Antibiotics – Oral & Topical Treatments
Posted on 04. Jan, 2009 by admin in Acne Treatments
Antibiotics – Oral and Topical Treatments
For acne cases that are moderate or severe, your doctor might want to prescribe both oral antibiotics and topical treatments. Erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline are common medications that are used for the treatment of acne.
How antibiotics work
Antibiotics help to control inflammation and the breakouts that occur by slowing down the production that your body generally produces of P. acnes, which is bacteria that is known to cause acne. However, this form of treatment can take many weeks and even months to notice a difference. Stopping treatment too soon may result in recurring outbreaks, and you can actually cause more irritation and clogging of the follicles by using more of the medication than is prescribed. Oral medicines that are taken more frequently than are prescribed can result in side effects that are not pleasant, and you will not achieve clear ups any faster.
Where to find them
Your doctor can prescribe the specific types of antibiotics you may need, and you will need to talk to your doctor about any problems with moderate and severe outbreaks. They can help you determine which treatment is best for your specific condition, and any changes should also be discussed, as treatment can be changed as needed. Let your doctor decide when the time is right to discontinue use.
Most common side effects
With a variety of antibiotics that are commonly used in the treatment of acne, the most common effects are an elevated risk of obtaining sunburns or photosensitivity, lightheadedness or dizziness, upset stomach, skin discolorations and symptoms that are similar to those experienced with lupus and hives. Several women report a higher occurrence of vaginal yeast infections while they are using antibiotic treatments, and these are easily treated with antifungal medications that can be found over the counter as well as in prescription form. Children who are under the age of 12 and pregnant women should not take Tetracycline because it has been found to discolor the developing teeth. This side effect is less common, but because of the fact that doxycycline is commonly used to treat Lyme disease, there has been the worry that patients taking this medicine for an extended period of time may end up building a resistance to it, which will make them unable to fight this disease.
