Acne often stubbornly resists treatment, and many people with acne have to try several medications before they find one that works, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If over-the-counter medications including benzoyl peroxide—a well-known acne fighter—failed to work for you, your dermatologist may prescribe a medication containing sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim. These medications, available under several brand names, often can clear inflammatory acne that hasn't responded to other therapies.
Acne Causes
Acne results when the skin's sebaceous glands overreact to hormones that normally circulate in the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These hormones stimulate the glands to produce too much lubricating oil for the skin, and the oil can form clogs in pores. Bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes, which always are present on the skin, reproduce out of control in this oily environment, causing inflammation and sometimes severe infection in and around clogged pores.
Drug Function
Both sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are antibiotics, and each treats different aspects of the infection present in inflammatory acne. Medications containing both sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim kill the P. acnes bacteria that causes inflammatory acne, and also help to open clogged pores, preventing new pimples from forming, according to the AAD. Medications containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim sell under various brand names, including Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra and Septra DS, and physicians also prescribe them for ear infections, urinary tract infections and bronchitis.
Time Frame
Patients who have used sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim to treat their acne generally report the drug working well, according to reports on the website Acne.org. Many reported that it began to work quickly, often within two weeks or less. However, some patients noted that they had difficulty swallowing the medication, which comes in a pill that's even larger than a large multivitamin.
Side Effects
Some patients develop a severe allergic reaction to sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, and that reaction can include hives, difficulty breathing, pale skin and confusion, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved information on the medication. Other side effects can include a painful, swollen tongue, dizziness, ringing in your ears, joint pain and insomnia.
Considerations
If you have stubborn acne, your dermatologist likely will try other prescription medications to bring your breakouts under control before prescribing sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, according to the AAD. Antibiotics such as azelaic acid and clindamycin tend to have fewer serious side effects, and therefore dermatologists prefer them as the first line of defense against inflammatory acne. However, sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim often can clear your skin when those fail. If you have stubborn acne, talk with your dermatologist about options that can include sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim.
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