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Clearing up Acne With Anitbotics

August 21, 2007


Antibiotics can and do often clear up acne, although you can often resolve the acne problem with topical over the counter products. If this doesn’t work, or if your acne becomes inflamed you should see a physician about a treatment of antibiotics.  There are three important processes that antibiotics cause in your skin to help resolve your acne problem.

The most important effect that antibiotics have on your acne is to reduce the follicle bacteria that cause it. Antibiotics also reduce the chemicals that white blood cells produce that act as a skin irritant. Antibiotics will also reduce your skin’s free fatty acid concentration, which helps reduce inflammation.

Tetracycline and its derivatives is the most prescribed acne-fighting antibiotic. But you must not take it if there is any chance you are pregnant, or if you are nursing your baby. Generally a doctor will start you off with a twice daily dose of 500 milligrams and then cut that in half when your acne is noticeably improved. Tetracyclines must be taken on an empty stomach, which can be a hardship for a teenager. For many, then, tetracycline is not the best choice for fighting acne.

Erythromycin fights inflammation more effectively than does tetracycline, and it can be taken with food. In fact, that’s recommended as it can cause nausea or an upset stomach. Generally you’ll take 250 to 500 milligrams twice each day.

If you have pustules your doctor may prescribe minocycline twice a day in dosages of 50 to 100 mg. Its side effects are nausea, dizziness, change in skin pigmentation, vomiting, and discoloration of teen. The tooth and skin coloration issues are primarily seen with patients who have been taking it for a very lengthy time period, however.

Doxycycline can be prescribed safely if you don’t respond to erythromycin or tetracycline or can’t take one or the other. You’ll usually take it twice a day in a dosage of 50 to 100 mg. You must take it with food or you’ll be nauseated. The caution with this acne antibiotic, however, is that you sensitivity to sun will increase and you’ll have to be careful not to suffer sunburn.

Clindamycin is an acne antibiotic that can be either topical or ingested. Most doctors will prescribe a topical clindamycin cream. This antibiotic can cause pseudo membranous colitis, a severe infection of the intestine.

Written by AcneCure · Filed Under Acne Treatment 

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Teens

Teen Acne

Acne is one of the great misfortunes of teenagers. It is a common, chronic skin disorder that is caused by the inflammation of oil-producing sebaceous glands. Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, back and chest and usually begins between the ages of ten and thirteen and then continues for five to ten years.

Teenagers, both men and women, obtain acne in equal numbers and there are numerous causes. It is worth noting that younger males are generally more prone to acute and long-term acne, while many younger women suffer from hormonal acne, due to the hormonal changes that are associated to their menstrual cycle. To some degree, acne causes personal anguish for most teenagers. It can definitely lower the person’s self esteem. So, if you (or a loved one) are currently feeling depressed and embarrassed because of unsightly acne, don’t despair. Several acne treatments for teenagers are out there.

Acne treatments for teens generally vary according to the method of application and their purpose. Most of these acne treatments have promised to help prevent acne formation, but some of them failed to fulfill such promise. Below are a few of the acne treatments typically used for teenage acne.

Over-the-Counter Products

A number of non-prescription acne treatments are now available in most local drug stores. The typical treatments of this form include various acne cleansers, astringents, moisturizers, as well as pimple creams. Some of them help to unplug the whiteheads and blackheads, while the others help skin shedding. It terms of the application of these acne treatments for teenagers, some experts typically suggest giving such over-the-counter products around six to eight weeks to work before expecting huge results. However, if there is no improvement in the condition during that time, there are some other options for treating teenage acne that should be considered.

Oral and Topical Antibiotics

Most of the oral and topical antibiotics are samples of “prescription only” treatments for acne. The topical antibiotics, in particular, are deemed effective acne treatments for teenagers since they can help fight acne by killing off the bacteria that infect the pores. On the other hand, oral antibiotics are acne treatments that affect the entire body, therefore they can cause serious and unfavorable side effects. Both of these forms of acne treatments for teens are now commonly recommended, even taking into account some of the side effects.

Vitamin A Derivatives

Vitamin A derivatives are great teen acne treatments since they prevent skin cells from clumping together and encourage the skin to shed. These acne treatments for teenagers are usually applied once a day, but just like some of the other acne treatments for teens mentioned earlier, they too have certain side effects such as dryness, redness, and irritation, even birth defects.

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