Description Of The Intervention
The choice of treatment for acne is determined by the underlying pathophysiology and the clinical presentation . Ideally, treatment should improve all of the major underlying pathogenic factors, for example, relating to the formation of comedones, seborrhoea, P.acnes overgrowth, and the inflammatory response .
The most commonly used topical antibiotics for acne treatment are erythromycin, which is a macrolide antibiotic, and clindamycin, which is a lincosamide derivative. These are available as solutions, lotions, gels, and saturated pads . Both clindamycin and erythromycin are effective in treating inflammatory acne, but have limited efficacy against noninflammatory lesions . Major sideeffects are rare with topical antibiotics, although there have been a few reported cases of pseudomembranous colitis associated with one formulation of topical clindamycin . Topical antibiotic use is generally well tolerated apart from mild localised skin irritation, such as redness and desquamation, which is attributed to the drug vehicle rather than the antibiotic itself .
Can Birth Control Help Improve Your Skin
Yes, birth control can help treat hormonal acne in women. Acne is caused by an excess production of sebum , which is triggered by androgen hormones. Birth control containing estrogen and progesterone lowers the amount of androgens in the body, which helps reduce acne .
Disclaimer: The above information is for informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.
How Do Oral Antibiotics Treat Acne
Oral antibiotics treat acne from within, rather than topical creams medications on the skin. They work by targeting acne-causing bacteria in and around the follicles to reduce inflammation and decrease sebum production.
More specifically, oral antibiotics help decrease or kill the skin bacteria called propionibacterium acnes . The combination of anti-inflammatory and oil reduction effects of oral antibiotics helps reduce future breakouts and clear up existing acne lesions.
Don’t Miss: Nature’s Antibiotic Colloidal Silver Spray
How Can I Prevent Acne
Because of acne’s association with fluctuating hormone levels and possible genetic influences, many doctors believe there is no way to prevent it. The accepted wisdom is that neither good hygiene nor diet can prevent outbreaks. Treatments can control acne and minimize future breakouts. Sensible skin care is recommended, especially during adolescence. The basics include a daily bath or shower and washing the face and hands with unscented or mildly antibacterial soap.
Other tips for preventing future outbreaks include:
- Use non-comedogenic or sensitive skin products to reduce the chance of new lesions and minimize skin irritation.
- Use a mild cleanser twice a day.
- Avoid cleansers or products that contain scrubbing particles or have a gritty texture. These products can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts.
- Use a daily non-comedogenic moisturizer and broad spectrum sunscreen .
- Wear makeup that is non-comedogenic.
- Avoid picking, squeezing, or popping pimples. This can lead to scarring and skin infections.
Show Sources
They Can Cause Serious Side Effects Or Even Long
Antibiotics can have serious side effects, including some that may never go away.
Many types of bacteria live inside the intestines and gut, but use of antibiotics can harm some types of bacteria and while allowing others to proliferate. In worst case scenarios, dangerous bacteria can grow in number and cause health issues with the colon, such as acute peritonitis, toxic megacolon, and colonic perforation. Research has also shown that gut problems are far more common among acne patients than those with clear skin, and that gut problems likely contribute to acne. While Im sure there are many reasons why gut problems are more common among acne patients, frequent use of antibiotics is surely one of them.
Even a one-week course of clindamycin a type of antibiotic can create antibiotic resistance that lasts for up to two years. Now consider the fact that most antibiotic courses prescribed for acne patients are long-term. Many treatments last for six months or more.
Given these side effects, some of which may be permanent, is it really worth the risk?
You May Like: Two Rounds Of Antibiotics For Uti
Do Antibiotics Help With Acne
Pop quiz: What chronic disease strikes about 80 percent of the population, including almost all 15- to 17-year-olds, but has no known cause or cure ? Youd think that an ailment that affects so many people would have doctors scrambling for a cure, or at least publishing study after study about it. Theres not all that much research happening on this one, though. In fact, theres actually a study on this condition that reports the dire need for more studies. The same report states that the disease has no ideal treatment . So, what is this illness thats apparently sweeping through the world unstudied and basically untreated? Stumped? Its acne.
Chronic disease might be a surprising term to hear in conjunction with acne its not a serious health threat, and for many, its just an annoying fact of life in the teenage years. But those with severe, prolonged acne know that it can last for decades and is extremely difficult to treat. Acne breakouts happen when the Propionibacterium acnes bacterium forms in pores that are clogged with oil and dead skin cells. For some people, topical ointments like benzoyl peroxide are all thats needed to get rid of the problem. But for severely inflamed acne, doctors turn to antibiotics first topical, then oral to kill the bacteria. Antibiotics are no longer the silver bullets they used to be, though theyre losing effectiveness because of antibiotic resistance.
Bacterial Resistance To Antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria is still able to grow despite the presence of antibiotics, which are implemented to bacterial growth in the first place. Using an antibiotic for a prolonged period of time increases the chances of this happening because bacteria can multiply very fast, preventing the antibiotic from being able to work properly. If this is the case, acne is more likely to persist even when antibiotics are taken.
Thankfully, there are many ways to avoid this resistance. First, the individual can simply not use oral antibiotics as an acne treatment. Instead, they can try other treatment options in order to determine which works best. Additionally, making sure to only take the medication as prescribed will prevent overuse, in turn, reducing the likelihood that bacteria will become resistant. Lastly, the doctor might prescribe a narrow spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against certain groups of bacteria and not others.
If an individual cannot take antibiotics due to former allergic reactions, their doctor may recommend an over-the-counter topical treatment such as benzoyl peroxide. This helps treat acne by killing bacteriaunder the skin and preventing pores from getting clogged. In some cases, this may even be prescribed for individuals who simply prefer not to take antibiotics, as it may be just as effective.
Read Also: Which Antibiotic For Dog Uti
Antibiotic Resistance: A Big Concern
Treatment with oral or topical antibiotics, especially over longer periods of time, can also lead to a phenomenon called antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria become immune to the effects of antibiotics over time, and eventually the antibiotics can no longer kill the bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a serious global problem, because:
- When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, that antibiotic becomes less effective and less able to treat the condition for which it was prescribed as well as for other bacterial conditions. This applies to both the person taking the antibiotic as well as the population at large.
- Bacteria can share their genes with each other and transfer antibiotic resistance from one strain of bacteria to another.
- Ultimately, antibiotic resistance could result in many types of bacteria becoming resistant to all antibiotic medications. This means that doctors may eventually be unable to treat bacterial infections, and people may die from even common bacterial diseases such as strep throat, as people did before antibiotics were developed.
Expand to read details of study
Potential Side Effects Of Doxycycline
Like many other antibiotics, doxycycline may have some common side effects.
These can include:
- Anxiety
- Sun sensitivity
More serious side effects can occur, including intracranial hypertension , hives or allergic reactions, bleeding/bruising, and more.
If you notice any of these, let your health care provider know right away.
Your pharmacist will go over potential side effects and risks with you.
You May Like: Can You Get Over A Uti Without Antibiotics
Types Of Oral Antibiotics For Acne
There are several different types of oral antibiotics that can be prescribed to treat acne, including doxycycline, erythromycin and minocycline. Like all antibiotics, each of these can be prescribed to treat a variety of bacterial infections ranging from STIs to chest infections to acne. âWhen oral antibiotics are prescribed for acne, they work by controlling the skin bacteria that contributes to breakouts and blemishes. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect which can help reduce redness, swelling and inflammation.
How Can Pandia Health Help
One way to prevent acne is by using hormonal birth control. If you live in AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MI, NV, WA, and WY and need a prescription, schedule an online consultation with one of our expert doctors. You can also for our FREE delivery service to ensure that you never run out of birth control. With Pandia Health, you can #SkipTheTrip to the pharmacy and gain a great #PandiaPeaceOfMind.
Read Also: Where To Buy Antibiotics Over The Counter
How Long Do Oral Antibiotics Take To Work
Oral antibiotics can take about six to eight weeks before seeing results. Itâs important to follow your acne treatment plan exactly as your doctor or dermatologist has prescribed. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed alongside a topical retinoid that helps with skin cell turnover. âWhile itâs common for topical retinoids to make your acne worse before it gets better, the oral antibiotics wonât have this issue they will fight pimple-causing bacteria over time to help manage acne breakouts. Itâs common for oral antibiotics to be prescribed for up to six months or longer.
Combination Acne Medications Give You A Two
There are some acne treatments available that combine topical antibiotics with another acne treatment in one medication. These combination acne medications aren’t necessarily any more effective than using the medications separately. The benefit is they streamline your acne treatment routine. A drawback, though, is that they can be pricey compared to some other acne medications.
Some of available combination medications are:
Depending on your skin, one of these might be a good fit for you. Again, your dermatologist will help create the best treatment plan.
Don’t Miss: Antibiotics For Pets Over The Counter
The Future Of Acne Treatment
A future direction in acne treatment development is utilizing agents that can kill P. acnes but that dont lead to microbial resistance.
For instance, there are studies using synthetic antimicrobial peptides, tiny strings of amino acids that can physically destroy P. acnes. This remedy would likely be used in conjunction with other therapies that can treat other causes of acne.
Even more promising is the use of nitric oxide, one of the most important and potent biological molecules, which can both kill P.acnes without the risk of it or any other bacteria developing resistance and inhibit multiple elements of inflammation involved in the formation of the vicious pimple. The limitation to date has been delivery, as nitric oxide is highly unstable.
But nanotechnology might provide a way of delivering nitric oxide to treat acne. I, along with collaborators at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles, have shown that a nanoparticle capable of generating low levels of nitric oxide over time could hit all the key pathologic elements that lead to acne.
In the meantime, if you are prescribed antibiotics for acne, ask your doctor how long you need to take them and if the dose is appropriate. And try to avoid popping those zits.
What Are Possible Complications Of Cystic Acne
While cellulitis and deep space infections have occurred as complications of cystic acne, they are relatively rare, and the primary concern is scarring. Despite all the current therapies to manage old acne scars, the best treatment of scars is to prevent them in the first place. Other than scarring, the primary medical risk of cystic acne is an unexpected complication of therapy. Any medication may cause drug rashes from less serious nuisance rashes to a life-threatening form of skin damage known as toxic epidermal necrolysis. Isotretinoin risks have already been discussed above, but some feel there is an increased risk of later inflammatory bowel disease from isotretinoin therapy, antibiotic therapy, or the combination of the two.
Read Also: Topical Antibiotics For Cystic Acne
How Do Antibiotics Work To Reduce Acne
Topicals like azelaic acid and benzoyl peroxide reduce acne on the skin surface by neutralising bacteria through free radicals, but they’re not able to actually kill the bacteria, confirms Delhi-based Dr Kiran Sethi. On the other hand, antibiotics help to clear the zits by getting rid of all the bacteria that could cause infections. Acne is not like any other infection in the body and there are certain sets of antibiotics that help in clearing acne. More specifically, macrolides and tetracyclines are two antibiotic groups that are very effective, says dermatologist Dr Ameesha Mahajan. Antibiotics are usually prescribed in cases of red, painful lesions and pus-filled lesions. These antibiotics act by reducing the number of bacteria on the skin surface and in the follicles, including Cuticubacterium acnes, she says. What makes them particularly useful is that they also reduce inflammation and soothe the skin in cases of painful acne. They are usually prescribed in combination with topical treatments. Acne is a multi-factorial disorder and different factors have to be targeted at the same time. So the addition of oral and topical treatment together provides complete coverage, says Dr Mahajan. This process can take up to four months to clear your acne.
What Is The Prognosis Of Cystic Acne
Immediate resolution of the acne, even with the best and most effective treatments, is unlikely. The skin cells have a six-week life cycle, and it usually takes a number of weeks before optimal results may be reached. The prognosis for eventual control is good, although there will always be some remaining scarring long after the condition has been treated or gone into remission.
You May Like: 10 Day Antibiotic For Sinus Infection
What Are Acne Oral Antibiotics
Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH Written by Mary Francis Garcia
Acne is something that many individuals experience at some point throughout their life. Nonetheless, its unpleasant to have. Sometimes, washing your face just doesnt cut it- you still have severe acne. Whats up with that? So you go to your dermatologist and they prescribe you a pill. Now youre thinking: A pill? To treat my skin? Yes, what your doctor just prescribed to you is most likely an antibiotic.
The above situation is totally normal, albeit maybe a bit scary. So lets discuss everything you need to know about oral ant
When Should Oral Antibiotics Be Used To Treat Acne
Oral antibiotics can be a useful option when treating moderate to severe acne, especially in the case of deep, cystic acne and painful breakouts. However, dermatologists only turn to prescribe oral antibiotics when acne has failed to respond to other treatment methods, such as a prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide cream or prescription-based retinoids and topical antibiotics.
Additionally, its essential to keep in mind that while oral antibiotics are highly effective at treating acne, they tend only to be used for short periods at a time to reduce possible side effects or long-term implications, such as bacterial resistance.
Don’t Miss: Best Antibiotic For Tooth Infection
How Long Does It Take For Antibiotics To Clear Up Acne
Heres the deal take antibiotics for acne and if theyre going to work for you. Youll be seeing positive change in 6 to 8 weeks time.
Now youre about to read a very shocking fact.
And this can be at an extremely high dose.
Which can mean
- Upset stomachs
- Side effects like sensitivity to the sun, discoloured teeth, nausea and loss of appetite
- Antibiotic resistance you can end up making your own acne resistance to antibiotics or your acne might already be resistant because too many people are using these antibiotics for acne
- Killing off of good bacteria in your body psst this is why diarrhoea is a common side effect of antibiotics for acne
- Antibiotics could even make your breakouts worse, Ive had many Acne Clinic clients tell me theyve tried antibiotics for acne in the past and that 1) they didnt work 2) that they broke out worse or 3) simply that acne came back ridiculously quickly after stopping them.
And there is real antibiotics fear here. Because if you take antibiotics for your acne and it works. Amazing you now have clear skin. Now, what do you do? Stop taking them and just wait for your acne to come back?
Because heres the kicker antibiotics for most people work only when you take them. Stop taking them and those anti-inflammatory benefits get washed down the skin. And this time theyre not taking your acne with them.
Treatments That Help Eliminate Acne
For the average kid or teen with acne, Dr. Kassouf recommends:
- Skin washes with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria on the skin and helps remove oil and dead skin cells. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores.
- Skin washes with a sulfa base. These can diminish bacteria and yeast in order to decrease inflammation and can be safely used with other topical products, as well as less irritating for sensitive skin.
- Topical retinoids. Creams with retinoids can break up whiteheads and blackheads. These retinoids make dead skin cells less sticky so that they can clear out of the pores more easily and not only treat the active acne but help prevent it from coming back.
- Topical antibiotics. Apply them directly to the skin to control bacteria and inflammation.
Usually, we start with skin washes and add topical retinoids next, says Dr. Kassouf. We only add a topical antibiotic if the first two treatments arent enough.
Its critical to use topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide, she notes. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria in a different way than antibiotics. Using them together makes it less likely that bacteria will become antibiotic-resistant.
Oral antibiotics are for severe cases. However, applying antibiotics to the skin can cause fewer side effects than swallowing antibiotics that circulate through your body.
In general, topical antibiotics can be used longer than oral antibiotics, says Dr. Kassouf.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Antibiotics For Uti Without Insurance
