Many drugs can seriously weaken the skin, and even scar it. Are you in trouble with these drugs? Dosing and frequency of use are key for most problems.

Anti-depressants often cause breakouts. Do not use BENZOYL PEROXIDE wash and Retin-A (aka VITAMIN A) to fix this. These products may easily create a bigger skin problem.

Product Plug: Get a mild and effective cleanser and moisturizer that leaves your skin smooth and calm. All in one product: Guaranteed. See  REVIVE for a simple solution. Make your skincare future simple.

If you experienced breakouts when you changed your birth control prescription, see BIRTH CONTROL AND SKINCARE, elsewhere in this syllabus.

There are many topical drugs. Let’s confine our discussion to the face for the time being. Acne and inflammation are the most common issues for which topical prescriptions are written. Topical cortisones (topical steroids) and antibiotics lead that list.

Cortisones are designed to suppress the immune system and will also suppress normal skin metabolism. This may be useful if you are suffering from a nasty rash. Unless that rash was caused by skincare products. In which case the best thing is to allow the skin to self correct. In other words, leave it alone. The cortisone topical vehicle is itself an irritant. Repeat. An irritant.

Adding more stuff to skin that is inflamed because of wrong things or just too many products going on is not a solution. It can lead to a never ending reaction and re-reaction.

Cortisone creams usually cause more problems than they solve when topical products or other applied chemistry caused the problem.

You cannot solve a chemical problem with another chemical.

If using a cortisone cream your goal is to discontinue the application as quickly as possible, as a conscientious doctor will usually tell you. There is often a rebound reaction after discontinuing cortisone creams. The skin waited things out and then went bananas all over again. Vicious meet circle.

You have to cleanse during this withdrawal ordeal and there are two ways to go in the Skin Dork’s opinion: a good hand sanitizer and then rinse; OR, try REVIVE from 302 Skincare that can be used as a cleanser and a moisturizer.

Heavy cream cleansers, even those that claim to be for sensitive or inflamed skin or almost any foaming cleanser are to be avoided.

Antibiotics are usually taken orally and used where Type IV sebaceous acne (classic pizza face) is just out of control. Unfortunately oral antibiotics are over prescribed and often manage to create digestive problems. Taking pro-biotics helps for some, but it all depends. Digestive problems often lead to poor skin. If you take an antibiotic and your skin gets worse, this could be the cause. Call the doctor late at night. She will be delighted to hear about it.

The use of tetracycline as an oral antibiotic may be troublesome when used also in combination with Accutane® or any topical retinoid (VITAMIN A) applied daily, and more especially if the topical is a charged particle (retinoic acid). This duo in combination with sunlight has a marked tendency to produce scarring. Ugh. See also ACNE SCARRING.

Benzoyl peroxide use at any level for any period of time beyond a few days can be hazardous. Any provider prescribing or recommending a long term (more than a few days) topical benzoyl peroxide usage, at any concentration, is uninformed and you need to look for another skincare professional. See BENZOYL PEROXIDE.