Minocycline Uses for 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. Left untreated, can present a number of problems, including surface pain, infections, and scarring.
Minocycline is thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of bacteria and reducing inflammation.
Minocycline Uses for Anthrax Infections
Minocycline can be used to treat
anthrax infections caused by the bacteria
Bacillus anthracis. This includes both
cutaneous anthrax (a skin infection),
gastrointestinal anthrax (a digestive tract infection), or
inhalation anthrax (a respiratory infection). However, minocycline is not usually the preferred antibiotic for this use, although it may be used if other antibiotics are unavailable or are likely to be ineffective.
Minocycline Use for Periodontitis
A sustained-release powder form of minocycline (Arestin®) is approved to treat periodontitis (gum disease). It is approved to be used only along with other periodontitis treatments (scaling and root planing).
Minocycline Uses in Children
Minocycline should not be used in children under the age of 8 years. Permanent discoloration and altered development of teeth have been reported in children younger than 8 years old who have used
tetracyclines, such as minocycline.
Off-Label Minocycline Uses
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend minocycline for something other than the conditions discussed in this article. This is called an "
off-label" use. Sometimes, minocycline is used off-label for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis. Minocycline is used for this purpose for its anti-inflammatory properties (not for its antibacterial properties).
Previous