Health Encyclopedia

Teenagers and acne medicine

Alternative Names

Acne and teenagers

Information

For the full article, see acne.

Only severe cases of acne should be treated with drugs such as Accutane. People taking Accutane and similar drugs need to be closely monitored. There are serious potential side effects, such as headaches, joint pains, and muscle pains. In particular, birth defects are possible in the infants of pregnant teenagers taking the medication.

Antibiotics such as erythromycin and tetracycline are not as risky, but may produce side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or vaginal yeast infections.

Review Date:12/18/2006
Reviewed By:Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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