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Acne Antibiotics: Prescriptions for Clear Skin

Acne has many causes. Heredity, hormones, diet, and stress have all been linked to acne. Chronic acne sufferers cannot control their genetics; however, they can learn to manage stress, maintain a balanced diet and (for women) use birth control to help level out hormone fluctuations that can cause acne breakouts.

Acne sufferers often treat their acne with over-the-counter acne products. These products are hit or miss depending on the type and severity of acne. When over-the-counter products and basic lifestyle changes fail to control acne, a dermatologist needs to be consulted. Dermatologists specialize in diseases of the skin and can help acne sufferers by prescribing topical or oral antibiotics or other acne medications. The focus of this article is acne antibiotics.

What are Acne Antibiotics?

Acne occurs when a pore becomes clogged with oil due to hormone production. Bacteria build up in the pore causing an acne pimple, whitehead, or blackhead. Acne antibiotics help keep bacteria at bay. Antibiotic means "a drug used to kill a microorganism." Antibiotics fight infection. 

Oral and topical antibiotics are commonly prescribed for acne when other treatments fail. The dangers of antibiotics are that overuse can cause the body to become resistant to antibiotics in general and have more difficulty being treated for other infections over time. Commonly prescribed oral acne antibiotics include: Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and Monocycline. Tetracycline is the most popular of the acne antibiotics. It reduces acne lesions quickly. Erythromycin is the second most prescribed antibiotic. It works by reducing inflammation. It is gentle enough to be taken by pregnant women.

Besides oral antibiotics, there are many topical antibiotics which, when applied to the skin, can dramatically reduce acne breakouts. Topical antibiotic creams and gels keep pores free of bacteria and help dry up acne pimples while fading residual discoloration. The most common topical acne antibiotics are: Clindamycin lotion, topical Tetracycline and Erythromycin, and Metronidazole. Non-antibiotic topical acne treatments include Avita, Retin-A, Differin gel, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and vitamin A derivatives. These are also effective in healing acne.

At an initial appointment with a dermatologist, an overall physical assessment and health history will be taken to determine which acne treatment best meets the patient's needs. Depending on the type and severity of acne, a dermatologist may begin the patient on either topical or oral antibiotics. If antibiotics fail to reduce acne after a period of several months, a stronger acne medication such as Accutane may be prescribed.