Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. The goal of acne treatment is to improve the skins appearance and to lessen the chance of scarring. Treatment for acne will include gentle, regular skin care. Your child’s healthcare provider may advise:
- Non-prescription cleansers and creams, lotions, gels, or other products
- Prescriptions that are put on the skin (topical) or taken by mouth (oral)
- Other therapies or procedures, such as laser therapy, light therapy, or chemical peels
- Draining of a cyst, or injecting it with medicine
Topical medicines are often prescribed to treat acne. These can be in the form of a cream, gel, lotion, or liquid. These may include:
- Benzoyl peroxide: This kills bacteria.
- Antibiotics: These help stop or slow down the growth of bacteria. They also reduce inflammation.
- Tretinoin: This stops new comedones from forming. It also encourages new skin cell growth and unplugs pimples.
- Adapalene: This helps stop new comedones from forming.
Medicines to take by mouth may be prescribed, such as:
- Antibiotic medicines: These may include tetracycline, doxycycline, or erythromycin. They are used to treat moderate to severe acne.
- Isotretinoin: This may be prescribed for severe acne that can’t be treated by other methods. It helps to prevent new acne and scarring.
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