The Risks and
Side Effects of Prescription Acne Medications
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Treating acne can be an incredibly long battle that often extends well into
adulthood and in some cases does not actually begin until the patient is well
past their teenage years. Due to this fact; it is well worth the effort to study
not only the efficacy of many acne treatment products but the effects of long
term use on the patient as well.
There are currently a number of different acne treatment products on the market
and depending upon the severity of a patient’s acne, they may actually find that
using a combination or products is the best strategy to treat recurrent bouts of
acne. There are a myriad of problems associated with long term use of several
acne treatment products. Some of these products reduce or suppress testosterone
production; which can lead to very serious problems. Others have been known to
cause birth defects when the mother took the treatment while pregnant.
Of all the products currently on the market to treat acne, benzoyl peroxide
appears to cause the least amount of side effects, particularly over a long
period of time. Not only does benzoyl peroxide lack the incidence of long term
side effects but it also does not have the tendency to create drug resistance;
which can happen in many antibiotic acne treatments. In fact, research has
indicated that when combined with benzoyl peroxide treatments, the tendency of
drug resistance related to antibiotic acne treatments can actually be reduced.
At this time the only side effects that appear to be related to the use of
benzoyl peroxide are some crusting and blistering of the skin as well as a
tendency for discoloration of hair and fabrics to occur, when the product comes
into contact with these items. Due to the fact that benzoyl peroxide does
actually generate free radicals, there has been some concern that use of this
product would lead to the development of skin cancer.
Research has currently indicated that the only risk
associated with the use of benzoyl peroxide is an increased
sensitivity to sunlight; which can be treated with use of a good
quality sun block. A study conducted in 1991 by the University
of Miami concluded that there was no increased risk for skin
cancer related to the use of benzoyl peroxide as an acne
treatment. The major risk factors determined by this survey were
family history of skin cancer, light skin and specific
nationality of the mothers of those surveyed.
“A Study of Acne Treatments as Risk Factors for skin cancer of
the head and neck.”
Hogan DJ, To T, Wilson ER, Miller AB, Robson D, Holfeld K, Lane
P.
Department of Dermatology, University of Miami, Florida.
Br J Dermatol. 1991 Oct;125(4):343-8. PubMed