Mild acne usually doesn't require a physician's intervention. Most sufferers can treat a few minor pimples, blackheads and whiteheads with over-the-counter products. However, if your acne gets infected, you risk developing scars. In some cases, your dermatologist may recommend the antibiotic Biaxin to help curb your acne.
Cause
A combination of three factors causes acne: too much oil, irritated hair follicles caused by irregular shedding of your skin cells and infection from acne-causing bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bacterial infection causes enlarged pimples to develop in the hair follicles blocked by excess oil and dead skin cells. Antibiotics such as Biaxin help to treat this bacterial infection.
Function
Biaxin, which contains the active ingredient clarithromycin, forms part of a group of antibiotics called macrolide antibiotics. Biaxin works well against many different types of skin infections, along with respiratory infections. You can take Biaxin with or without food, but users should take the medication with 8 oz. of water. Depending on which formulation you are taking, you'll likely take Biaxin once or twice a day.
Side Effects
Some people have allergies to antibiotics, which can be dangerous. Difficulty breathing, hives or an uneven heartbeat while taking Biaxin are dangerous symptoms which require emergency medical help. More common side effects include diarrhea accompanied by mild stomach pain, strange tastes in the mouth, dizziness, headache and confusion.
Research
Most physicians choose different antibiotics for acne, and little research has been conducted on Biaxin's anti-acne effects. However, one report, published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology in 2003, noted that macrolide antibiotics such as Biaxin could address skin infections that don't respond to more commonly used antibiotics. The report said that Biaxin and other macrolide antibiotics often cause less gastrointestinal distress than other antibiotics.
Considerations
If taking Biaxin for your acne, you need to take it exactly as your doctor prescribes or you will risk becoming resistant to its effects. Many strains of bacteria active in causing acne now resist common antibiotics, making acne treatment much more difficult. Because of this, your physician likely will recommend you take Biaxin only for three to four months and will begin to taper off your dosage as soon as pimples start to clear up.
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