Acne medication is available in two forms – prescription and over-the-counter treatment. Please make sure that you visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis of the skin condition before using either of these two methods.

Mild forms of the pimples can be cured using home remedies. Prescription drugs are usually advised for moderate or severe acne.

The medication is intended to target the following areas during the course of treatment:

Preventing blockage of the pores
Reducing swelling and redness of the affected areas
Killing the existing blemishes
Treating the hormones that cause the diseasePrescription Preparations

Acne medication listed here must be taken after your doctor’s prescription. These medicines have been successful in many cases.

Topical Medicines

Topical medicines are applied on the affected skin. They must be used only after washing the skin properly with warm water and a mild soap.

Azelaic acid is a sterile agent and may also reduce inflammation.
Antibiotics likes Clindamycin, Erythromycin must be applied to the affected areas twice every day. Remember to wash the area with a mild cleanser and soap. Pat the skin dry.
Tretinoin application is gradually increased from once as day to twice a day. However, you should not expose yourself to sunlight when using tretinoin as it can cause skin inflammation. Oral Medicines

Oral acne medication is taken systemically and must not be tried without the doctor’s prescription.

Corticosteroids reduce soreness and reduce body resistance so that the medicine can take its effect.
Tetracycline treatment starts with higher doses and the intake is later tapered off gradually.
Erythromycin functions like tetracycline. However, it can be taken orally or topically. It reduces inflammation as well as blemishes.
Birth Control Pills and Estrogens are given to women who develop acne as a result of excessive male hormones in their system. These drugs reduce the effects of those hormones, hence reducing acne.
Accutane should be used only in severe cases of the skin problem as it can have considerable side effects in pregnant women.Over-The-Counter Medications

Benzoyl Peroxide peels the skin of the blemish to heal it internally. It forms an important ingredient in face masks, lotions and creams that claim to cure acne and acne-related problems.
Salicylic Acid is known to be an effective way to get rid of those unwanted eruptions on your skin. It is an over-the-counter product; however, you must consult your doctor if its use causes excessive irritation.
Sulfur is a skin-peeling agent that kills the dead skin and scrapes it off, giving your pimple, a better chance to heal itself.

Apart from the options mentioned above, there are many other treatments available in the market. However, you need to keep one thing in mind before you reject a treatment; acne medication hardly shows improvement in the first two or three weeks. So give the treatment a little time before discarding your acne medication. Remember, acne cures take time, but nonetheless they are effective.