Some cases of acne yield to over-the-counter treatments, especially those containing benzoyl peroxide. But other cases, especially when pimples are large or numerous, need bigger firepower. If you have a bad case of acne and seek a dermatologist's care for it, she may decide you should take amoxicillin, an antibiotic.
Condition
In normal skin, the sebaceous glands produce oil that then travels up hair follicles to the skin's surface. In acne-prone skin, the sebaceous glands often produce too much oil, and this oil clogs the hair follicle, creating a whitehead or blackhead. Once the blockage is in place, bacteria begin to grow in the follicle, creating a pimple.
Function
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin cause bacterial growth to slow down, helping the body to fight off the infection. Brand names include Amoxil and Trimox. Amoxicillin, a penicillin-type antibiotic, often treats ear infections and pneumonia, but it also can be used for acne, especially if the patient has an allergy to sulfa drugs.
Effects
Some patients are allergic to amoxicillin and other penicillin family drugs. If you're taking amoxicillin and you develop difficulty breathing, a rash or hives, or swelling in your mouth, throat or face, then call your physician right away. Otherwise, less serious amoxicillin side effects can include gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and nausea, headache and a swollen, black or "hairy" tongue, according to Drugs.com.
Research
Amoxicillin has proven itself in research studies to treat acne. In one such study, conducted at the Drexel University College of Medicine, researchers considered safety and effectiveness in amoxicillin and two other acne medications and concluded that amoxicillin effectively treats acne, especially acne that's resistant to other antibiotics. The patients studied used amoxicillin together with topical antibiotics, but the study authors concluded that amoxicillin was responsible for most of the improvement in their skin.
Considerations
Your physician may opt to prescribe amoxicillin for you if your acne has become resistant to other acne-fighting oral antibiotics. Resistance to commonly used acne-fighting antibiotics appears to be a growing problem. Because of this, you'll likely only stay on amoxicillin for a short time--usually, only three to four months--to lessen the chances that your acne will gain resistance to that particular type of antibiotic. In addition, you should never skip a dose of your medication, because if you do you raise your risks of developing resistance.
