Tetracycline for Acne

Tetracycline, as you may know, is a common antibiotic that is used to stifle the symptoms of acne. For several years of clinical study, many experts have found out that tetracycline is indeed a good treatment for acne as it helps to kill the acne-causing bacteria found on the entire body and skin.

With the numerous findings, several health and drug companies are now considering tetracycline for acne treatment. The tetracyclines and their derivatives, doxycycline and minocycline are now being used and prescribed at high doses for very severe acne and low doses for less severe acne, so to reduce the symptoms of this chronic condition. However, it is worth noting that since tetracycline for acne is not a cure for year but only suppresses the acne’s symptoms, the treatment could be long term, maybe for months or years. In this case, the doses of tetracycline for acne are generally low.

A tetracycline for acne must not be taken by pregnant women and nursing mothers for the reason that a tetracycline for acne may stain teeth permanently and restrain bone growth, leading to skeletal defects in a fetus. Aside from that, a tetracycline for acne is contraindicated for children under twelve years old for similar reasons. Instead of a tetracycline for acne, the pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children can take the oral erythromycin as an alternative.

Just like some prescription drugs for acne, there are also a number of side effects from taking a tetracycline for acne. One of those is the fact that tetracycline may cause skin rash or liver disease due to an allergy. A tetracycline for acne may also trigger headache, serious gastric intestinal problems, enterocolitis, hemolytic anemia, and renal toxicity.

Tetracycline, like any other antibiotic course, has the potential for minimizing the good bacteria in your bowel that are needed to synthesize the B vitamins, amongst other things, and keep the acne causing bacteria under control. Another important point to consider about taking tetracycline for acne is the fact that this antibiotic can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. It is no wonder that most experts prescribed it to be taken either in the evening or with a sunscreen.

There are some alternatives of a tetracycline for acne treatment today, such as the herbal capsules and topical treatments. These alternatives are generally recommended for those who want a permanent and simple solution to their acne as tetracycline acne treatment may take long term period to complete.

<= Previous Acne Article || Next Acne Article =>

Return to Acne...