More than 17 million individuals in the U.S. suffer from acne flare-ups. With that said, acne simply is the most common skin problem all over U.S. and the rest of the world. Acne is never a serious health concern. However, severe acne could lead to permanent scarring and disfiguring of the skin. Some people can even be traumatized by the effects of this particular skin disorder. To treat acne, dermatologists normally prescribe antibiotics. Such antibiotics have to applied on the face or taken orally to control bacterial outgrowth. The redness and inflammation associated to acne are also reduced, which eventually leads to lesser blackheads and pimples. There are both over-the-counter and prescription medicines for acne. And they may come in topical or oral treatment forms.

However, commercial drugs for acnes, such as antibiotics, may cause side effects. Common side effects are nausea, dizziness, and skin discoloration. In women, these antibiotics may also cause vaginal yeast infection. Acne antibiotics may also reduce the effect of birth control pills. But amidst all these side effects, only prolonged treatment on acne antibiotics can produce good results. Generally speaking, one has to be under its cure for six months or so before noticeable changes could transpire.

Antibiotics decrease the level of bacteria present in the skin follicles. It also reduces the effects of the inflammatory chemicals present in the blood. Antibiotics stop the formation of sebum, which directly causes acne.

Antibiotics used for acne are as follows:

1. Tetracycline

This is the initial type of antibiotics that doctors prescribed to treat patients with acne. This drug is supposed to be taken before eating as it may otherwise produce stomach upset. Tetracycline cannot be taken by pregnant women because it contains ingredients harmful to the baby. Children below 8 years old can't use it either.

2. Erythromycin

Compared to tetracycline, erythromycin is the better medicine. It is more powerful in a sense that it can also decrease the appearance of redness and lesions in the affected areas, while killing bacteria as designed. But unlike tetracycline, erythromycin has to be taken after meals because it can trigger nausea when taken on an empty stomach. Erythromycin is relatively safe for pregnant women but using it under the guidance of a doctor is strongly advised.

3. Minocycline

Minocycline is a derivative of tetracycline. It is used for several decades now as an effective acne antibiotic. This drug should also be taken on an empty stomach. Pregnant and breast feeding mothers are advised against Minocycline as it can be harmful to the baby. Minocycline may cause side effects such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, tooth discoloration, and abnormal skin pigmentation.

The search for the most effective and safest acne antibiotics is still under works. If you decide to use any of these cures, it is best that you talk to a dermatologist to help you out. Choosing the right medication and taking it in the correct dosage is very important. Else, you might suffer the adverse side effects of such drugs. Improper use may also make bacteria more resistant to the antibiotics, thus compounding the problem even more.