Are antibiotics for acne even worth it? This is the topic we are going to discuss today. First of all, let me explain how acne occurs:
1) Bad eating habits - there is no direct link between eating and getting acne. But I will tell you this: food can increase the possibility of you getting this skin disease. As of now, the only confirmed food type that can worsen the existing acne, are those that contain iodized salt.
2) Personal hygiene - taking care of yourself is really important. Your job is to make sure that your pores will not get clogged by sebum (an oily substance), dead skin cells and bacteria. Do not scrub your face, because this can only infect the affected area.
3) Stress - since during stress your body goes through some chemical processes, it's not really farfetched to assume that there is a link between being in stress and having acne, even if this link is very weak.
There are also some factors that need to be considered, like the environment the person is living in. I will discuss that and other things in my next article.
Now that we have established why acne occurs, let's talk about antibiotics.
How Antibiotics Work?
Antibiotics work on several fronts: they decrease the number of acne bacteria, reduce the irritating chemicals produced by white blood cells. Also, they decrease the concentration of sebum - an oily substance that is partially responsible for acne.
What Antibiotics Exist?
1) Erythomycin - this is a very commonly used antibiotic. It has many anti-inflammatory properties that not only kill the acne bacteria, but also reduce redness on the skin. It is usually taken with food - which is a huge advantage. As a rule, doctors prescribe 240-510 mg dosages twice a day.
2) Tetracycline - as of now, the most popular antibiotic in the world. Usually the dose is 450 mg twice a day, and continued until acne lesions have decreased. Unlike erythromycin, it has to be taken on an empty stomach. Also, it shouldn't be prescribed to pregnant women.
3) Doxycycline - this antibiotic is given to people who do not want erythromycin or tetracycline. It should be taken with food, and the dosage should be about 40-120 mg twice a day.
4) Minocycline - this antibiotic has been used for decades to fight acne. The usual dose is 45-95 mg twice a day. There are also some side effects - nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc.
5) Clindamycin - oral antibiotic that is not really that popular. It has a very severe side effect: it causes intestinal infections.
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