Removing Acne with Topical Antibiotics

Acne can make people very self-conscious about their appearance. Since there are so many options for removing acne, it can be confusing to figure out which product is best for what kind of acne, which product will work the fastest, etc. Topical antibiotics are usually the first line of defense after the over the counter options have failed.

Topical antibiotics are effective in treating inflammatory acne, which presents itself as reddish and painful bumps on the face, rather than blackheads or whiteheads. Inflammatory acne occurs when follicles becomes obstructed and overgrowth of a normal skin bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, destroys the lining of the follicle. This process causes an inflammatory response. This is the type of acne that can cause scars if left untreated.

Topical antibiotics work at removing acne by killing the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, thereby reducing the small infections in the pores and indirectly keeping the pores open. These antibiotics are sold as lotions, gels, pads, and toner-like solutions. The most commonly prescribed medications are Clindamycin and Erythromycin; Tetrocycline and Metronidazole are prescribed less often. All topical antibiotics are available by prescription only. Most are applied once or twice per day over all areas prone to acne breakouts.

It is important that the medication is continued as prescribed, even if results are not noticed right away. Results can usually be seen in one to one and a half months after treatment begins. The first sign that the product is working is that the painful lesions begin to subside as the bacteria begins to reduce.

Side-effects can occur if the person using these topical antibiotics are allergic or sensitive to any of the active ingredients of the medicine. The most common side-effects are redness, irritation, and scaling at the site of application. Scaling appears as increased dryness and flaking of the skin.

Article Source: http://tss-articles.com

Learn about other methods dermatologists are using for removing acne at acne-information.com

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