The same medication you used as a teenager may be just as effective for an adult acne medication. You may be one of the many adults that suffer acne long after puberty has faded. However, you don’t have to change the over the counter acne medication you used as a teenager if it continues to work fine in adulthood. Lotions with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulfur all are useful to treat adult acne. The same is true of natural healing programs. Prescription medication choices though, particularly for antibiotics, have changed over time and may need to be investigated thoroughly before choosing them for your treatment.

Tetracycline used to be the antibiotic of choice for people suffering with acne. It is still widely prescribed as an adult acne medication but has found more limited applications for teenagers. It has to be taken on an empty stomach for the best results and for that reason is not thought to be compatible with a teenager’s constant eating habits.

For teenagers, erythromycin is the antibiotic that has replaced tetracycline. It can be taken with food and is often prescribed for teenagers. Other antibiotics also were found to be effective against acne and now the dosages have decreased as the treatments have grown more sophisticated and fine-tuned. Other antibiotics that are considered for acne are: minocylcine, docycyline, and clindamycin.

Some of the reasons for the decrease in long-term antibiotic use for adults is research that has linked such use to an increased risk of breast cancer and yeast infections, a potential to interfere with the birth control pills efficacy, and a decrease in bone density. Many of these risks are very significant for women in later years as they are either in their high reproductive years or ending them. Now, many physicians might start you off on oral antibiotics and leave only the topical antibiotic treatment in place after three months of treatment.

To find out more about the risks of adult acne medication, look into:

• Acne medication and pregnancy
• Adult female acne treatment
• Acne treatment vitamin a

A gentler approach with natural healing elements may be perfect for older people. Products like Skin Original help to moisturize the skin with essential oils, something older skin requires more than younger skin. It is an effective adult acne medication, using lemon oil as a known antibacterial agent that fights acne. It can be included as a daily part of your skin care routine and doesn’t have long-term side effects like antibiotics. It does not interfere with other medications and is not taken internally. While a physician who can prescribe a severe acne treatment should treat some forms of acne, like cystic acne, the majorities of adults do not have this type of acne and can easily self-treat at home and avoid the potential for increased risks coming from prescription medications.