Tetracycline - does it work effectively on acne?

Tetracycline acne treatment is an antibiotic approach that suppresses the condition of acne, but it doesn’t actually cure it. Tetracycline has been used to treat acne and other skin diseases, such as rosacea and perioral dermatitis, for more than 30 years with a certain amount of success.

Tetracycline has two main effects on acne, it works as an anti-inflammatory and it helps to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin surface and in the follicles. Tetracycline acne treatment interferes with Propionebacterium acnes, which is the bacteria associated with acne. This common bacteria feeds on sebum (the skin’s natural oil) produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin and then produces waste products and fatty acids which irritate the sebaceous glands, leading to inflammation and blemishes.

However, tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which means it kills a wide range of bacteria, even the ‘friendly bacteria’ which your body actually needs. Most of these friendly bacteria, such as acidophilus, bifidobacteria and bacillus substilis live in your digestive tract where they coat your digestive trace with a protective layer to keep out parasites and bad bacteria. Without these ‘friendly bacteria’ the body doesn’t absorb nutrition as effectively and bad bacteria, yeasts and moulds start to grow in your system.

This explains why ten percent of female patients who take some form of antibiotics will develop a yeast infection (thrush or candidiasis). Other side affects of tetracycline acne treatment may include: Tummy upsets (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), various types of skin rash and rarely liver disease.

Tetracycline acne treatments may also make the skin more sensitive to light (photosensitive). For this reason you should avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and don’t use sun beds or sunlamps while taking a course of this medication.

If you are taking an oral contraceptive pill it is thought there may be a low risk that tetracycline may make the pill less effective in preventing pregnancy. Pregnant or women who are breastfeeding should not take tetracycline because it becomes incorporated into the baby’s bones and teeth and it may harm the foetus.

Tetracycline should be taken on an empty stomach, at least one or two hours before or after meals. This is because food prevents its absorption into the bloodstream. When storing tetracycline acne treatment medication, make sure it is in a cool place and out of direct sunlight.

Tetracycline - does it work effectively on acne?

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Tetracycline