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Some people only have to deal with the occasional acne breakout; others have to fight a constant battle against this skin condition.

Sometimes the acne can be treated at home with over the counter remedies but if infection sets in or in more severe cases the advice of a suitably qualified Doctor or Dermatologist must be sought.

Your Doctor or Dermatologist is likely to prescribe medication to help get the symptoms of the acne under control.

Just as there are many over the counter remedies for acne, there are also several different kinds of prescription medications designed to treat acne.  Often, these come in the form of a topical cream or ointment that is applied directly to the skin other times something a little stronger may be needed in which case your doctor may recommend an oral medication.

Quite often Doctors will prescribe creams, ointments or a special wash to use on areas of the body affected by acne. Do ensure you use these prescriptions according to the directions given to you by your doctor. As with all drugs, there can be side effects when they are misused.

Antibiotic treatment is often required to help control severe acne problems. This usually involves a course of antibiotics that starts out at a relatively high dosage but which then gradually decreases once the treatment has started to take affect.

Acne breakouts are often caused by hormonal fluctuations so women can notice a worsening of their symptoms during certain times of their monthly menstrual cycle.  Some women find oral contraceptives have the welcome side effect of reducing their acne symptoms because of the hormonal changes these drugs cause in the body.

Acne is not a condition that will go away if ignored. Whilst some cases do respond to home treatment it is always best to obtain the advice of a Doctor or Dermatologist just to ensure that there is no infection present which requires prescription antibiotics. Treated properly acne does go away. It can be a case of trial and error discovering which treatment works best for you. This process can be tedious, painful, disappointing and expensive but it is worth it in the end as properly treated acne is less likely to leave permanent scars.