Acne Pills and Creams List

Acne Medication List

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Acne is a skin blemish condition that affects most people at some point during their youth. It occurs most acutely when people are young adolescents and experiencing puberty. However, it can affect older individuals too and the problem with skin blemishes is that you’re not able to cover them up and hide them from view like you can if they were to be elsewhere besides the face. Fortunately, there are a number of different effective acne medications that sufferers can use to clear up their skin. We’ll look at acne pills and acne creams here, and discuss what makes these products effective.

Before listing out the different types of acne medication here, we should mention that all of these acne pills are most effective when paired with better diet and lifestyle choices for acne prevention. First and foremost of these is to avoid fatty, greasy foods. Foods that are heavy in trans or saturated fats (including most fast food options) promote excess sebum production – the primary cause of acne. Other good suggestions here is to keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of fresh water and avoiding heavy use of makeup for young women.

Best Choices for Acne Medication

As is the case with any type of product, certain brands and ones are better than others. Acne medication is no exception, and often certain acne pills are a better choice for a person based on the nature of their outbreaks and which medications they tolerate better.

Here’s our list of the best acne medications:

  1. Benzaclin – This acne medication’s appeal is that it is antibiotic and effective drying agent in one. Benzaclin is a good choice for individuals who have acne primarily because of excessive sebum production from their sebaceous glands.
  2. Differin XP – this gel is one of the best acne creams available, and it’s able to take on pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. What makes this acne medication so effective is that it promotes skin cells shedding normally rather than having them accumulate in the pores as it happens for some people. This acne cream is alcohol free.
  3. Minocin – Minocin isn’t an acne med exclusively, as it is a tetracycline antibiotic. If a person’s acne is a result of a bacterial infection taking root in the pores then Minocin is a good choice.
  4. Renova Cream / Retin A Cream / Retin A Gel – All excellent acne creams, and similar to each other. The active ingredient in them (tretinoin) is a vitamin A derivative that works to make the skin more resistant to clogged pores and acne development.
  5. Vitamin A Acid Gel – This is the best acne medication for people that are more susceptible to acne vulgaris and its comedones, papules, and pustules.
  6. Vichy Normaderm Acne Prone Skin – This one gets top marks for over-the-counter OTC acne creams that don’t require a prescription for purchase. Plus it’s an oil-free formulation that’s better for leaving on facial skin.

We’re going to add another medication here that – while not acne medications themselves – are good choices for people who get acne as a result of taking other similar medications. Use of birth control medication can cause acne for young women, but for those who need to continue using oral contraceptives then Triphasil is a better choice because it’s formulation doesn’t promote acne the way other types do. 

There are laser treatments for acne available now, but usually this is only looked into or suggested by a physician when prescription or non-prescription med therapy approaches have shown themselves to be ineffective. Lastly, the best reassurance that most young people will receive regarding acne is that one they enter the backside of their 20s it’s usually not much of an issue at all anymore.


IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for your pet. See your veterinarian for medical advice and treatment for your pet if you have any concerns.


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