Infected acne treatment

English: Acne Vulgaris: A: Cystic acne on the face, B: Subsiding tropical acne of trunc, C: Extensive acne on chest and shoulders. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Infected acne treatment

we talked before about the blackheads treatment which is milder than our case today, we will talk about infected acne (propiobacterium acne), in this case papules,  pustules and even cysts could be formed.

we will add more drugs to eliminate the bacteria in addition to our previous retinoic acid treatment.  See Acne treatment

Antibacterial drugs: 

by topical (cream) & systemic antibiotics:

• Topical:
  Erythromycin + Zinc or Erythromycin + Benzyl peroxide (used as retinoic acid method).
  
• Systemic:
  
  1. Doxycycline as Doxy-R 100 mg cap, 2 caps in the 1st day of treatment then one daily for :
     
     • 3 weeks if mild acne.
     • month if moderate.
     • month and half if severe as in cystic acne treatment case.
      
  2. Clindamycin, which is safe during pregnancy but could cause stomach irritation.
  3. Azithromycin 500 mg, used as one tablet every 3 days a week for 2-3 weeks.

Response to antibacterial drugs:

• if good response : gradually stop the treatment as example take one cap. every other day then stop.
• if no response stop for 2 weeks or change the type of antibiotic.
  

General advices :

1. use specific soap for acne.
2. Avoid :

• squeezing or scratching your acne.
• removal of hair i.e. shaving.
• adding oils or make up on infected area of skin.
• exposure to the sun.