Systemic Antibiotics For Use In Acne

Acne occurs when dirt and skin cells block the hair follicles of the skin. This prevents sebum (oil) from reaching the surface of the skin, and allows Propionibacterium acnes to grow in the follicles and cause inflammation. Most topical treatments effectively reduce acne blemishes, but doctors prescribe systemic antibiotics for use in acne when topical treatments fail. These systemic antibiotics reduce inflammation and keep acne-causing bacteria at bay.

Tetracycline

Doctors prescribe tetracycline to treat inflammatory acne that does not respond to treatments applied directly to the skin. This antibiotic reduces inflammation and gives doctors greater flexibility in changing the dose of the drug to meet patient needs. Side effects of tetracycline include diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, genital swelling, swollen tongue, vaginal itching, difficulty swallowing, vaginal discharge and white patches or sores inside the mouth.

Doxycycline

Doxycycline decreases the amount of Propionibacterium acnes by penetrating the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that patients usually tolerate this drug better than tetracycline. Minimize nausea and upset stomach associated with doxycycline use by taking the drug with food. Side effects of doxycycline include vaginal yeast infection, diarrhea, upset stomach and nausea. Doxycycline also causes sensitivity to sunlight in some patients.

Minocycline

Dr. Alan Shalita, professor and chairman at the State University of New York, indicates that minocycline has an advantage over other systemic antibiotics for acne because it does not cause antibiotic resistance as frequently as other tetracycline drugs. Minocycline also penetrates tissues better than other tetracycline drugs, leading to longer-lasting effects even after you stop taking the drug. This drug has few side effects, but some rare side effects occur in 1 out of 10,000 people, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. These rare side effects include pseudotumor cerebri and hypersensitivity lupus. Pseudotumor cerebri causes fluid to accumulate around the brain, while hypersensitivity lupus causes severe joint pain.

Trimethoprim

Trimethoprim reduces the appearance of acne by disrupting the production of bacterial cells. This gives your immune system the opportunity to destroy acne-causing bacteria. Doctors use this drug as a third-line treatment for acne. This means that they prescribe this drug only when two other drugs have failed to treat acne effectively. Common side effects of trimethoprim include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sunlight.

Erythromycin

Doctors prescribe erythromycin to control inflammatory acne that does not respond to topical treatments. This drug decreases the number of P. acnes bacteria in the hair follicles of the skin and reduces inflammation associated with acne. Adverse reactions associated with erythromycin use include indigestion, vaginal yeast infection, antibiotic resistance and skin sensitivity to sunlight.