Acne Antibiotics To Tackle Acne!
These days antibiotics are frequently prescribed by health professionals for a particular treatment, with more than 100 different antibiotics available to doctors. It is used in the treatment or prevention of infections caused by bacteria.
Your doctor can best determine if antibiotics is suitable for your condition or otherwise.
Application is : Topical (rub-on) or Oral (tablet/injection)
How Does Acne Antibiotics Work?
1. It reduces excess skin bacteria in or around the follicle.
2. It decreases the irritating chemical produced by white blood cells.
3. It limits the concentration of fatty acid in the sebum
4. It decreases the inflammatory response.
Topical (Rub-On) Acne Antibiotics:
Topical antibiotics reduce bacteria and decrease inflammation but has no effect on unplugging blocked pores, blackheads and whiteheads.
Optimal results may need the combination or mixture of ingredients. For example, antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics and retinoid. Such a combination may be more effective than either ingredient alone. However, prescription topical treatment may cause skin burning, stinging, peeling or redness.
Alternative measures would need to be considered with your doctor to help minimize the side effects, for example, a gradual increase/decrease of dosage, washing off any lotion or gel after its short application or a complete switch to something else.
Examples of Topical Antibiotics for Acne
1. Topical Clindamycin:
This is a semi-synthetic, prescription antibiotics with a long reputation of effectively tackling acne. Only available on prescription by a doctor. It is used to decrease Propionibacteria acnes (P. acnes) and reduce inflammation. It is available in the following form : lotion, jelly/gel, foam, pad and solution.
When used in addition to benzoyl peroxide (doctor prescribed or non-prescribed) the acne treatment becomes more efficient than the usage of either product independently. Similarly, when used in conjunction with adapalene (retinoid) it works quicker and is more effective than either drug on its own.
2. Topical Erythromycin:
This anti-inflammatory antibiotics can be very effective against an extensive variety of bacteria, as well as P. acnes. It is applied to deal with rosacea and inflammatory acne. It is only available on doctor’s prescription and in various forms : ointment, lotion, gel and pads.
A combination of topical erthyromycin with benzoyl peroxide has been proved to be very effective.
Topical clindamycin and erythromycin can ultimately cause skin irritation and dryness. It is, therefore, important to use the medication as directed so as to decrease any bacterial resistance that may occur with the use of antibiotics.
3. Sulfacetamide:
Sulfacetamide (or Sodium Sulfacetamide) is a topical acne antibiotics that can tackle bacteria like P acnes and open up blocked skin pores. This antibiotic medication is efficient in getting rid of inflammatory acne.
The prescription is available in generic form and in brand names like Ovace and Klarom. It can be used with a solution on pads, gel, foam and lotion. Sulfacetamide products also contain sulfur (topical antibiotics).
The grittiness or odour of sulfur is such that patients may not like, nevertheless, the more latest products containing sulfur do not have these issues.
Oral Acne Antibiotics (Antibiotic tablets):
Oral antibiotics work by killing Propionibacteria acnes (P. acnes) on the skin, which is the bacteria that causes acne. It reduces the inflammation, clear inflamed acne spots and any surrounding skin inflammation.
Oral antibiotics may cause dizziness, an upset stomach or skin discoloration. Other side effects are the skin’s sun sensitivity and the reduced effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Examples Of Oral antibiotics:
- Erythromycin
Tetracycline based antibiotics are the most widely prescribed antibiotic to treat acne. These include
- Tetracycline
- Oxytetracycline
- Doxycycline
- Lymecycline
- Minocycline
Other alternative antibiotics that are sometimes used if the others happen to be unsuitable are:
- Erythromycin and Trimethoprim.
