The difference between oral and topical acne medications is that you take the oral medications by mouth and use topical medications as creams that you apply to the skin.
Oral medications prevent your body from producing too much oil from eating too many fatty foods. They also help unclog the pores from underneath the skin. Such oral medications as Accutane, Tetracycline, Mioncyline and Erythromycin are antibiotics. Oral medications come in various kinds of capsules and pills. They also fight bacteria and control inflammation.
Topical medications come in the form of various creams that kill the bacteria on top of your skin and can unclog your pores on the surface of the skin. Some of the various topical medications are Bensoyl, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, and Tetracycline. These are also antibiotics that kill bacteria. The topical medications are effective for a short time whereas oral medications are more effective on a long term basis. Topical medications can stain clothing, cause skin irritations as well as dry skin and sensitivity to sunlight. However, they are sometimes used with oral medications for the most effective overall acne treatment. |
