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Acne Help (Home) > Acne Treatment > Antibiotics Antibiotics for Acne: Treatment and Side EffectsOral AntibioticsOral antibiotics have important antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects for those that suffer from acne. If your acne doesn't respond well to topical acne treatments or if your acne covers several areas of your body then your doctor may prescribe a oral antibiotic. These antibiotics are more effective, easier to take and more convenient. Oral antibiotics work in two ways. First they reduce the amount of acne causing bacteria and second they help to reduce the inflammation caused by acne breakouts. ErythromycinThis is an antibiotic in the macrolide group. It has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It works primarily by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, but it also has an anti-inflammatory effect. The most common side effect from this antibiotic is gastrointestinal upset. Other rare side effects include liver toxicity, cardiac toxicity, pancreatitis and ototoxicity. Because of the risk of liver toxicity this antibiotic should not be taken during pregnancy. Some antihistamines and heartburn medications may interact with this antibiotic so you should consult a doctor before taking with any other medications. MinocyclineThis is a tetracycline antibiotic. The best results come when it is taken on an empty stomach since food reduces the absorption of the antibiotic by ten percent and milk by thirty-three percent. This antibiotic is not found in a topical form. It should not be used if you are pregnant or breast feeding. People who take minocycline have seen a reduction of acne by an average of sixty percent. Possible side effects including indigestion and abdominal upset. Some people have experienced dizziness that usually settles down after a few days. Chronic use of this antibiotic may results in skin pigmentation on the face and the mucous membranes. Children under the age of eight who take this medicine may see pigmentation on their teeth, but it is usually not seen in adults. Rashes are uncommon with this drug, but when they did occur they were severe. Anticoagulants should not be taken with minocycline. Antacids should also be avoided since they will reduce the absorption of the drug. As with any antibiotic you should consult your doctor before taking minocycline with any other drugs. DoxycyclineThis is another tetracycline antibiotic. However, unlike minocycline this drug can be taken with good since it is easily absorbed. Still you should not take this medicine with antacids, calcium, iron or magnesium. It should not be taken during pregnancy and should be avoided during breast feeding. People who took doxycycline for acne seen a fifteen to twenty-five percent improvement. For those using it for rosacea the results occurred much faster. This antibiotic makes the skin very sensitive to the sun so you will sunburn more easily and should use sun protection when going outside. There may also be gastrointestinal upset including indigestion and diarrhea. Another common side effect is an increase in vaginal yeast infection and yeast infections of the mouth. Children under the age of twelve should not take doxycycline. TetracyclineThis antibiotic was developed in 1953 and it is a broad spectrum antibiotic. Tetracycline is typically the first used antibiotic when treating acne. It is also the least expensive antibiotic with few side effects and most people tolerate it very well. It should be taken on an empty stomach a half hour to two hours after a meal. It should not be taken with antacids or milk because it will interact with the metallic ions. It should be taken with a large glass of water so it won't get stuck in the esophagus which might cause ulceration. Per month people typically see a twenty-five percent reduction in their acne symptoms. At first most people see a reduction in new acne lesions. Due to antibiotic resistance issues tetracycline doesn't work as well today as it used to in the past. Sun sensitivity is the most common side effect. Skin pigmentation is the least common side effect. Common side EffectWith most of the antibiotics used to treat acne, side effects may include photosensitivity (higher risk of sunburn), upset stomach, dizziness or lightheadedness, hives, lupus-like symptoms and skin discoloration. Some women report a higher incidence of vaginal yeast infection while taking antibiotics; these can usually be treated with over-the-counter antifungal medication or a prescription antifungal, such as diflucan. Tetracycline is not given to pregnant women or children under 12 years of age because it can discolor developing teeth. Lastly (and least common), because doxycycline is also the treatment of choice for Lyme disease, there is the theoretical possibility that a patient who takes this medication for a long period of time would build a resistance, and therefore be unable to fight Lyme. How they works?Like Benzoyl Peroxide, antibiotics control breakouts by curbing the body's production of P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne, and decreasing inflammation. This process may take several weeks or months, so be patient. And remember, you're not "cured" just because your breakouts have subsided. That's the medicine doing its job -- so 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. Using your topical antibiotics more frequently than prescribed may actually induce greater follicular irritation and plugging, which slows clearing time. And taking your oral medications more often than prescribed won't help your skin clear faster -- but it will increase your chance of experiencing unpleasant side effects. Where to get them?If you have moderate to severe acne, consult your dermatologist; he or she will discuss your options and help you make the best choice. Once you've begun treatment, 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 -- let your doctor make that call.
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