Dermatology Medications

Understanding Dermatology Medications

Healthy skin has many important functions including protecting you from outside bacteria, helping regulate the temperature in your body, producing Vitamin D to help with your metabolism and giving you a glowing look. It is therefore important that you take the utmost care of your skin.

This precious and invaluable skin can be affected by many dermatological conditions ranging from acne to psoriasis , hence its important to have the right medications on hand to treat them and get your skin back on track.

At Meds For Less, we have a varied and comprehensive catalogue of dermatological medications for you to browse through. Once you find the one you need, we can have it delivered to your home address easily, reliably and conveniently within 24 hours.

At Meds For Less , we have a range of dermatology meds of different types, for different uses and different mechanisms of actions.

We have topical medications such as creams and ointments to use in the treatment of conditions like eczema, psoriasis or acne. These options include steroid creams such as Daktacourt or Betamethasone, Acnecide gels such as Benzoyl peroxide, Hydrating cleansers, moisturizers and lotions; as well as Oils for skincare.

We also have oral antibiotics to treat harsh conditions like Rosacea and Therapeutic soaps and shampoos for dandruff and psoriasis.

The common uses of dermatology medications include:

• Antibiotics, Benzoyl Peroxide or Retinoid treatment for Acne
• Topical steroids, Appropriate soaps and Shampoos for Psoriasis
• Moisturizers and steroid creams for eczema
• Antifungal medicines for fungal infections

For our full catalogue of dermatology skin medications, please browse our website below.

Common Skin Conditions Treated

There are some common skin conditions that can be easily and effectively treated with the medication we offer at Meds For Less. These include:

• Eczema- Also known as Atopic dermatitis, eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that is also linked to allergies and asthma. It has symptoms of itchiness, red skin and scaly patches
  • Treatment for Eczema include Corticosteroid creams, Broad spectrum insecticides like Malathion or Emollient creams like E45
• Acne is a skin condition caused by blocked hair follicles due to oil, bacteria or dead skin.It can cause symptoms like blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts
  • Treatments for acne include Benzoyl peroxide creams, Topical antibiotics or Oral antibiotics
• Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder causing rapid skin cell buildup. Its symptoms include thick scaly patches, often on the knees or scalp.
  • Treatments for psoriasis include Corticosteroid topical creams, Vitamin D supplements or Some more potent medicines (for which you should consult your healthcare advisors).
• Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition triggered by heat, stress and alcohol and has symptoms of facial redness, visible blood vessels and sometimes pimples.
  • Treatments for Rosacea include Metronidazole and azelaic acid creams and gels and oral antibiotics to reduce the infection and inflammation.

Types of Dermatology Medications Available

There are different types of dermatological medications and these can be classified in different ways, where they are applied on the body, the mode of application (oral, powders, gels) and the active ingredients they use. Below you can find an overview of the more common types of dermatological medications.

Topical medications are applied directly to the skin and are helpful in treating conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis or fungal infections. Examples include:

• Topical corticosteroids which work by reducing inflammation, redness and itching,
  • Examples include hydrocortisone or betamethasone creams to treat acne, eczema or psoriasis
• Topical retinoids to reduce inflammation or treat acne
  • Examples include Adapalene, gels, serums or dermatology creams for the face to be used in the treatment of acne or psoriasis.
• Topical antibiotics to reduce acne causing bacteria and treat bacterial skin infections
  • Examples include treatment of Acne or Rosacea with Clindamycin or Erythromycin
• Topical Antifungal medications can be used to treat fungal infections of the skin
  • Examples include treatment of athlete’s foot, ringworm or candidiasis with medicines like Clotrimazole or Ketoconazole in the forms of creams

There are also oral medications available that can be used in the treatment of conditions like acne, psoriasis or rosacea. Examples include:

• Oral antibiotics to reduce infections and control acne
  • Examples include Doxycycline or Lymecycline
• Oral retinoids to reduce sebum production, treat severe acne and manage conditions like psoriasis
  • Examples include Isotretinoin (accutane) capsules or tablets
• Oral antifungal medicines used in the treatment of systemic or severe fungal infections
  • Examples include Fluconazole or Terbinafine tablets or capsules

Overall there are multiple types of dermatological medications you can use for the treatment of the multiple dermatological conditions. Specific medicines will be required for specific conditions, please consult your healthcare provider for more information.

How to Choose the Right Treatment

To choose the right treatment for your dermatological condition, you need to understand the condition, its severity and your specific needs.

The first step in choosing the right treatment is identifying the condition with an accurate diagnosis and determining the severity of the condition. It might help to understand the underlying causes like hormonal balances allergies or autoimmune disorders. Your healthcare provider can help with this by taking a history of your symptoms from you and then ordering appropriate investigations.

When choosing the right treatment for you, you may consider what you want out of this particular treatment choice. This might include relief from symptoms, managing chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis or preventing recurrence or complications.

There are different treatment options available including topical ones, systemic ones and lifestyle measures. Topical treatments are best for localised or mild conditions and systemic treatments are best for severe or widespread conditions. Understanding the severity of your condition can help you pick an appropriate medication choice.

You may also consider how your personal health such as skin type, age, co-existing medical conditions and lifestyle may influence which medicine you are taking. Your healthcare provider can also help you understand this.

Potential Side Effects and Considerations

Dermatology medicines can have a range of side effects depending on the condition being treated, the skin type it’s used on and the medicines on properties. Below are some of the side effects and considerations that accompany the use of some of the medications used in dermatology.

Steroids:

Common side effects of topical steroids include:

• Skin thinning with prolonged use
• Strech marks
• Pigmentation changes
• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Possible allergic reaction

Some considerations with topical steroid use include:

• Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration to avoid side effects
• Avoid application on thin skin areas like the face or groin unless specifically directed by your doctor

Antibiotics

Common side effects of antibiotics in dermatology include:

• Increased redness and irritation at the application site
• Possible allergic reaction

Considerations for topical antibiotic use include:

• Its advisable to combine antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance

Acnecide gels

Common side effects of Acnecide gels include:

• Skin irritation around the site of application
• Mild dryness, redness or itching at the site of application
• Possible allergic reactions

Considerations for Acnecide gel use include:

• Avoid using on areas of skin that have cuts, scrapes or burns as this can cause pain and irritation

There are a range of dermatology medications available to treat a range of conditions. Each one has different side effects, please consult your healthcare advisor about the specific medication you wish to use. You may also find more information including a list of side effects in each medicine’s patient information leaflet (PIL) that accompanies the box.

How to Use Dermatology Medications Effectively

Using dermatology medicines effectively requires a good understanding of the prescribed medicines, Guidelines on methods, and good skin hygiene. Below is a brief guide on how to use dermatology prescription medications or OTC medications effectively.

It’s important to follow the prescribed instructions for any medication, whether this is

by following your healthcare provider’s instruction or following the instruction given on the medicine pack. It’s important to stick to a prescribed schedule and not alter it as you feel.

Before applying the medicine, prepare the skin for effective medicine use by cleaning it gently with mild soaps and lukewarm water. You can use cleansers like CeraVe smoothing or CeraVe hydrating cleanser. Dry the skin thoroughly and avoid putting contaminants like makeup, sunscreen or other skincare products, unless you have been directed otherwise.

Apply topical medication to the appropriate site as instructed by your healthcare provider, pharmacist or shown on the patient information leaflet. It may be helpful to follow the “fingertip unit” rule, where enough dermatology cream for one fingertip will be sufficient to cover the area of two hands. Apply thin layers to allow the skin to breathe and wash your hands gently afterwards to rid them of excess dermatology skin cream.

If you are using multiple medicines or medicines in layers with emoluments, apply medicines before moisturisers.

If you are taking oral medicines for dermatological reasons, remember to take them on time and as intsructed. Depending on the medicine you are using, you may take it with or without food. Avoid drinking alcohol when taking medicine, but do drink plenty of water to stay effectively hydrated.

FAQ