Acne and Minocycline: An Overview
Minocycline is a prescription antibiotic that is licensed to treat acne. The medication is part of a class of antibiotics called
tetracyclines. One product in particular (Solodyn
™) is specifically approved to treat moderate to severe inflammatory lesions of acne (red, inflamed, or pus-filled bumps).
Minocycline is not recommended for the treatment of other
types of acne (such as nodular acne).
How Does Minocycline Treat Acne?
Acne is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands. When the follicle of a gland gets clogged with oil, skin cells, and bacteria, it's called a pimple. Several pimples occurring in the same area are known as acne. If left untreated, acne can present a number of problems, including:
- Surface pain
- Infections
- Scarring.
Minocycline is thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of bacteria and reducing inflammation, which results in fewer pimples and less redness.
How Does It Compare to Other Antibiotics For the Treatment of Acne?
Several acne treatment options are available, depending on the severity of the condition. One treatment for moderate or severe acne is oral antibiotics. Common antibiotics used as acne medicine in addition to minocycline include:
Minocycline has proven valuable for the treatment of acne because it usually responds better than other antibiotics used to treat the condition.
Several different brand-name and generic versions of minocycline are available. Depending on the type of minocycline, it may be taken once or twice a day, in either a tablet or capsule form. Although most forms of minocycline are approved to treat severe acne (as well as many other infections), only one product (Solodyn) is specifically approved to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne as a once-daily tablet. In general, treatment for 12 weeks is recommended.
You can read more about various acne treatment options by clicking the following eMedTV articles:
