Acne Medicine  

Acne medicine is usually divided up based on the severity of the acne.  Home remedies and over the counter acne medicines can be used to help treat mild to moderate cases of acne whereas prescription drugs are used for the more severe forms.   

Over The Counter Acne Medications 

Currently, the FDA has approved only four active ingredients to fight acne without a prescription.  These four are Benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur.  You will find that most of the over the counter acne treatments will contain at least one of these ingredients.  Benzoyl peroxide may be the most effective of them because it is very good at attacking bacteria.  In addition, it may also the swelling of acne as well.  The three others all work as exfoliators.  These are really good at opening up and softening clogged pores.  This is helpful in allowing the acne to clear up.  In addition, some belief sulfur can help reduce redness and swelling.  Often, you will find resorcinol and sulfur in the same products. 

Besides, these FDA approved medications, you will also find a number of cosmeceuticals that are believed to help acne.  These are not FDA approved for acne, but many people swear by them.  Common examples include green tea, Vitamin F, and Retinol.   

Home Remedies For Acne 

In addition, you have a number of home remedies available for acne prevention.  Much like cosmeceuticals, their support for acne treatment comes in the form of many personal testimonials and endorsements.  However, they have not been tested with scientific scrutiny and have not bee reviewed by the FDA. 

Acne Prescription Drugs 

The three most common acne prescription drugs are Tetracycline, Erythromycin and Accutane.  Tetracycline and Erythromycin and various off-shoots of these drugs are used for the less severe cases of acne.  Tetracycline is probably more popular because many people become resistant to Erythromycin.  However, both are effective for helping with this level of acne treatment.  Accutane tends to be reserved for the most severe forms of acne and it works well because it reduces oil production.  However, it has a number of minor and more significant side effects.  For this reason, you should really discuss these possible side effects with your doctor or dermatologist to make sure it is right for you. 

By keeping this introductory information in mind, you should be in a far better position to choose the right acne medicine for you.