How is systemic medication helpful for treating acne?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Systemic medication for treating acne works inside your body, unlike topical medication, which you apply directly to your skin. Oral antibiotics are one common form of systemic medication used to treat acne. Antibiotics kill bacteria. The oral antibiotics prescribed for acne help eliminate a form of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes. Controlling P. acnes helps reduce inflammation, which can improve acne.
For severe acne, doctors sometimes prescribe isotretinoin. This drug helps to reduce P. acnes and inflammation. It also treats acne by making the skin less oily and unclogging pores. For women with pimples, some doctors may suggest that they try taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills), which treat acne by reducing the amount of oil your skin produces. Speak with your doctor about the risks and benefits of systemic medication to treat acne.Systemic medication for treating acne works inside your body, unlike topical medication, which you apply directly to your skin. Oral antibiotics are one common form of systemic medication used to treat acne. Antibiotics kill bacteria. The... More -
Dr. Ellen Marmur answered:Acne patients take antibiotics and a vitamin A derivative orally, as wellas applying them topically, so they work from the inside out too. Antibiotics are used for inflammatory acne and isotretinoin (a vitamin A analog known by the brand name Accutane) for both comedonal and inflammatory forms.
Antibiotics like tetracycline are prescribed in an eight-week course, usually in conjunction with a topical retinoid and a benzoyl peroxide antibiotic cleanser. These days doctors are gravitating more to a new generation of low-dose antibiotics that have fewer side effects and will hopefully prevent antibiotic resistance. (Higher-dose antibiotics have been known to cause gastrointestinal problems and yeast infections.) These medications, such as Doryx, Solodyn, and Oracea, are not as harsh and have a similar, positive anti-inflammatory effect - but they have little if no antibacterial strength. Another excellent medicine is spironolactone. Originally a diuretic, its anti-testosterone effects diminish acne - especially the persistent acne around the mouth.
Find out more about this book: Simple Skin Beauty: Every Woman's Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy, Gorgeous...
Acne patients take antibiotics and a vitamin A derivative orally, as wellas applying them topically, so they work from the inside out too. Antibiotics are used for inflammatory acne and isotretinoin (a vitamin A analog known by the brand name... More
