Tetracycline
If you see a dermatologist for moderate to more severe acne, you may be prescribed a combination of topical remedies and oral antibiotics. The most common oral antibiotics include tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin.
Like benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics control breakouts by targeting P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne, that live on the face and in the pores. Sometimes antibiotics, either oral or topical, are combined with benzoyl peroxide to treat acne more effectively.
You may have heard about antibiotic-resistant acne. While this can be rare, sometimes, acne bacteria becomes resistant to the antibiotics prescribed to treat it, so the medication no longer works. Because resistance is a growing problem, doctors are viewing antibiotics less as a ‘go-to’ acne treatment. When they do prescribe antibiotics, they are often prescribing shorter courses and frequently combining it with another acne treatment to reduce the chance of resistance.
Keep in mind that antibiotics don’t work overnight. Tetracycline acne treatment may take several weeks or months. And remember, you’re not ‘cured’ just because your breakouts have subsided. That’s the medicine doing its job. If you stop taking it, your acne will probably come back. Likewise, doubling up on your medication won’t make your skin clear up twice as fast. In fact, using your topical antibiotics more frequently than prescribed may actually induce greater follicular irritation and plugging, which slows clearing time. Even worse, increasing your dosage beyond what your dermatologist recommends can result in some nasty side effects.
Common side effects of antibiotics.
Since your reaction to antibiotics will be different than someone else’s you may or may not experience the following:
- Photosensitivity (higher risk of sunburn)
- Upset stomach
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Hives
- Lupus-like symptoms
- Skin discoloration
- In women, a higher incidence of vaginal yeast infection.
You should know that tetracycline is not given to pregnant women or children under 12 years of age as it can discolor developing teeth.
Available only through your dermatologist.
Once you’ve begun antibiotic acne treatment like tetracycline, give it time to start working. Keep your doctor apprised of your progress, so he or she can make changes to the course of treatment if necessary. And again, don’t stop using your medication when your skin clears or your acne may just come right back. Let your doctor make that call.
Related topics:
