They work by inhibiting the growth of P. acnes by attacking the bacteria found in the sebaceous glands. They do not actually kill the bacteria but rather inhibit the growth and have a further benefit in that they provide an anti-inflammatory action. This makes it an important feature of the drug in the treatment of patients with pustules and papules.

You can find tetracycline commonly in three different types: generic tetracycline, Minocycline or Doxycycline.

While improvement of acne is noticeable in most cases in a matter of weeks in people using teracylcines there are some things that should be known about using the drugs. Firstly, side effects are considered low risk from using tetracycline, but they do exist.

A main side effect to using tetracycline is that there is staining to the teeth of children. There are also risks to the bones and teeth of unborn babies and nursing children. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding you should not take these drugs.

Tetracyclines may also stain the teeth of older patients for a temporary period of time and this is more likely to be the case for people wearing braces. It is even more important to practice good dental hygiene whilst taking tetracycline.

Other side effects that may be experienced when using tetracycline may include abdominal upset, rashes, a greater susceptibility to sunburn. In rare cases reactions to taking tetracycline may include hives or other hypersensitivity rashes, severe headaches or drug-induced hepatitis.

The common starting doses of the various tetracycline treatments may be as follows:

Plain Tetracycline which may be available in one of the following brand names – Achromycin or Sumycin – they can be taken in capsule, tablet or liquid form and the dosage is 250 or 500 mg twice a day.

Minocycline may be available known as – Minocin, Dynacin or Vectrin – and may be taken in capsule, tablet or oral suspension form depending on the brand you’re taking. The dosage you might be looking at is 50 or 100 mg twice a day.

Doxycycline may be available known by the brand names – Doxycycline, Periostat or Adoxa – and may be taken in capsule or tablet form a dosage of around 75 mg twice a day for Doxycycline or Adoxa is common while 20 mg twice a day is what you would expect for Periostat.

While a tetracycline acne treatment is effective in producing results in the fight against acne. It should result in the pustules and papules beginning to disappear and prevent new ones from popping up.

The idea behind using antibiotics to treat acne is that they will help to reduce the bacteria in and around the hair follicles. These acne causing bacteria are at the heart of the continued existence of the acne and a course of antibiotics will hopefully result in a reduction of the inflammation.

One of the frequently used antibiotics is minocycline. A minocycline acne treatment has been long been used to treat pustular acne. Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative, tetracycline being a broad spectrum protein synthesis inhibiting antibiotic effective against bacterial infections. The reason that minocycline is a preferred antibiotic over tetracycline is that, although its effectiveness is reduced when someone eats food, the decrease is not nearly as pronounced as it is with tetracycline.

Minocyclides come in pill form and you must follow the doctor’s instructions on dosage closely. Some types of minocycline can be taken with food in the stomach while others must be taken on an empty stomach.

The problem with minocycline is that although it can effectively fight bacteria and has been found to be more superior than some other acne treatments, it comes with a plethora of downsides. The fact is, though, that minocycline for acne is no more effective than other tetracycline treatments and is not really worth the lousy feeling that you will inevitably get from using it.

When you start a course of antibiotics such as minocycline you’ve got to complete the entire dosage and the chances are, partway through you’re going to suffer the symptoms set out below. It could be difficult to continue taking drugs that are going to make you sick to your stomach.

Side Effects From Using Minocycline

There is quite a long list of cautions and warnings about taking minocycline for acne treatment. Firstly, there are side effects that people should be aware of.

A general upset stomach, dizziness, diarrhea, headache and vomiting are all linked to the drug. Patients also become increasingly sensitive to sunlight while taking it. The effectiveness of the oral contraceptive is also reduced by minocycline.

Prolonged use of the antibiotic can bring on more serious problems such as liver infections. There have been other reports of severe allergic reactions to taking minocycline with symptoms such as hives, rash, fever and breathing difficulties.

Sulfur works by drying out the skin causing a layer to peel away if used for any length of time. Although this sounds as though it would be pretty rough on the skin, it actually does it some good if you’ve got acne because it reduces the oiliness in the skin and prevents the pores from becoming blocked.

When used topically the sulfur causes the top layer of skin to slough off providing benefits to skin that has been affected by acne. Sulfur products are available in all sorts of products, both over the counter and through prescription as ointments, masks, soaps, lotions and creams.

It is rarely used as a standalone acne product, but not because it wouldn’t work effectively as one. Sulfur oxide is that rotten egg gas smell you may notice at hot springs or during a particularly nasty science lesson. Most people prefer not to walk around with the stink of rotten eggs on their face so they use it in combination with other, nicer smelling ingredients.

Side Effects From Using Sulfur For Acne

The obvious side effect with using sulfur is also the strength and that is the dry, peeling skin that results. The skin will be irritated and may become red, there could even be a little bit of swelling involved. There may be some discoloration from using certain products that contain sulphur so it is necessary to follow the directions of all products closely.

Acne Medication Containing Sulfur

Although it is possible to find sulfur acne medications alone, some of the more popular or well known acne medications contain sulfur, for example brands containing benzoyl peroxide and sulfur include: Dryox 10S and Sulfoxyl, while brands containing resorcinol and sulfur include Sulforcin Lotion, Rezamid Lotion and Acnomel Cream.

Care should be taken if using a sulfur product if also using prescription or over the counter acne treatments because they may also contain levels of sulfur. If both products are combined the effect on the skin could be too drying.

Topical acne medication is the most common treatment for mild cases of acne and going about the application of whatever medication you use is key to quickly getting positive results. Here are a few key tips for you to follow when applying your acne medication.

Although the temptation may be to slather on as much of the cream as you can with the belief that if some is good then more will be better, you should resist. It won’t help you to clear your acne quickly. If the directions tell you to only apply once in the morning and once in the evening then follow them. These directions are placed on the acne medication packaging following rigorous testing and research. That research is done to determine not only what will get the most effective results but what will avoid side effects.

Put your acne medication in a spot where you will see it every day. If your medication crosses your eyeline on a regular basis you are less likely to forget to apply it.

The acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics, and topical retinoids are meant to be applied to the entire effected area, not just the blemish you can see. For the medication to be used to its entire effectiveness it must be applied to the whole affected area.

Make sure your face is completely dry before applying your acne medication. APplication to a wet or damp face could irritate the skin.

Make sure that your skin is not reacting negatively to the acne medication that you are using. If you notice redness, drying or peeling after a topical acne medication has been applied this is an indication that you are experiencing a skin irritation. You may need to take further action such as reducing the amount you apply each time or adding a moisturizer that is proven not to clog the pores to reduce the redness or clear up the dryness.

If you find that you need more advice on unexpected results with your topical acne medication you should consult your family doctor or a dermatologist.