What Antibiotics Treat Acne In Kenya?

What antibiotics treat acne in Kenya is a question that is commonly asked by persons with acne because there are very many antibiotics in the pharmacies. Knowing the right antibiotic to use can therefore eneable you to make the right choice. It is important to note that these antibiotics for acne should be prescribed by a Skin Doctor.

What Antibiotics Clear Up Acne?

Antibiotics that treat acne in Kenya are divided into topical antibiotics that are applied on the skin and systemic or oral antibiotics that are taken by mouth.

What Antibiotics Treat Acne In Kenya Topically?

Topical antibiotics are some of the best treat for acne that is mild to moderate in severity because they reduce inflammation and lower the population of the acne causing bacteria P. acnes in the skin. A review found that they are most efective when used for inflammatory acne.

Topical antibiotics come as gels, lotions, solutions and saturated pads. They should always be used together with another acne medication like benzoyl peroxide or a topical retinoid to prevent the bacteria from developing resistance to them.

Side effects of antibiotics applied on the skin to treat acne include dryness of the skin. These antibiotics can also cause contact dermatitis characterized by dry, red, itchy skin.

Topical antibiotics that treat acne in Kenya include:

Clindamycin

Clindamycin is a linconsamide derivative which is applied on the skin to treat mild to moderate inflammatory acne.

Erythromycin

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which is applied on the skin to treat mild to moderate inflammatory acne.

What Antibiotics Treat Acne in Kenya Systemically?

Systemic antibiotics are some of the best treat for acne that is moderate to severe because they circulate in the blood to the deep layers of the skin where they tackle deep-seated acne. They have anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial properties against the bacteria P. acnes. They are usually taken for 3 to 6 months for the treatment of acne.

Antibiotics are not taken alone to treat acne since the bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance. They are usually combined with other acne medications like benzoyl peroxide or adapalene.

Systemic antibiotics that treat acne include tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline), macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole) and a review found all these groups to be effecitve for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris.

Side effects of oral antibiotics used to treat acne include drug allergies which can be mild or severe like toxic epidermal necrolysis. Other side effects include nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. They can also cause thrush or candid albicans infections especially in women, diabetics and obese persons.

Systemic antibiotics used to treat acne in Kenya include:

Tetracycline

Tetracycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. It reduces inflammation and lowers the population of the acne causing bacteria P. acnes. Tetracycline should be not used by pregnant women or those nursing (lactating). Children less than 10 years should also not used it because it can cause yellow staining of the teeth.

Minocycline

Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Minocycline reduces inflammation and lowers the population of the acne causing bacteria P. acnes. Minocycline should be not used by pregnant women or those nursing (lactating). Children less than 10 years should also not used it because it can cause yellow staining of the teeth.

Doxycycline

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris. It is considered the first line antibiotic for the treatment of acne. Doxycycline reduces inflammation and lowers the population of the acne causing bacteria P. acnes.

Doxycycline should be not used by pregnant women or those nursing (lactating). Children less than 10 years should also not used it because it can cause yellow staining of the teeth. Doxycyline increases the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. This photosensitivity can lead to sunburns.

Limecycline

Limecycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. It reduces inflammation and lowers the population of the acne causing bacteria P. acnes. Limecycline should be not used by pregnant women or those nursing (lactating). Children less than 10 years should also not used it because it can cause yellow staining of the teeth.

The best antibiotics for acne treatment in Nairobi Kenya

Erythromycin

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Erythromycin can be used by pregnant women or those nursing (lactating). Children less than 10 years can use it safely.

Azithromycin

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. A study examined the efficacy of Azithromycin in treating acne and found that it was both effective and well tolerated. One of the doses used was Azithromycin 500mg daily for 3 days per week. Another study found that Azithromycin was just as effective as Doxycyline at 12 weeks when used for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Children and adults of all ages can use Azithromycin safely.

Cotrimoxazole

Cotrimoxazole is a trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole antibiotic which is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. More than 2% of people taking trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole antibiotics develop allergicv reactions which can be mild or severe like Steven Johnson Syndrome.