Retin-A and Accutane Help Clear Up Skin

If there wasn’t enough to stress out adolescents acne rears it’s ugly head after puberty and complicates the already dizzying world of choices that come with dating, asserting one’s independence, finding one’s identity, and preparing for adulthood. However, there is help for acne suffers, perhaps this article will help you decide whether to pursue the use of traditional chemical treatments or consider implementing a natural approach to treating your acne.

There are a few ingredients in particular that are common to most over the counter acne medications, sold either individually or as part of a complete package. Benzoyl peroxide should be one familiar to most acne suffers as it is found in such products as Clearasil & OXY-5. There is also Retin-A and Accutane, the latter of which should be used only as a last resort, when other products do not work as it may cause headaches, joint pains, muscle pains, and possible birth defects in infants of pregnant teenage mothers. Erythromycin and tetracycline, while not as risky, can produce side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or vaginal yeast infections.

Let us look at the different ingredients in products typically used to treat acne we have reviewed so far and look at the side effects they may cause.

• Retin-A is a commercial trademark for retinoic acid, an acid formed in the oxidation of retinaldehyde and a vitamin A derivative that helps with bone development. Retinaldehyde helps with the formation of the visual pigments of the rods and cones in the retina of your eye. Vitamin A therefore, would be one step towards naturally treating acne, and is found in fish-liver oils, milk, and some yellow and dark green vegetables.
• Benzoyl peroxide is the base ingredient in products like Clearasil and OXY – 5. It provides immediate relief yet can be over drying; therefore, it would not be good for sensitive skin. Its use as a bleaching agent for flour, fats, waxes, and oils, which might explain its effectiveness as making acne disappear, in addition to treating the effects of it.
• Accutane is a commercial trademark for isotretinoin, which is a synthetic retinoid. A stronger form of retinoic acid, or Retin-A. There are adverse & teratogenic (developmental malformational) effects associated with usage of this drug, however.
• Erythromycin or tetracycline are antibiotics that are probably costlier solutions, although not as risky as using acids and synthetic ingredients.

Toner, lotion, and another ingredient, an acid or benzoyl peroxide are familiar products found on the shelf of anyone suffering from acne. Where drugs damage the skin, lotion provides moisture from overdrying caused by a toner, in an attempt to cleanse the skin of impurities. The only way around this regiment is plenty of Vitamin A, and using the oxidants in vegetables to cleanse your skin of impurities naturally, reducing the oil on your face, and other areas.