Antibiotics for acne that doctors usually prescribe

Benefits of antibiotics for acne

Acne is a skin problem that can happen to anyone, both men and women. The main causes are clogged pores by excess oil production, bacterial infection, and buildup of dead skin cells.

Generally, acne can be treated in an easy way, such as using acne medication purchased at a pharmacy and regularly cleaning the skin.

Even so, types of acne that are severe enough and are in the deepest layers of the skin, such as nodules and cysts, require treatment from a doctor. Therefore, you may need treatment from a doctor to treat infected and inflamed pimples.

One of the methods doctors use to treat severe acne is to prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are useful for killing acne-causing bacteria.

Antibiotics also aim to reduce the amount of acne and redness that occurs. If there are fewer pimples, the lower the risk of acne scars occurring. Types of antibiotics for acne are divided into two, namely oral and topical antibiotics.

Apart from giving antibiotics, the doctor will also prescribe other acne medications, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. The reason is, antibiotics cannot work alone and require other active compounds for acne to heal.

List of antibiotics to treat acne

Basically, the types of antibiotics to get rid of acne are divided into two, namely oral antibiotics (oral drugs) and topical antibiotics (ointments, creams, and gels).

Topical antibiotics to get rid of acne

Topical antibiotics, such as creams, ointments, and lotions, are used by applying them to areas of skin with acne. Although quite effective, this acne medication cannot work alone to treat acne.

You need other drugs, such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoids to be more effective and prevent antibiotic resistance from developing. However, antibiotics with other drugs cannot be used simultaneously at one time.

You need to regulate its use, for example applying retinoids or benzoyl peroxide in the morning and then antibiotics at night. Here are some topical antibiotics to treat acne.

1. Clindamycin

Topical clindamycin is an antibiotic that is often used to treat inflammatory acne. This acne medication works by reducing the number of acne-causing bacteria and reducing swelling and redness of pimples.

The use of clindamycin takes about 4 - 6 weeks before results are seen. Even so, clindamycin cannot prevent clogging of pores, so other acne medications are needed, such as salicylic acid.

By using this combination of drugs, you may get faster results. This method also prevents antibiotic resistance.

In addition, clindamycin is also available in oral form and can be used as a potent antibiotic to treat acne.

Side effects:

This antibiotic contains alcohol, so it will cause a stinging or burning sensation on the skin. Avoid using the drug near the eyes, nostrils, or lips.

You are also advised not to wash your face too often while using clindamycin because it makes the skin dry easily and makes acne worse.

2. Erythromycin

Apart from clindamycin, another topical antibiotic used to treat acne is erythromycin.

The way this drug works is to kill the acne-causing bacteria and help reduce inflammation. In some brands, erythromycin contains zinc acetate which helps restore skin from acne.

However, erythromycin is not the first choice of acne treatment. This is because these antibiotics cannot treat other acne-triggering factors, such as the buildup of dead skin cells and excess oil production.

Therefore, the use of erythromycin requires assistance from other drugs, such as retinoids to accelerate healing.

Side effects:

Most people probably won't experience serious side effects when taking erythromycin. However, erythromycin can certainly cause side effects similar to other acne medications and antibiotics, such as:

mild skin irritation,
a burning or burning sensation on the skin, and
dry skin more easily.

Oral antibiotics (oral drugs)

Oral antibiotics or oral medications are also recommended for treating moderate to severe inflammatory acne. This type of antibiotic is also often combined with other topical acne medications, such as benzoyl peroxide.

The use of oral medicine for acne is done to reduce comedonal acne and inflammation from the body. Here are some types of oral antibiotics that are used to treat acne.

1. Tetracycline

Tetracycline, including doxycycline and minocycline, is an antibiotic that slows down the growth of acne bacteria and reduces inflammation. This acne reliever drug is usually the first choice compared to other oral antibiotics.

Before being prescribed tetracycline, your doctor will look at your acne condition first. Then, he will consider doses from 250 mg to 500 mg twice a day.

High doses are usually prescribed for severe types of acne, such as cystic acne and nodule acne. If the acne gets better, the doctor will reduce the dosage.

The use of this drug is also combined with topical acne medications such as retinoids or azelaic acid. If tetracycline doesn't work, your doctor may give you another oral antibiotic, such as erythromycin or clindamycin.

Side effects:

Just like other acne medications, tetracycline antibiotics can cause various side effects, including:

stomach pain,
nausea and vomiting,
diarrhea,
sore throat,
yeast infection of the vagina, as well
skin is more sensitive to sunlight (although this is rare).

If you experience these side effects and feel disturbed, consult your doctor immediately.

2. Azithromycin

This one antibiotic drug is more often an alternative to tetracycline for treating acne. The reason is, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory content in it can suppress bacterial growth while reducing the severity of acne infections.

According to research from the World Journal of Plastic Surgery, azithromycin is more effective than other oral antibiotics. Oral azithromycin and erythromycin are much more effective at treating acne than tetracycline.

In fact, this drug is also said to be better at reducing inflammation than tetracycline. Although more effective, this antibiotic is more often used as a backup drug.

If tetracycline does not show good changes in the skin with acne, you will be prescribed azithromycin.

Side effects:

Apart from providing benefits for treating acne, the antibiotic azithromycin can cause a number of side effects, such as:

diarrhea,
skin irritation, such as looking red and itchy,
the skin is easier to dry and feels scaly,
fever, as well
swelling.

3. Trimethoprim

Another antibiotic option for treating acne is trimethoprim. Trimethoprim is an antibiotic used when tetracycline and erythromycin have not shown effective results when treating acne prone skin.

The way it works is the same, namely by killing and inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause acne.

Generally, doctors will give trimethoprim at a dose of 300 mg with other drug combinations, namely retinoids or sulfamethoxazole. The use of trimethoprim alone is considered less effective for treating skin inflammation due to acne.

Rules for using antibiotics to treat acne

How long should I use antibiotics to treat acne?

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for your acne treatment, he or she will give you a small dose. This is because the use of antibiotics should not be used for a long time.

Acne requires a long process to heal properly, which is 3-4 months. However, taking antibiotics for too long for this skin disease can trigger resistance that hinders the healing process.

What are the tips for using antibiotics so that you don't take too long?

In addition to following the doctor's instructions, there are several ways you can do so that you don't use antibiotics for acne too long, including the following.