Acne is a problem faced by many and there are times when the whole face can be affected by it. While there are many over-the-counter medicines available for the treatment it is always better to consult a skin specialist or a dermatologist for any unusual skin conditions. This is especially true of severe cases where over-the-counter medication may react adversely and cause more problems. Of course mild attacks or even moderate ones can be self treated.

Under prescription medication there are two categories and the type and severity of your skin condition would determine which is required. The first is oral medication which as the name suggests involves the intake of medication as also the application of lotions or creams to fight the infection from the inside. This may include antibiotics. The other is topical prescriptions which may contain ingredients like zinc or retinoids.

So what are retinoids exactly? Retinoids are used for direct application on the skin in creams and lotions. They are derived from vitamin A. These are very useful for the treatment of white and blackheads as they help in opening up the pores. Retinoids have been found to be quite effective in the treatment of severe acne attacks. These peel off the top layer of the skin which opens up the pores and does not allow the body to produce too much sebum which is responsible for oily skin.

But there are a lot of side effects that oral retinoids cause. One of them is the condition of dry skin. Pregnant ladies have to take special medication if they have to treat acne with retinoids. Liver damage and depression are other side effects so there is a need for constant medical supervision to ensure the patient does not display any adverse reactions.

An antibiotic generally helps in killing the bacteria and reduces inflammation. The most common type used for this treatment is tetracycline. The medication has to be continued for a long duration and has to be continued even after the acne has cleared to prevent its reoccurrence. Here the side effects noticed are that there is a tendency to burn if the patient stays out in the sun too long due to the skin's increased sensitivity to sunlight. Stomach upsets, hives and dizziness are also possible. Vaginal yeast may show a marked increase in women using tetracycline and it is not suitable for children below 12 and pregnant women as it can discolor their teeth which are in the growing stages.

Overall one sees that antibiotics are slightly better in terms of side effects. When used together with topical treatments like benzoyl peroxide it is seen that there may no resistance developed by the bacteria to that antibiotic. In women it has been seen that birth control pills change hormone levels. This ensures that the acne that is being caused by testosterone can be reduced. A new line of treatment that can be considered is zinc.

But for any type of acne - mild moderate or severe, it is always best to consult your dermatologist as the skin is a sensitive organ and can react adversely if the treatment is not correct.