Acne medication can be classified in two types: over-the-counter and prescribed. There are a variety of products for each category. And one of the products that most people often use when starting to treat their acne are topical products. While some antibiotics are used for the treatment of acnes, most people make use of topical acne products as a starting point. These types of products are easy to use because they're simply applied directly over the problem areas on the skin. Generally, you can get these as over-the-counter products, but some topical antibiotics are also available for prescription as well.

How do topical acne products work? Their main job is to kill the bacteria on the skin that may be causing the acne. However, these products can also help reduce the infection caused by the condition itself and maintain the pores open. Topical antibiotic products have been used for a number of years now. Throughout these years they have gone almost unchanged in their formulation because they've been pretty successful in treating various forms of acne in many cases. The following are four of the most popular topical acne products available.

Clindaamycin

Number one in the list is clindaamycin - the most commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of acne. You can get this product in different forms including as a lotion, a solution and even gel at 1% strength. This medication must be prescribed and it's generally applied twice a day to all acne prone areas. Although clindaamycin doesn't cause side effects in most cases, it may cause some irritation for some patients. And for many skin conditions, this product is not recommended at all. That's why a physician consultation is advised before using clindaamycin.

Erythromycin

The second most commonly used topical antibiotic used to treat acne is erythromycin. This product is available as a solution, gel or ointment at 2% strength. Its application is the same as that for clindaamycin: applied twice a day to all acne prone areas. And although erythromycin rarely causes any side effects, it can cause some irritation for acne some sufferers. Erythromycin is also a safe product to use for women who are or plan to become pregnant.

Tetracycline

Tetracycline is often used as an oral antibiotic against acne rather than as a topical treatment. This product comes as an ointment or solution at different strengths. One of its main components is sodium bisulfite (a sulfa derivative). Among the side effects tetracycline has been known to cause are allergic reactions and yellowing of the skin. However, it is one of the most popular oral antibiotics that dermatologists prescribe nowadays.

Metronidazol

Metronidazol is often used to treat acne rosacea, a chronic and long-term type of acne that affects the adult population for the most part. Metronidazol is available as a gel at .75% strength. And just like the above-mentioned topical acne products, metronidazol must be applied once or twice a day. Similarly, it doesn't usually produce negative effects but certain irritation could be a problem.

Clindaamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline and metronidazol are some of the most popular topical acne products available. You can find many other products to treat acne, many of which must be prescribed by a physician. Keep in mind that your skin type, type of acne and its severity play a major role in determining what product is right for you. Before opting for prescribed antibiotics, you should first try a few over-the-counter medications. For the ultimate decision on what best can work for you acne condition is your physician of course.