretinoin - For women, it is very important to be in constant contact with their doctor because Isotretinoin can cause damage to developing foetus. It cannot only never be given during pregnancy but before the treatment begins all possibilities of pregnancy have to be eliminated. Please talk to your doctor in detail and follow his/her instructions very strictly. The other side effects of Isotretinoin may include joint pains, headaches, nausea, depression and others. You must not miss your appointment with your doctor while taking Isotretinoin.
Oral antibiotics - broad spectrum antibiotics can reduce the bacteria P.acnes substantially. With reduction in the population of this bacterium inflammation reduces. The choice of the antibiotic is best left to your doctor. The antibiotic may include drugs such as - tetracycline, erythromycin, doxycline etc.
Oral contraceptives for female patients- overactive sebaceous glands produce more sebum and are one of the main causes of acne. Some oral contraceptives can reduce the production of excessive sebum. These drugs can be taken only under medical supervision. Sometimes, you may have to consult gynecologist for which your doctor will advise you.
Injecting corticosteroid in the lesion - a great help in preparing for a social event, in this treatment a mild steroid is injected in the cyst. The steroid reduces the acne substantially with in few days. This treatment also prevents scarring as it reduces the possibility of bursting of a cyst and dries it totally.
Surgical procedure- your doctor may find it necessary to cut open the acne and drain it. It is done with sterile equipment and needs skill. Acne patients should not do draining of acne.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.