Acne

Acne is an inflammation of the skin that causes blackheads, whiteheads, and red spots usually called "pimples" or "zits." The most common type of acne is acne vulgaris (vulgaris means common). Doctors call a flare-up of acne pimples lesions. Acne appears most often on the face, but can also be a nuisance on your chest, back, and upper arms. Acne affects about 90% of adolescents as well as 20% to 30% of individuals aged 20 to 40, and accounts for more doctor visits than any other skin problem.

Acne isn't life threatening, but it can be upsetting and disfiguring and cause psychosocial problems. Acne can also lead to serious and permanent scarring.

More information about acne.

Acne medications

Topical treatments
• benzoyl peroxide (Acetoxyl, Benoxyl, Benzac AC, Benzac W, Desquam X, Oxyderm, Solugel)
• clindamycin (Dalacin T topical Solution)
• erythromycin - tretinoin topical (Stievamycin)
• neomycin - methylprednisolone topical (for acne) (Neo-Medrol Acne Lotion)
• tretinoin (Retisol-A, Vitamin A Acid, Stieva-A Forte, Retin-A, Stieva-A)

Oral treatments
• cyproterone - ethinyl estradiol (Diane-35)
• isotretinoin (Accutane)
• levonorgestrel - ethinyl estradiol (Alesse)
• minocycline (Apo-Minocycline, Gen-Minocycline, Minocin, Novo-Minocycline, ratio-Minocycline)
• norgestimate - ethinyl estradiol (Tri-Cyclen)
• tetracycline (Apo-Tetra, Novo-Tetra, Nu-Tetra)