Antibiotics for Acne
There are a variety of prescription acne treatments available, including antibiotics (both antibiotic creams and pills), retinoids, hormonal treatments, and isotretinoin. Your dermatologist will help you to determine the best prescription regimen for your acne. It is possible that this prescription regimen for acne will include either a topical or oral antibiotic. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Antibiotics are commonly used to treat acne, because one of the most commons acne causes is p. acnes bacteria. This bacteria lives on nearly everyone’s skin, but congregates in pores when they are clogged with excess oil or debris, which leads to the development of pimples on the skin. By decreasing the concentration of acne-causing p. acnes bacteria on the skin, antibiotics can effectively treat and prevent acne.”
While antibiotics are most commonly used in combination with other acne treatments, here are a few of the most commonly used antibiotics for acne:
- Clindamycin: Clindamycin has been used for years to treat acne in topical acne medications. It is commonly combined with other acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin.
- Doryx: Doryx is a enteric coated version of doxycycline, which means that it is gentler on the stomach than generic doxycycline formulations. It is a pill that is typically taken once daily.
- Solodyn: Solodyn is a delayed release formulation of minocycline. Unlike generic minocycline, Solodyn is only taken once daily to treat acne.
- Azithromycin: Azithromycin is sometimes used for the treatment of acne, especially for patients who cannot tolerate minocycline or doxycycline due to allergy, or patients who have not responded well to other antibiotics in the past.