Essential Guide azelaic acid

Applications / Anti-acne

Antibiotics The application of antibiotics for the treatment of acne is exclusively reserved for medical professionals. Antibiotics are not allo- wed in personal care & cosmetic products and medical devices. Antibiotics can be taken orally, but also administered via the skin using a cream. Frequently the use of antibiotics is combined with the use of benzoyl peroxide to avoid antibiotic resistance. Topi- cally applied antibiotics are clindamycin and erythromycin. Orally taken antibiotics are doxycycline & minocycline (tetracyclines) and also erythromycin. The side effects of these antibiotics are numerous: skin rash, upset of the stomach and intestine and fungal infections. Sometimes the side effects can quite serious indeed, such as severe allergic reactions (difficult breathing, facial swelling), destruction of the intestinal flora (bloody diarrhoea), vaginal candidiasis and mouth sores. Combined with potential antibiotic resistance the use of antibiotics for the treatment of (juvenile) acne should only be considered if there are no other options left.

Virtually all antibiotics used for the very severe cases of acne also have cytotoxic properties and have distinct CMR and hormone disrupting properties. Antibiotics also should not be used during pregnancy, unless unavoidable.

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