Acne

How Is Acne Treated?

By the time many people consult a doctor for their acne, they usually have tried a drawerful of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Acne is often treated by a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skin. Dermatologists treat all kinds of acne, particularly severe cases. Doctors who are general or family practitioners, pediatricians, or internists may treat patients with milder cases of acne.

The main goal of acne treatment is to prevent scarring. Additional goals are to reduce the number of painful lesions and to minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by this disease. Doctors often use drug therapy as the first choice for treating acne. Drug therapy is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne: abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, increased oil production, the bacterium P. acnes, and inflammation. Depending on the severity of the person’s acne, the doctor will recommend one of several OTC or prescription topical medications (medication applied to the skin) or a prescription systemic medication (medication taken by mouth). The doctor may suggest using more than one topical medication or using both an oral medication and a topical medication at the same time.

Common Over-the-Counter Topical Medications Used To Treat Acne
Generic Name	Common Brand Names*
• Benzoyl peroxide cream, gel, lotion, or soap	• Clearasil, Fostex, PanOxyl Dryox, Persa-Gel
• Salicylic acid	• PROPApH, Stridex, Oxy Night Watch, Clearasil Clearstick Maximum Strength
• Sulfur	• Sulpho-Lac Acne Medication, Liquimat, Therac Lotion, Sulmasque
• Benzoyl peroxide and sulfur	• Dryox 10S, Dryox 20S 10, Sulfoxyl
• Sulfur and resorcinol	• Sulforcin Lotion, Rezamid Lotion, Acnomel Cream

*Brand names included in this fact sheet are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that these products are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.