Acne Therapies and Therapeutic Agents

ByAlison Cole

AThe market for acne therapies and therapeutic agents presents various products for the effective prevention and treatment of acne. The important oral acne treatment products that are available in the market include Vibramycin (doxycycline), Minocin (minocycline), Zovia (ethynodiol diacetate), OrthoCyclen (norgestimate), Norlutin (norethindrone), Aygestin (norethindrone acetate), and Accutane (Isotretinoin).

Vibramycin and Minocin are effective broad-spectrum oral antibiotics used to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. They help reduce the inflammatory lesions of acne but are contradicted in pregnant and breast feeding women, and children of less than 8 years of age.

Zovia, OrthoCyclen, Norlutin and Aygestin are appropriate oral contraceptives that prevent acne in females by inhibiting the overactivity of sebaceous glands (oil glands).

Accutane (a derivative of vitamin A) is a very effective oral drug that can help prevent scarring but because of its potential for serious side effects it is contraindicated in pregnant women and in many other conditions. It acts by reducing the size of the sebaceous glands thus preventing the excess secretion of oil and decreasing the growth of bacteria. It has been estimated that up to 90% of patients’ treatment with isotretinoin result in complete or almost complete recovery from cystic acne.

A variety of important topical products used to treat acne include Retin-A (retinoid analog), Retin-A Micro (tretinoin microsphere), Differin (adapalene), Tazorac (tazarotene), BenzaClin (includes 1 percent clindamycin with 5 percent benzoyl peroxide), Benzamycin (includes 3 percent erythromycin with 5 percent benzoyl peroxide) and Azelex (azelaic acid). Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Differin, Tazorac, and Azelex are effective treatments for mild acne.

Retin-A and Retin-A Micro are natural retinoid that gradually unclog pores and keep them unplugged. Differin is a synthetic retinoid analog that unclogs pores and demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties. Tazorac is a second-line retinoid option that helps treat acne by stopping the development of new comedones. Azelex is a naturally occurring acid that has bacteriostatic and keratolytic properties.

BenzaClin and Benzamycin have bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for mild to moderate acne treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is inexpensive and best at killing P. acnes. When used in combination with antibiotics (BenzaClin and Benzamycin), benzoyl peroxide increases efficacy and reduces antibiotic resistance.

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