Brief Answer:
Acne treatment, You are on right Treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it

Your concern is Acne and Post acne marks/spots.

Management of acne depends on the severity of acne. While topical treatment alone would suffice for mild acne; for moderate to severe grade of acne, oral as well as topical treatment combined together achieves the desired results.

Judging from the treatment you are currently on and after going through your history (Acne leaving behind spots/marks), it seems likely that you have inflammatory acne, which needs to be tackled appropriately.

Your treatment doesn't include a steroid, so don't worry.

Antibiotics like the one you have been taking for 3 days/week is usually prescribed for inflammatory acne i.e papules/pustules/nodules.

The topical you have been using is apt for all grades of acne(Mild to Severe). It is a combination of a topical retinoid+topical antibiotic. While topical retinoids are comedolytic, antiinflammatory and therefore helpful in inflammatory acne; Topical antibacterials are antiinflammatory.

Topical Retinoids are also effective for lightening the spots left over from acne because it increases skin turnover and thus exfoliates pigment.

The only concern I have is about another oral drug that you have been taking once a day, which is an oral retinoid. Inspite of it being a wonderful anti acne drug, it is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

So, I usually ask my patients (specially young married female) to avoid it if pregnancy is a possibility during treatment. If they can avoid pregnancy, it is not an issue. Your doctor must have told you about it. I am just re-emphasising.

Otherwise you are on the right treatment.

Once your acne activity is under control; For acne marks/pigmentation, you may opt for a few chemical peeling sessions from your dermatologist. Ask more about them from your dermatologist

Regards

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