antibiotics for acne

Dermatologists prescribe different things to control acne. Antibiotics are only one of them. In order to understand how antibiotics help control acne, it would help to know what causes acne. Acne forms due to hormonal effects that result in the blockage of hair follicles. Coupled with bacterial growth, this further results to the inflammation – acne.

How do antibiotics treat acne? They work in two main ways. The most obvious means would be to kill the bacteria present in the follicle. The other is to reduce inflammation. Antibiotics do this by reducing the amount of free fatty acids in the sebum (our natural skin oil) and by the chemicals produced by white blood cells.

There are many different kinds of antibiotics that are prescribed for acne problems. They can be classified as topical or oral. Topical antibiotics such as Clindamycin and Erythromycin are applied directly to the skin. Oral antibiotics are taken as pills or capsules. Some examples are Tetracycline, Minocycline, Doxycycline, and Erythromycin. As opposed to Erythromycin, Tetracycline must be taken on an empty stomach as its effectiveness is lessened when mixed with food intake. Minocycline's effectiveness is also reduced by food but not as much as Tetracycline's.

Continuous intake of these antibiotics may develop resistant bacteria. There is a wide range of side effects depending on the type of antibiotic. One of the most common is yeast infection in women. Some antibiotics cause sensitivity to light. Adequate protection from the sun must therefore be taken when undergoing antibiotic therapy. Some people experience allergies such as rashes, redness and skin irritation. Minocycline, when used long term, can cause changes in skin and teeth color. Dizziness, an upset stomach, and nausea are some other effects of antibiotics. Clindamycin has a more serious side effect called pseudomembranous colitis, an intestinal infection. Antibiotics have been known to reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (pills). If you are taking birth control pills, you may be taking a risk of getting pregnant by taking antibiotics.

As with any medication, consult your doctor before using antibiotics. Make sure you tell him about any allergies you may have or if you are pregnant, or may be pregnant.