Long Term Use Of Oral Antibiotics In Treatment Of Acne – Effects And Side Effects

Before you opt for long term use of oral antibiotics in treatment of acne, understand the side effects and know if it is safe for you.

Long term use of oral antibiotics in treatment of acne may cause the development of antibiotic resistance in the bacteria that is responsible for the skin condition. This should be kept in mind when undergoing treatment with antibiotics.

Propionibacterium acnes or P.Acnes is an integral part of the skin's natural microflora. This causes the development of inflamed and severe acne. For the treatment of moderate as well as severe forms of acne, tetracycline and erythromycin antibiotics are used since 20 years.

The working of antibiotics

Antibiotics function by several mechanisms; the vital one is the reduction of the amount of bacteria in and around the follicle. The antibiotics also operate by decreasing the irritating chemicals that are produced by the white blood cells.

Antibiotics also bring about a considerable reduction in the concentration of the free fatty acids in the sebum, which in turn reduces the inflammatory response.

The commonly used antibiotics for acne

1. Erythromycin

The anti-inflammatory properties of this antibiotic help decrease the redness of the lesions and kills the bacteria. Pregnant women can intake this antibiotic and it is mostly recommended for the teenagers. Prolonged usage can develop side-effects, like nausea and an upset stomach.

This is the most extensively used antibiotic for acne. For this antibiotic to be effective, you have to take it in an empty stomach. This antibiotic is not recommended for pregnant women or the children below 9 years of age.

3. Minocycline

For pustular type of acne, this is the best antibiotic. The side effects that come with this antibiotic are nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Prolonged use of the antibiotic might result in the skin pigmentation changes and tooth discoloration.

4. Clindamycin

This oral antibiotic has serious intestinal infection, known as pseudomembranous colitis as a side effect.

5. Doxycycline

This antibiotic should be taken along with food, else it can result in nausea. This antibiotic if used over a long period of time can enhance the sensitivity to the sun and cause sunburns.

For women, there are chances of candida vaginal yeast infections from all the antibiotics. The oral antibiotics also have the capacity to reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pills. Therefore, whenever you intake antibiotics for the treatment of acne, it is advisable for you to know if you can intake it and to be aware of all the side effects.