Prescription medications and other skin therapies are available for people that have experienced little or no success using over-the-counter products. Acne medications achieve the desired result with a few different processes. These include by increasing skin cell production, reducing inflammation, reducing oil production and fighting infection. Each of these treatments work to prevent or slow the development of acne.

Generally, the results possible with prescription acne treatments take four to eight weeks to be realized, and depending on the treatment, the skin may appear worse before eventually clearing. At Laser Aesthetics of Colorado, we offer our Centennial acne treatment patients a variety of treatment options and assist them in choosing what is best for them.

There are a number of treatments available to improve the appearance of scars resulting from acne or other facial blemishes. These include chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion and others.

Candidates for Acne Treatment

• Patients with diminished self-confidence because of acne or acne scarring
• Patients with moderately severe acne that is resistant to over-the-counter solutions
• Patients seeking a permanent reduction in the amount and severity of their acne

Topical Acne Treatments

Topical solutions include retinoids, antibiotics and dapsone (aczone). Retinoids prevent hair follicles from becoming clogged and therefore inflamed. Antibiotics kill bacteria on the surface of the skin that causes skin issues, and dapsone treats both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne. The benefits of these treatments may not appear for a few weeks, so it is important to maintain a consistent treatment regime even when the positive results haven’t yet occurred.

Oral Acne Treatments

Oral medications include antibiotics, combined oral contraceptives, anti-androgen agents, and isotretnioin. Antibiotics can be used to treat moderate to severe acne by reducing the amount of bacteria present in the skin and combatting inflammation. Combined oral contraceptives can be used to treat acne in women and adolescent girls. Anti-androgen agents can be considered by women and adolescent girls if the combined oral contraceptives aren’t having an effect. Isotretinoin is usually prescribed for the most severe cases of acne. The treatment is very effective for most patients but carries the risk of serious side effects.