Treating Acne
Medical treatments can be over-the-counter or by prescription
You have options in medical treatments. You may choose an
over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription treatment.
OTC products can be purchased at a drug store, grocery store, or on TV. You
do not need a doctor to prescribe an OTC product.
Prescription treatments can only be obtained with a
doctor's prescription.
If your OTC acne medication is not effective, talk to your doctor about BenzaClin®, as
well as which cleansers, cosmetics, and moisturizers are okay to
use.
Even mild acne can benefit from prescription treatment
You may believe that prescription treatments are used only for
severe cases of acne, but you should consider talking to a doctor about
treating mild to moderate acne. You may think that an OTC product is
good enough, which may or may not be true. The best way to find
out is to ask your doctor.
There are prescription treatments that are made especially to treat
or help mild to moderate acne. No matter how mild
your acne may be, it's a good idea to have your doctor check it out and
recommend the best treatment for you.
Oral versus topical treatments
The most common prescription acne treatments are either oral or topical.
Oral: Treatments that are taken by mouth and go through the
body. Examples of oral medications are antibiotics, retinoids, and
hormones.
Topical: A gel, cream, ointment, solution, or lotion that is applied
to the skin. It usually works at the site where it is applied.