Antibiotics are the acne treatment of choice amongst the established medical community. They work by attacking the strain of bacteria on the skin that is a vital component in the development of acne.
The most frequently used antibiotics for treating acne are tetracycline, erythromycin, minocycline, doxycycline and clindamycin.
However, although miraculous results are commonly seen after a few weeks on a course of antibiotics it is only temporary. The strain of bacteria mutates and becomes resistant to the antibiotic. The acne soon develops again, typically within a few months of starting the course of antibiotics. The next step taken by most dermatologists is to prescribe another type of antibiotic from the above list. However results are generally much less effective a second time and by a third course of antibiotics and a third different type most acne sufferers find the antibiotics are totally ineffective.
And herein lies the myth of antibiotics being an effective acne cure or even treatment. Acne cannot and will never be cured with antibiotics. Why dermatologists waste their time and resources treating acne sufferers with antibiotics is a bit perplexing. It's a bit like car manufacturers designing their cars so they will only run for a few months and spending all their resources on this aspect of car design. Then when the car stops running efficiently a few months down the line the owner is left with a problem.
Not only are antibiotics ineffective against acne they have side effects that are worth knowing about as these have an effect in the long term. The most common one is that antibiotic usage, especially in the long term can result in a candida infection. This causes a malfunction in the digestive system and can worsen an acne condition. A sure sign of candida is a chronic white coating on the tongue. Candida can be difficult to shake off and probably the best method is to supplement with probiotics.
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed by doctors to apply to the face directly. The most common antibiotic for that is clindamycin. The efficacy of topical clindamycin is poor with the vast majority of cases showing no positive response to treatment with it. Topical antibiotics are not effective at all for people with severe acne in which case they are generally prescribed accutane (Isotretinoin).
The future for antibiotic acne treatment is bleak and with more and more private clinic dermatologists switching to holistic treatments and acne sufferers flocking in their droves to this type of solution it seems that it should only be a matter of time before the established medical community starts implementing more effective forms of treatment for their patients.
Seth Bayram has written dozens of articles on acne, as well as authoring a book that recommends an effective way to treat it. His FaceMaster Course book outlines a simple, step-by-step method for clearing acne, the outcome of his years of research as an acne sufferer himself. Find out how you can cure your acne at www.facemaster.net. | |
