Should You Use Antibiotics to Treat Acne?
The Pros and Cons of Antibiotic Treatment of Acne
When you're suffering from severe acne there probably isn't much you wouldn't do to get rid of it -- and that includes turning to antibiotics. The question is, are these medications a wise choice? The answer isn't always cut and dry. Before you agree to take antibiotic drugs for your acne condition, there are a few things you need to know.
A Band-Aid of Sorts
Can antibiotics lessen the severity of your acne? Yes. Since bacteria is what causes the blemishes to appear, antibiotics will naturally lessen their appearance. The problem is, antibiotics won't cure the root of your acne problem.
Acne is usually caused by an underlying condition such as an allergy or a hormonal imbalance. An antibiotic won't help with those things. It will just treat the acne symptoms. If you really want to cure your acne, you need to figure out what's causing it and treat the condition at its source.
The Overuse Factor
Another thing to think about when you're considering antibiotics for acne treatment is the overuse of antibiotic drugs in today's society. If you use antibiotics too often, it can lead to problems when you really need the drugs to treat a serious illness.
The Birth Control Factor
Another thing you need to consider is the fact that antibiotics can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you rely on birth control to prevent pregnancy, then antibiotics probably aren't the best acne treatment for you.
When Antibiotics Make Sense
Now, even I will admit that there are times when antibiotics can definitely help an acne condition, but I usually prefer the topical kind. If you want to kill the acne bacteria hiding in your blemishes, then a topical antibiotic medication can work wonders.
Remember, in moderation most things are okay. A topical antibiotic here and there to treat painful blemishes probably isn't going to hurt you. Consuming antibiotic pills on a long term basis, however, is something you may want to reconsider.