Benefits of Antibiotics As Acne Medication
Posted by Admin | Posted in Advice, Medication |
People suffering from acne tend to have a lot of antibiotics to get rid of their acne problems. Of these acne medications, oral antibiotics have essential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In case, you are not able to see any noticeable changes in your topical acne treatments and it is on the rise even on the other parts of your body, then you can look for an oral antibiotic. These antibiotics prove to be more effective and convenient.
When it comes to the function of antibiotics, they work in two ways. First of all, they decrease the growth of acne that causes bacteria and secondly, they reduce the inflammation caused by acne. There are a number of antibiotics available in the market to treat acne. Some of them are discussed below:
Minocycline
Minocycline is basically a tetracycline antibiotic. To get the best results, the dermatologists recommend it on empty stomach as the food reduces the absorption of the antibiotic substantially. With milk, it is totally prohibited as milk reduces the absorption by 33%. This medicine is not available in topical form. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are strictly advised against having this drug. People consuming this antibiotic have been reported to show the best results with a reduction of 60% on average.
The antibiotic also comes with some side effects which include indigestion and stomach upset. People have also been reported to complain of dizziness that goes after a few days. Regular use of this medicine may lead to skin pigmentation and mucous membranes.
Erythromycin
The antibiotic falls in the category of macrolide and comes with both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. With inhibiting the growth of bacteria, it works successfully. The bad aspect is that this antibiotic has also an anti-inflammatory effect. One of the side effects of this antibiotic is that it causes gastrointestinal upset. In addition, other side effects are pancreatitis, ototoxicity, cardiac toxicity and liver toxicity, though they are rare.
Doxycycline
This antibiotic is also easily absorbed and convenient to take. However, the dermatologists advise against using with antacids, calcium, iron and magnesium. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also refrain from taking it. The antibiotic has shown quite satisfactory results with 15-20% improvement. People treating their rosacea have shown much faster results. However, the antibiotic tends to make your skin very sensitive to sun; so you are recommended to use sun protective lotions while going in the open. The antibiotic may also cause indigestion and diarrhea.
Tetracycline
This antibiotic is almost the first antibiotic that is used to treat acne. The medicine is easily available and quite inexpensive and also has the fewer side effects. Most people are comfortable with the drug. It is advised to take this antibiotic on an empty stomach. The dermatologists advise against taking this antibiotic with antacids or milk as it interacts with metallic ions.
Now with all these acne medications, each and every antibiotic has its own share of demerits. These side effects may include photosensitivity (higher risk of sunburn), dizziness, hives, lupus-like symptoms, upset stomach and at times skin discoloration. Women have also been reported to have some instances of vaginal yeast infection.
