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Effective Drugs for Adult Acne

Prescription Products that Prevent Breakouts

Apr 26, 2009 Megan Doyle

Dealing with acne into adulthood can be very frustrating, but there are several prescription drugs available that can help fight breakouts and keep skin clear.

While acne is a fairly common issue for teenagers, there are also many people that struggle with breakouts into adulthood. According to the Acne Resource Center, an estimated 25% of men and 50% of women suffer with acne as adults. While there are several over the counter products containing ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, and skin care regimens like Proactive® that can provide some relief from constant breakouts, many cases of moderate to severe acne require the use of prescription medications to successfully combat inflamed acne nodules, comedones, and cysts. There are currently several prescription drugs available, including doxycycline, Bactrim® , and spironolactone, that can help prevent breakouts for prolonged periods of time.

Doxycycline for Adult Acne

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that helps reduce breakouts by decreasing the amount of the acne bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, on the facial surface. This drug is typically prescribed at 100 mg to 200 mg a day and has been proven effective in both teenagers and adults with moderate acne breakouts. Over time, users can develop resistance to the drug and may begin to notice a recurrance of pimples. However, studies have shown that low doses of doxycycline (40 mg daily) can be effective against breakouts for a prolonged period of time and do not lead to the development of bacterial resistance. Therefore, doctors may recommend starting at low dosages of doxycycline or, if resistance does develop over time, switching to a different prescription medication.

Bactrim® Prevents Acne Breakouts

Bactrim® (also called Septra®) can be very effective in adults with moderate to severe acne, and is specifically effective against cystic acne. Like doxycycline, Bactrim® is an antibiotic that kills acne causing bacteria in the pores of the skin. Typical dosage ranges from one to two double strength (DS) tablets daily. Bactrim® is a very powerful sulfa-based antibiotic, and patients taking this drug must be initially monitored for sulfa allergies. Bactrim® can be taken for many years, however as is the case with many antibiotics, people eventually do develop a resistance to the drug’s effects.

Spironolactone (Aldactone®) Keeps Skin Clear

Spironolactone is not well known as an acne medication since it is usually prescribed as a diuretic that can help control high blood pressure. Spironolactone can prevent acne by blocking the effects of androgen hormones that contribute to breakouts, therefore it is very effective in women with hormone-driven acne. Hormonal acne typically begins in adulthood and is characterized by breakouts on the chin and along the jawline. Prescribed dosages of spironolactone typically range from 25-100 mg daily. People taking this drug must not consume high levels of potassium in their diets since spironolactone is a potassium-sparing drug. Excess levels of potassium in the body can lead to major cardiac side effects.

Adult acne can be controlled with these and other available prescription medications. Adults that are suffering with this frustrating condition may consider speaking to their dermatologist about drug options that would be most beneficial for them.

References

Skidmore R et al. Effects of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline in the treatment of moderate acne. Arch Dermatol. 2003 Apr;139:459-64.

Acne.org

The copyright of the article Effective Drugs for Adult Acne in General Medicine is owned by Megan Doyle. Permission to republish Effective Drugs for Adult Acne in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.