Taking an antibiotic can reduce redness and. For moderate to severe acne, you may need oral antibiotics to reduce bacteria. Usually, the first choice for treating acne is a tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) or a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin). A macrolide may be an option for people who can't take tetracyclines, including pregnant women and children younger than 8 years old.
Because of the risk of side effects, isotretinoin can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor. Read all about isotretinoin, including who can take it, side effects, and risks during pregnancy. Isotretinoin is a powerful medication used to treat the most severe cases of acne. Your doctor may recommend this medication if you have severe acne that doesn't get better with other medications, including antibiotics.
When acne lesions are inflamed, applying a light, non-comedogenic sunscreen daily will help prevent hyperpigmentation. Most people with severe acne need to take several topical medications, oral antibiotics, or isotretinoin (Accutane). Cystic acne is a type of inflammatory acne that causes painful, pus-filled pimples to form deep in the skin. Acne occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog the pores of the skin. You may not see the benefits of this treatment for a few months, so it may be helpful to use other acne medications for the first few weeks.
While it may take time to find what works for you, there are several effective treatments for severe acne. The FDA has approved four combined oral contraceptives for the treatment of acne in women who also want to use them as a method of contraception. For example, “some of them require the prescription of oral antibiotics for mild acne in order to obtain a retinoid cream, which is illogical because the right treatment is not antibiotics and they are riskier.
