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Tetracycline Makes a Good Treatment for Severe Acne

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To better address the common problem of acne, more and more medicines are emerging on the market. The applications of these medicines vary based on the type and severity of the acne. Tetracycline is one of them. This kind of medicine is an antibiotic for acne. It works to suppress the symptoms of acne. So far, the reported success rate of this medicine is high. 

Several tetracycline’s and their derivatives, doxycycline and minocycline are now being used.  It is necessary to understand that since tetracycline acne treatment is only able to suppress the symptoms of this condition, tetracycline acne treatment is often a long term procedure that may take months or years to complete.  In general, the tetracycline acne approach holds the idea that tetracycline, although it can’t cure acne, is a potential antibiotic for fighting acne.   It can be effective at high doses for very severe acne, or at low doses for less severe acne, in reducing the symptoms of this skin condition. 

Pregnant women and those that are nursing should not take tetracycline acne treatment. This is because tetracycline can stain teeth permanently and inhibit the growth of bone, thus leading to certain skeletal defects in a fetus.  The tetracycline acne treatment is also contraindicated for small children, those who are under twelve, for similar reasons.  Due to this, oral erythromycin is then indicated as a good alternative for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and small children. 

Like the other antibiotics and prescription treatments for acne, the tetracycline acne treatment also has its own flaws.  A number of potential unfavorable side effects are noted with the use of tetracycline acne treatment.   These side effects basically involve skin rash, liver defects due to an allergy, serious gastric intestinal problems, enterocolitis, headaches, renal toxicity, and hemolytic anemia.  All of these side effects are commonly observed in patients who take the tetracycline acne treatment, except the skin rash and liver disease that appear to be rare. 

Perhaps another downside of the tetracycline acne treatment is the fact that it will reduce the good bacteria in your bowel, which are badly needed for synthesizing the B vitamins, amongst other things, and keep the acne-causing bacteria under control.  It is due to this effect that most women become prone to thrush during the period of the treatment.  But, there are also some treatments that can counteract this effect, and one of those is the acidophilus treatment.  Lastly, the tetracycline acne treatment can also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it is highly suggested to take it either in the evening or with a sunscreen. 

These disadvantages of tetracycline are only part of the treatment process of this medicine. One should follow these procedures in order to get the most out of tetracycline. You only have to live with its cons and hope for the best outcome.