Tablets that can treat acne

Antibiotic tablets

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria that contribute to the cause of acne. They also have a direct effect of reducing inflammation. Antibiotics usually work well to clear inflamed acne spots, and any surrounding skin inflammation. However, they have little effect on unplugging blocked pores (which you can see as blackheads and whiteheads). So, if you only have mild acne with just blackheads and whiteheads, you are better off using a topical treatment that unblocks pores. If you have a lot of blackheads and whiteheads as well as inflamed acne spots, you may be advised to use a topical treatment such as benzoyl peroxide in addition to taking an antibiotic tablet.

Always read the leaflet that is in the packet of antibiotics. Things such as precautions and possible side-effects vary between different antibiotics. The following are some general points.

Tetracycline based antibiotics are the most commonly used antibiotics to treat acne. These include: oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, lymecycline and minocycline.

• Children under 12 years should not take tetracycline based antibiotics.
• Do not take tetracycline based antibiotics if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or intend to become pregnant. Discuss contraception with your doctor if necessary.
• Food and milk affects the absorption of oxytetracycline or tetracycline. Therefore, take these tablets on an 'empty stomach', between meals, with a glass of water, (not milk). Doxycycline, lymecycline and minocycline can be taken with food.
• Women taking 'the pill' should use additional contraceptive precautions (such as condoms) during the first three weeks of taking antibiotics.

Other antibiotics

that are sometimes used include erythromycin and trimethoprim. You may be advised to take one of these if one of the above has not worked well, or is unsuitable.

The pill (a hormone treatment)

The combined oral contraceptive pill ('the pill') may help some women if their acne seems to be partly related to their hormone changes. For example, acne that began or became worse in adulthood, or if acne seems to flare up around the time of a period. It is the oestrogen part of the pill that is thought to help. A variant of the combined pill called co-cyprindiol (trade name of Dianette) may be especially useful where a sensitivity to androgen hormone is thought to be making acne worse. For example, for women with excess facial hair growth in addition to acne. Co-cyprindiol contains a combination of an oestrogen plus cyproterone (an anti-androgen).

Isotretinoin tablets

Isotretinoin greatly reduces the amount of sebum that you make by the sebaceous glands. It works very well, and usually clears spots even in severe cases. However, it is normally used only on the advice of a specialist after other treatments have been tried first. This is because there is a risk of serious side-effects with isotretinoin tablets.