Not all acne treatment is created equal. You and your dermatologist need to match your chosen therapy with the type of pimples you have. If you have moderate or severe acne that doesn't include cysts, your physician might prescribe the antibiotic Solodyn to treat your skin condition.
Cause
Despite common myths, foods such as chocolate and french fries don't cause acne, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dermatologists don't know exactly what causes it, but increases in the level of hormones called androgens play a major role. Moderate to severe inflammatory acne develops when bacteria multiply out of control, causing large inflected pimples and general inflammation in the skin.
Function
Solodyn, an extended release form of the prescription antibiotic minocycline, helps your body kill bacteria, which is why it's prescribed only for inflammatory acne that includes a significant bacterial infection. It won't work to stop mild acne, according to manufacturer Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. Generally, you only need to take Solodyn once a day, making it easier to use than antibiotics that must be taken two or three times each day.
Side Effects
If you take Solodyn for your acne, you might experience the common side effects of a headache, itching, tiredness and dizziness. In addition, children younger than 8 can permanently yellow their teeth by taking Solodyn, which isn't approved for anyone under age 12. Very rarely, you might develop a severe allergic reaction, including hives and difficulty breathing, to Solodyn, and if this happens you should head for the emergency room.
Research
Medical research indicates that extended release forms of minocycline can effectively curb acne. In one such study, published by D.M. Stewart and colleagues in the medical journal "Cutis" in 2006, researchers randomly assigned 233 subjects to once-per-day minocycline tablets or to a placebo for 84 days. The minocycline group experienced a 50 percent drop in acne lesions by the end of the study. About one-quarter of that group also reported the side effect of dizziness.
Considerations
Since physicians began using antibiotics to treat acne in the 1960s, some of the bacteria that causes inflammatory acne has developed resistance to the most commonly used drugs, including minocycline. If the bacteria in your acne is resistant to minocycline, your acne won't respond to Solodyn. In addition, if you skip doses of your medication, that bacteria can become resistant to minocycline. To treat your acne successfully, you need to follow your dermatologist's instructions exactly.
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