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Antibiotic Acne Treatment |
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Antibiotic acne treatment is usually used for performing two functions- to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin and to reduce inflammation.
Oral and topical medicines, both are prescribed by doctors corresponding to the type of acne one has.
There is much dispute regarding the use of antibiotic acne treatment (oral and topical) as there are lots of side effects, also antibiotics do not give long lasting results.
Erythromycin, Clindamycin, and sulfa drugs are some of the effective topical medications that can be applied directly to the lesions and so have less possibility of side effects. But, one disadvantage of topical medicines is that due to increased usage, the bacteria often develops tolerance and resistance.
Retinoids are also effective but they may take some time to work. A side effect of retinoids is- increased sun sensitivity.
Benzoyl peroxide is a familiar medication for acne. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne. Doctors often use benzoyl peroxide along with topical antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of antibiotic resistance. But, benozyl peroxide often causes irritation.
Mild acid solutions of fruit origin, including salicylic and glycolic acids can be effective on acne.
A medication that is taken orally is carried throughout the bloodstream to all of the body's systems; thus, it is a systemic treatment. Oral medication can be useful when acne affects the skin on multiple areas of the body.
Tetracyclines are the most frequently prescribed oral antibiotics. Because bacteria tend to develop resistance, doctors use systemic antibiotics for short-term treatments. Common side effects of tetracyclines are few, but they have been known to cause increased sensitivity to the sun and decreased efficacy of birth control pills in some cases. Minocycline and doxycycline are tetracyclines that can be taken with food and are also less costly.
Another oral treatment is isotretinoin, or retinoic acid (Accutane). Accutane is effective in about two-thirds of the patients who use it to treat more severe cystic acne or acne that is unresponsive to other treatments. Its main side effect is body dryness.
Hormone therapy involves the use of medications that restore the normal balance of hormones in both women and men.
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