Acne Medications, Antibiotics & Therapy Options

The list of treatment options for acne is long, and it grows longer each day. On the one hand this is a good thing, because there is a good chance our Houston dermatologists can find something that works for you. On the other hand, the sheer number of options can overwhelm patients when they try to navigate through all the over the counter preparations without the guidance of a dermatologist. Patients often spends hundreds of dollars on ineffective skin regimens or topical remedies that don't suit their skin. The best thing you can do for your skin is educate yourself and schedule an appointment so that we can tailor a regimen to your needs.  

The table below summarizes various acne treatment options.   Below the table are more detailed explanations.  Your Houston acne specialists will review these options with you and formulate a plan to treat your acne.

 

Comparison of Acne Treatment Options

Topical medications

PROS

  • Minimal internal side effects

  • No drug interactions

  • Can be used long-term

CONS

  • Can be expensive

  • Can be time-consuming to apply to large surface areas

  • Take 3 months to have full effect

  • Some can bleach/stain clothing

  • Often cause dryness and irritation

Oral antibiotics (antibiotics by mouth)

PROS

  • Often work more quickly than topicals

  • Usually do not require lab monitoring

CONS

  • Can have internal side effects (stomach upset, sun sensitivity, autoimmune reactions)

  • Can severely affect gut flora (kill good bacteria in the GI tract which can predispose to other diseases)

  • Not meant for long-term use (ie. not meant for use longer than 3 months)

  • Can lead to resistance, or "super-bugs"

  • Can result in yeast infections in women

  • Not meant to be used alone -- must be used in conjunction with topicals to prevent resistance

  • May be associated with the development of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

  • Possibly associated with the development of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)

Isotretinoin (Accutane)

PROS

  • Extremely effective -- the most clinically effective acne treatment that exists to date

  • The only medication that impacts all of the underlying causes of acne

  • Reduces P. acnes bacteria though is NOT an antibiotic

  • Has anti-inflammatory properties

  • Decreases oil (sebum) production

  • Chance of long-term "remission" from acne

  • Fewer than 30% relapse after an appropriate course

  • Synthetic vitamin A - side effects predictable and dose-dependent

  • Used for a finite period of time (about 6 months)

  • FDA-approved in 1982 -- over 35 years on the market

  • Covered by insurance in most cases

CONS

  • Causes birth defects if taken in pregnancy

  • Regulated by iPledge system

  • Causes dryness of skin and lips, lip chapping, occasional nosebleeds

  • Requires blood work monitoring - occasional abnormalities in liver tests and triglycerides

  • Can cause aches in the joints and muscles

  • Occasionally causes hair shedding

  • Requires monthly follow-up for about 6 months

  • Controversial association with depression

  • Can cause pseudotumor cerebri (swelling around the brain - rare, also associated with oral antibiotics used for acne)

  • With proper monitoring, can be done safely and effectively

Chemical peels

PROS

  • Easy, minimal effort at home

  • Effective in decreasing inflammation

  • Can help treat scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

CONS

  • Results are not permanent

  • Not covered by insurance

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives for females only)

PROS

  • Can be effective -- a few birth control brands are FDA-approved for acne

  • Long-term use is acceptable

CONS

  • May cause weight gain, mood symptoms

  • Not safe if you are a smoker or have a history of blood clots

  • If over 35 or 40, increased risk of heart attack or stroke

  • Acne will likely recur once it is discontinued

Spironolactone (females only)

PROS

  • Can work for hormonal and adult female acne

  • Minimal lab monitoring needed

  • Minimal dryness and irritation

  • No risk of resistance

CONS

  • Cannot be used in males

  • Females should not take if planning pregnancy

  • Can cause breast tenderness and menstrual irregularity

  • Only effective while on it - no sustained benefit

  • Not approved for acne - used off-label

  • Can cause elevated potassium, which is not common in young, healthy individuals

  • Not to be used in patients on Bactrim, other potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin-receptor blockers.  In some cases, can still be used with close monitoring

  • Boxed warning by FDA - linked to tumor formation based on studies in rats where they were given chronically toxic doses

Topical Medications

These are medications that are applied to your skin (as opposed to being taken by mouth). Some are available over the counter while some are available by prescription. The most important thing to consider is the active ingredient, which may include:

Benzoyl peroxide

While some benzoyl peroxide preparations may be found over the counter, prescription-strength preparations are sometimes more effective. Benzoyl peroxide works by releasing free oxygen radicals that oxidize bacteria thereby killing the bacteria that cause acne. It is effective both alone and in combination with other topical medications. To date, bacterial resistance of P. acnes (the bacteria that cause acne) to benzoyl peroxide has not been reported. Benzoyl peroxide comes in many formulations: lotions, washes, gels, foams, creams, and pads. It can cause bleaching when it comes in contact with clothing or towels.

Topical retinoids

These are vitamin A derivatives that help the skin turn over more quickly, resulting in the unclogging of pores and follicles, reducing the numbers of comedones and inflammatory lesions. They include Differin (adapalene), Retin-A (tretinoin), and Tazorac and Fabior (tazarotene). Skin irritation, dryness, redness, and peeling can sometimes be seen during the initial weeks of use. Washing your face with a mild cleanser and limiting the use of other drying agents can help minimize these effects. If the irritation persists, using the topical retinoids every other day or every third day can also be helpful. Sun sensitivity may be increased while on these medications

Topical antibiotics

Topical antibiotics are effective against P. acnes and also help reduce the inflammation associated with acne. The most common agents include topical clindamycin and topical erythromycin. These are sometimes combined with benzoyl peroxide (as seen with Benzaclin, Onexton, and Benzamycin) to reduce the possibility of bacterial resistance. Topical dapsone is also available (Aczone gel), and it tends to be well-tolerated.

Sulfur-based medications

Sulfur is thought to help acne through its antibacterial and keratolytic properties. It helps the skin turn over, resulting in fewer clogged pores and follicles. It is believed that when sulfur reacts with cysteine in the skin, it produces hydrogen sulfide which helps break down keratin. It also produces pentathonic acid, an agent that is toxic to fungus and inhibits P. acnes. Sulfur-based medications are most commonly seen in combination with sodium sulfacetamide, as seen in Plexion, Rosadan, Avar, and Ovace.

Glycolic acids

Glycolic acids belong to the family of acids known as α-hydroxy acids. Glycolics have excellent skin penetrating capabilities and the ability to help break down the lipids that hold dead skin cells together. With regular application, gentle exfoliation of the stratum corneum is achieved, and live, healthy skin cells are exposed, improving the tone and texture of the skin. They play a role in both anti-aging as well as acne, and they are felt to be safe for use in pregnancy.

Oral Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics have been shown to be helpful in the treatment of inflammatory acne, though they are used somewhat less than they were previously used. We use these primarily in patients with moderate inflammatory acne, though sometimes we will also use them in milder acne on the trunk for which it is difficult to apply topical medications. Oral antibiotics improve inflammatory acne by inhibiting the growth of P. acnes within the pilosebaceous unit. The tetracycline antibiotics have the added benefit of having direct anti-inflammatory properties. Antibiotics by mouth can provide more rapid results than topical medications alone; however, there is also the chance of having an allergic reaction or a yeast infection as a result. In addition, antibiotic resistance is becoming a major problem. For this reason, it is not recommended to use these for longer than a few months. Some of the common antibiotics considered include:
 

Tetracyclines

This category is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for acne. In the past, tetracycline was used, but now newer derivatives such as doxycyline and minocycline are used a little more commonly. Doxycycline and minocycline both have great efficacy against P. acnes, and they also have very significant anti-inflammatory properties that can decrease the redness and pain associated with inflammatory acne. We can't use these medications in pregnant women or in children under the age of 9, because it stains the teeth and interferes with bone development at a young age. In older children this is not a concern.

Macrolides

These include erythromycin and azithromycin. Erythromycin is not used as often because it causes gastrointestinal side effects and because antibiotic resistance develops quickly. Azithromycin also can result in antibiotic resistance, but we occasionally use it for short periods of time in patients who cannot receive a tetracycline.

Sulfa drugs

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim or Septra) can be effective in the treatment of severe acne. However, it can cause severe drug reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis. In addition, it is very effective in the treatment of MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, infections, which is a much more serious condition. We try to avoid prescribing these for acne if possible, so that they will work for you if you really need it for a life-threatening infection.

Clindamycin

We occasionally see other doctors prescribe this for acne. We prefer to avoid this by mouth, because of the chance of developing pseudomembranous (C. dificile) colitis. Topical clindamycin is far less likely to cause this, and it is still used quite a bit in the treatment of acne.

Cephalexin: This does not really penetrate the pilosebaceous unit effective, so it does not tend to work as well for acne.

Hormonal Acne Therapy

Since acne is often influenced by hormones, various medications that target hormones can be used to treat acne. These include birth control pills and spironolactone. Hormonal acne therapy is discussed further here.


Oral Retinoids

This is a class of medications derived from vitamin A, and it includes isotretinoin, which is highly effective in the treatment of acne. Isotretinoin is used so commonly in acne, it deserves its own page, and you can read more about it here.


Surgical Acne Treatment

Some patients benefit from physical extraction of comedones, injection of steroids into large acne cysts, chemical peels, medical facials, and laser therapy. These are great options in patients who wish to avoid systemic medications.