A young man or woman whose acne is not responding to over-the-counter treatment may want to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist providing Acne Treatment in Fairfax County VA. This person now has the chance to learn about other possibilities, such as oral antibiotic therapy.
Although acne is very common in teenagers and even into early adulthood, the skin disease can have lasting negative effects on self-confidence. More serious cases can leave permanent scars that might be prevented with antibiotics.
Topical Antibiotics
Patients with milder acne may be able to significantly reduce the number of severity of pimples with topical antibiotics. Topical erythromycin and clindamycin are commonly prescribed for acne. The dermatologist providing Acne Treatment in Fairfax County VA may also include a topical retinoid.
The patient is encouraged to ask questions about over-the-counter substances that might be combined with these prescription medicines. Benzoyl peroxide, for instance, is frequently used for acne problems. It appears to kill acne-causing bacteria if used daily.
Systemic Antibiotics
Dermatologists are more likely to prescribe oral antibiotics for patients with moderate or severe cases of acne. An increasing problem with bacterial resistance to these drugs is leading physicians to scale back to a certain extent when the medication is not considered medically necessary. In addition, even a short course of antibiotics kills beneficial bacteria in the body.
Doxycycline and minocycline, which are tetracycline antibiotics, appear to be most effective as systemic antibiotic treatment for acne. Other drugs, such as erythromycin or clindamycin, may be prescribed for patients who cannot take tetracycline drugs. A switch to another antibiotic also may be made if the tetracycline medicine is not having any effect.
Three months is usually the length of time for a prescription for antibiotics to help patients with acne. Ideally, if a patient needs oral antibiotics, the drugs will be prescribed only as long as needed to get the disease under control. Afterward, the application of topical solutions may be effective enough. If the acne starts to worsen again, seeking further help from the dermatologist at a center such as Tamjidi Skin Institute is recommended. Another three-month prescription might be provided.
