For women who break out mainly around their menstrual cycle, some birth control pills can help. Research shows that these pills can clear acne by slowing down overactive oil glands in the skin. Sometimes, birth control pills are used along with a drug called spironolactone to treat acne in adult females. This medication lowers levels of the hormone androgen in the body. Androgen stimulates the skin's oil glands. Side effects of this drug include irregular menstruation, breast tenderness, headache and fatigue. Spironolactone is not appropriate therapy for all patients.
This answer is based on the source infromation from the National Women's Health Information Center.Acne Treatment
Acne treatments vary, depending on the severity of your acne. Many teenagers and adults can control mild acne with over-the-counter topical solutions, like acne cream and salicylic acid products that loosen blackheads and whiteheads, clearing clogged pores. For more severe acne, dermatologists may recommend prescription medications, or even an in-office procedure such as a chemical peel or laser treatment. Learn more about acne treatment with expert advice from Sharecare.
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersResistance to antibiotics is most definitely a big and ever-growing problem in medicine. Resistance means that the medicine no longer works because the bacteria mutate (change) to work around the drug that is trying to kill them. Think of a radar detector and a driver who is bent on speeding without getting caught. The police keep coming out with better radars to catch people who are speeding, and the drivers keep coming out with better radar detectors to avoid the radars that are trying to nab them. We keep coming up with better antibiotics, but if overused or used inappropriately, we give the bacteria a chance to figure out a way to resist the medicine.
Antibiotics are drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections. Many different antibiotics are available because many different types of bacterial organisms can cause different types of infection in different parts of our bodies. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a type of bacteria that lives only in the follicles of our skin. We use several specific antibiotics to treat this bacterium, and those antibiotics are pretty selective against only that certain type of bacteria. There is no risk of resistance to other types of bacteria that these antibiotics do not cover. When dermatologists worry about resistance of bacterial organisms to antibiotics, they are mostly worried about resistance of the P. acnes to the antibiotics that we are currently using to treat it. When you become resistant to one antibiotic, it does not mean that you are resistant to other antibiotics. For this reason, dermatologists often rotate the antibiotics they use. Also, after you stop using the drug for a while, the resistance generally goes away and you can effectively use the particular drug again. -
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YouBeauty answeredThe small molecules of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic and lactic acids, chemically exfoliate to clear out dead skin cells that block pores that lead to acne. Because of their skin-brightening and line-smoothing ability, AHAs are often found in anti-aging products, making these a good choice for people dealing with acne and aging at the same time. -
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Dr. Patricia K. Farris, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersThere are several cleansers that can be used to treat or prevent acne. The best choice would be a cleanser that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid will help unclog pores and benzoyl peroxide is an effective antibacterial ingredient that is excellent for treating existing acne. Both of the ingredients are found in many over the counter cleansers making them easy to find and affordable options.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 2 AnswersIf you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider consulting a dermatologist to learn the best way to care for your skin. He or she may recommend using a non-abrasive facial cleanser in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Avoid products that contain alcohol, which can irritate the skin. Be gentle as you wash your face. Scrubbing vigorously could make your acne worse. Rinse well with lukewarm water. -
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredFor optimal results from hormonal therapy, appropriate patient selection is key. Hormonal therapy is useful for women with endocrine abnormalities and for women who have proven nonresponsive to or unable to tolerate more conventional therapies such as oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics, and retinoids along with benzoyl peroxide. The use of oral contraceptive pills may also be useful for women who require medical treatment to control irregular periods or who would like contraception. It is important to remember that oral contraceptive pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and that a second form of protection is required to reduce the risk of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and other potentially serious sexually transmitted diseases.
The following are recommendations for hormonal therapy:
It is an excellent choice for women who need oral contraception for gynecologic reasons.- It should be used early in female patients with moderate-to-severe acne or signs of androgen abnormalities.
- It is useful as a component of combination therapy in women with or without documentable hormonal abnormalities.
- It is sometimes used in women with late-onset acne.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredWatch this video to learn more from Dr. Mehmet Oz about skin blemishes.
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredThe only oral contraceptives that can potentially worsen acne are the ones that contain only progestins instead of a combination of progestin and estrogen. Oral contraceptives containing only progestins include levongestrel and medroxyprogesterone. Acne, hirsutism, and hair loss have been associated with certain progestins.
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersSome people note that their pimples last for months before finally going away. Comedones, the plugged hair follicles, can last for weeks or months or longer if not treated. Inflammatory lesions usually clear within days to weeks; however, marks (red and eventually brown) can be left behind that remain for months longer. Also, because acne can recur in the same spot -- sometimes just as the lesion is beginning to clear -- it can flare again, which makes it seem like it is lasting for months.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 2 Answers
There are some steps you can take at home to help with acne. Start with a cleansing routine that keeps your skin not too oily and not too dry. Wash your face with a mild cleanser that doesn't contain harsh chemicals or abrasives, and pat dry. Aim for twice a day, when you wake up and when you go to bed, and after any activity that makes you sweat. Avoid scrubbing and resist the temptation to pop pimples because that can cause scarring. You can also reduce your skin’s exposure to bacteria by cleaning items that may rub against your skin, such as sports gear and phones. Although doctors say chocolates and oily foods don't cause pimples, some recent studies suggest that eating high-glycemic foods (foods that cause a rapid spike in blood sugar) can worsen acne.