Other Acne Treatments

Treating acne with prescription drugs and electronic devices

Along with over-the-counter treatments, dermatologists have an arsenal of options at their disposal for treating moderate to severe acne. Many of these acne treatments are costly, painful, time-consuming and/or laden with harsh side effects, though.

Most doctors would agree that isotretinoin, the active ingredient found in Accutane, is the most effective treatment for severe acne. However, this potent drug is associated with an extremely high risk of miscarriage and/or birth defects.

For this reason, the FDA introduced the iPLEDGE program. The program requires women taking isotretinoin to submit to periodic pregnancy tests before and throughout treatment. Patients also must agree to use two forms of effective birth control while using the drug, starting one month prior to beginning treatment and continuing for one month after treatment ends.

Other common side effects of isotretinoin use include dry skin and lips, hair loss and headaches. Less common side effects include depression and thoughts of suicide. Because isotretinoin needs to be prescribed by a doctor and the side effects are potentially serious, we chose not to recommend it. It is, however, a viable physician-supervised option for those who have had no success with other acne treatments.

Retinoids, on the other hand, are very effective with relatively few side effects. They are effective on all types of acne, from mild to severe, and are even more effective when used in combination with hormonal, antibiotic or benzoyl peroxide treatments. Note: Prescription tretinoin becomes inactive when used with benzoyl peroxide. Check with your doctor before using any two acne treatments at once.

There are three types of retinoids available: tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova), tazarotene (Tazorac) and adapalene (Differin). Studies show that all are effective but have varying degrees of side effects. These side effects include burning, peeling and redness of the skin -- effects that tend to diminish with continued use. Physicians generally prescribe various retinoids based on individual acne cases and may switch prescriptions as needed. All brands get good reviews from users at MakeupAlley.com.

As with over-the-counter medications, it may take some experimentation to find the right prescription-strength treatment.

In addition to the options available from your doctor, the market for at-home electronic devices continues to grow. Most of these options, like the Tanda Zap Acne Spot Treatment Device (Est. $42) try to mimic professional treatments like laser and blue-light therapy. They typically aren't as powerful, however.

The jury is still out on whether these types of devices are effective. We didn't find any reviews for products that are still available. Furthermore, many of the mainstream electronic devices that have been popular in recent years -- such as the Zeno Acne Clearing Device and the Zeno Hot Spot -- have been discontinued.