Can Antibiotics Cure Acne?
While antibiotics can be very effective for some cases, they are not necessarily the best way to cure acne.
Acne is an extremely common condition that one does not necessarily aim to cure so much as control, and there are many ways to achieve this. Your doctor will try to identify whether there is an underlying condition or trigger that is causing your acne.
Lifestyle factors, such as avoiding overheating and excessive sweating, heavy oil-based cosmetics and moisturisers, and most importantly, resisting the urge to squeeze your pimples, are all important, as is your overall health. Make sure your diet and exercise is optimal.
Your doctor will also talk to you about skincare. Generally, the simple approach of washing skin gently with a mild cleanser twice a day works well. Harsh scrubbing with abrasive preparations is counterproductive.
Treatment depends on the nature and severity of the acne, but usually topical treatments (applied to the skin surface) such as creams containing drying agents such as benzoyl peroxide, possibly combined with a topical antibiotic preparation, are the first line of defence.
Additional treatments may include the oral contraceptive pill, oral antibiotics or other hormonal preparations.
In severe cases, where the acne is cystic and may scar, a stronger medication may be needed, which requires a dermatologist’s prescription. This medicine is effective but has significant side effects, so care must be taken.