Topical Therapy

Minor forms of acne may be treated with topical preparations. There are several drugs suited for this. They either have anti-inflammatory or anti-comedogenic (blackhead and whitehead) properties.

It is unrealistic to expect acne treatments to work within a short period of time. Typically a 4 – 6 weeks period is needed until an effect is noticeable. Thereafter, it is necessary to continue the treatment. At the beginning of an acne treatment the acne may actually even worsen for a while. Sometimes it may be necessary to change the topical preparations during the course of the treatment.

When antibiotics are used either topically or orally they should not be continuously applied for longer than 3 months, because antibiotic resistance may develop and hence efficacy is reduced.

In more severe forms of acne we will propose oral therapies.